NEW SHERIFF SELECTED IN NEW MADRID COUNTY

NEW MADRID -- The chief investigator of the New Madrid County sheriff's department was elevated to the top post by the county commission Monday following last week's resignation of the former sheriff.

Gary D. Hill, of Gideon, became interim sheriff Monday afternoon at the unanimous request of the county commission. He will hold the position until a new sheriff is elected in a special election on Feb. 10.

The majority of the county commission's regular Monday meeting was taken up with interviewing and discussing candidates for the interim position, said Jay Blankenship, presiding commissioner. Hill came highly recommended for the position by several people both inside and outside the sheriff's department, Blankenship said.

"Even Terry Stevens recommended him," Blankenship said.

Terry Stevens, the former sheriff of New Madrid County, resigned Thursday because of alleged nepotism violations. He had, said prosecutor H. Riley Bock, hired his sister-in-law, Angela Renee Martin, as a prisoner transportation guard, a violation of the state constitution.

When Gary Hill became interim sheriff, one of his first acts was to fire three of his brothers. One brother is a New Madrid city police officer, one the assistant police chief of Portageville, and one a reserve deputy for the sheriff's department. All three had commissions within the department which Hill terminated immediately.

The Missouri Constitution prohibits any public official from hiring or appointing a person who is either a blood relative or a relative by marriage.

"There's a lot of sentiment for (former sheriff) Terry Stevens. A lot of people are still for him," Blankenship said.

With Steven's resignation, coroner Tim Clayton served as acting sheriff until an interim sheriff could be appointed. The interim sheriff serves until a special election is held. State statute says that the election must be held within eight weeks.

Hill would not say whether he planned to seek his party's nomination for the office, though he did not rule out the possibility. He termed it "a big question mark" which, he said, he would leave in the hands of the nominating committee.

Committees from both parties will nominate candidates for the office. In addition, people wishing to run as independents may file if they can produce petitions bearing the names of 156 registered voters. The filing deadline for the election is Jan. 9.