Jackson police officer fired

A Jackson police officer accused of assaulting three teenagers has been fired from the police department following misdemeanor charges, Jackson police chief James Humphreys said.

On Thursday, Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle charged Edward A. Moore with three counts of third-degree assault after allegedly attacking his 15-year-old and 18-year old sons and one son's 18-year old girlfriend.

Moore was officially dismissed Thursday, according to a news release from the Jackson police that cited a violation of department policy as the reason.

Humphreys said that although the charges, if true, represented a "black eye" and an "embarrassment" to law enforcement and to the department, he maintained his belief in the justice system and that one is innocent until proven guilty.

The Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Department investigated the incident after Moore's former wife, Cherie Moore, called the sheriff's office Wednesday to report that Moore had assaulted her son.

According to a sworn affidavit filed with the charges, deputy Ron Hobeck responded Wednesday to Edward Moore's home at 1275 W. Independence St. in Jackson, where the 18-year-old son said his father had grabbed him by the throat and punched him during an argument.

When the 18-year-old son's girlfriend, also 18, tried to separate the two, Moore grabbed her by the throat and punched her in the face, the son told Hobeck.

Moore's younger son, 15, also tried to break them apart and Moore punched him as well, Hobeck wrote in his affidavit.

Hobeck arrested Moore after Moore denied the statements. At the time of the arrest, Hobeck detected a strong odor of alcohol on Moore's breath, his speech was slurred and his eyes were bloodshot, Hobeck said in the sworn statement.

When Hobeck noted a knot over Moore's left eye, the former Jackson officer said the injury occurred when he fell down the stairs. He refused to allow pictures to be taken, Hobeck said.

Swingle said Moore's attorney, Stephen C. Wilson, had filed a request to allow a property or other type of bond. Swingle said he would oppose the motion.

Though Moore remains in the official custody of Cape Girardeau County, he was placed in jail in another jurisdiction because of his career as a law enforcement officer in Jackson, said Lt. David James of the Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Department.

Because Moore may have arrested some inmates currently in jail in Cape Girardeau County, placing him in another jail was "simpler and safer," James said.

Moore is being held in the Bollinger County Jail on $3,500 cash-only bond. If convicted, he could face up to a year in jail for each misdemeanor count.

bdicosmo@semissourian.com

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