HINES BECOMES SHERIFF IN MIDNIGHT CEREMONY

JACKSON -- In a midnight ceremony at the Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's office Sunday, Leonard Hines became interim sheriff and a 41-year law enforcement career drew to a close for Norman Copeland.

As the clock struck midnight, Cape Girardeau County Clerk Rodney Miller administered the oath to Hines, who had been appointed by the county commission to serve as interim sheriff until a replacement for Copeland could be elected.

After Miller finished, Copeland stepped forward and pinned a badge on his former chief deputy. Copeland was among a group of 30 people that gathered in the department training room for the ceremony. Also watching were Requi and Cheryl Hines, daughters of the new sheriff.

Since Copeland's resignation took effect at midnight, Hines said it was necessary he be sworn in then, to avoid a short vacancy.

Copeland announced in June that he would retire effective Aug. 1, citing health problems and the fact that there were a number of qualified candidates who could take the department in a new direction.

On Monday, Hines said his first day on the job was going well, but admitted, "It seems a little funny without Norman here."

Hines said during his tenure as sheriff he wants to keep the department operating the way it did under Copeland, so it will be in good shape for the next sheriff.

With a new sheriff on the job, all county deputies had to be re-commissioned and sworn in Monday.

Copeland's law enforcement career began in military service where he served four years, followed by 29 years with the Missouri State Highway Patrol. After retiring from the patrol, he served a short time as director of security at St. Francis Medical Center.

In March of 1986, Copeland was appointed interim sheriff by the county commission, following the resignation of Dwight Thomas. Thomas, who had been elected in November of 1984, resigned amid a grand jury investigation. Copeland inherited a department in shambles.

Initially, Copeland agreed to serve only until a new sheriff could be elected, but found he liked the job and even the political campaigning that was required to keep it. When Copeland expressed an interest in continuing as sheriff, he was actively courted by both county political parties before deciding to run as a Republican.

He was elected to the remaining two years of Thomas' term in November of 1986, and re-elected in 1988 and 1992.

"I found that I enjoyed the politicking a lot," said Copeland.

When he first took over as sheriff, Copeland said he was not sure what he had gotten into. He found that restoring the department to sound condition required him to be in the office seven days a week.

"It was a different field of endeavor in law enforcement from what I was used to, but it has been a rewarding experience," said Copeland. "There were times though when I began to wonder."

Minutes after Hines had taken the oath, Copeland joked about not having to work Monday, and talked about spending time at his farm in Bollinger County.

But Copeland also acknowledged that a long career in law enforcement had come to an end.

At 66 years of age, Copeland said he looks forward to other pursuits. Another factor was an ongoing battle with arthritis.

"There is a time to begin and a time to end," said Copeland. "At my age and with the responsibility that goes with this job, I felt somebody younger would be in a better position to lead this department. I feel like I have left a good path for someone else to follow."

Copeland said he hated to leave in the middle of his term, but decided it was the thing to do.

The former sheriff said he is also annoyed by the trend toward frivolous lawsuits by prisoners. As sheriff, Copeland was sued several times by prisoners, but never lost.

Ironically, Copeland almost became Cape Girardeau County sheriff in June of 1980 when Jimmy Joe Below resigned. Presiding Commissioner Gene Huckstep asked Copeland to serve as interim sheriff. However, release time could not be arranged with the highway patrol.

When the job opened six years later, Huckstep wasted no time offering Copeland a second chance. The commission felt someone with Copeland's impeccable law enforcement credentials was needed to restore order to the department.

"In my opinion, Norm Copeland is the best sheriff Cape County ever had," said Huckstep. "He certainly turned that place around. We can all be proud of what he did for the people of Cape Girardeau County."