Jordan seeks sixth term as sheriff

Cape Girardeau County Sheriff John Jordan announced Tuesday he will run for re-election in 2016.

Jordan said he contemplated making 2012 his last election, but he said his passion for the position and relatively young age of 54 encouraged him to run.

He said he also feels now is not the right time to step down because of a nationwide disquiet between law-enforcement officers and the public after events in Ferguson, Missouri, last year.

"I feel like police are under attack," he said.

Jordan is the longest-serving Sheriff in Cape Girardeau County history. He first was elected in 1994 and re-elected to five consecutive four-year terms. He has been in law enforcement for 35 years, previously working as a chief deputy in Bollinger County.

"I grew up in a third-class county," Jordan said, referring to small-population areas. "People would ask how many deputies we had, and I would say with pride, 'You're looking at half the force.' It was a simple time back then."

Jordan has been part of the Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Department since 1986, when he served as chief of detectives. As sheriff, he helped guide the county from a second-class county to first. He has 77 employees under his command, and 45 of them are sworn officers, including 18 patrolman, 26 corrections officers and four detectives.

Two years ago, patrolmen received mobile data terminals in their squad cars. A system is in the works to allow inmates to make video calls. Jordan said the technology has changed a lot; just having a cellphone being a big advantage. He said when he worked drug cases in the 1980s, he knew the location of every pay phone in the county.

Jordan announced his campaign two months before candidates are required to file for election in January.

bkleine@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3644

Pertinent address: 216 N. Missouri St., Jackson, Mo