MOSS TO MANAGE WEBSTER'S JACKSON OFFICE

JACKSON - Cape Girardeau Assistant City Attorney Allan E. Moss, Jr. will resign next month to begin a new job as manager of the Missouri Attorney General's branch office in Jackson.

John Baker, an aide to the attorney general in Jefferson City, said Monday that Moss has been hired to replace Jeff Dix, who resigned March 1. Dix held the job since the Jackson office was opened 2 years ago.

Moss's resignation is effective April 17. He will begin his new job April 22. The Jackson office, situated in the Cape Girardeau County Courthouse, serves all of Southeast Missouri.

"I could not be more pleased with this opportunity," Moss said. "It was not a situation where I was unhappy here, but it was a situation where I saw a chance to address new challenges and to serve the area in a new way."

One of the strengths that Moss believes he brings to the attorney general's office is a good relationship with county officials in the area, criminal law experience, and a strong interest in consumer-protection matters.

"I have a feel for what the area is like and what the needs are," said Moss. "I will take that to the office with me and will serve the public as well as the attorney general in this area. He (Bill Webster) is very sensitive to the needs of people in Southeast Missouri."

Moss said he was pleased that Webster chose to appoint someone from this area to fill the vacancy.

"First and foremost I will still be able to do some criminal law work which is near and dear to my heart," Moss observed. "It will enable me to continue an excellent relationship with local law enforcement."

While working for the city, Moss said he handled a few consumer cases, and he said he's interested in dealing with consumer fraud complaints.

In the past 2 years, the Southeast Missouri office primarily has handled consumer complaints, but Moss said he hopes to expand the scope of services to provide assistance to area prosecutors who need help with criminal cases.

"I think that is part of my function," said Moss. "Criminal justice is important to the people of Southeast Missouri and we should try to fill that need."

He said that prosecutors in smaller counties likely will have the greatest need for his assistance.

"I think this is something I will like," added Moss. "I like public service and I like serving taxpayers. This will enable me to further my career and do that at the same time."

Moss, a native of Cairo, Ill., graduated from law school in 1986, and he served as an instructor in the Department of Criminal Justice at Southeast Missouri State University from the fall 1986 semester until December 1987.

He then became an assistant Cape Girardeau County prosecutor, a post he held nearly nine months before becoming the assistant city attorney in Cape Girardeau.

As assistant city attorney, his primary duties have been the prosecution of criminal cases in municipal court.