PULASKI COUNTY SHERIFF WON'T SEEK OFFICE FOURTH TIME

MOUND CITY, Ill. -- After more than 40 years of public service, almost 12 of them as Pulaski County sheriff, Gene Dixon will not seek a fourth four-year term next year.

"I feel that after the end of my current term it is time for me to retire from law enforcement," said Dixon, who was first elected as sheriff in 1985.

Dixon, 65, of Mounds has been involved in law enforcement in some capacity since 1957, when he was named as police officer at Mounds. He is a former alderman and mayor at Mounds and served as police chief at Mound City.

Dixon, a native of Mounds, attended Mounds Township High School (now part of the Meridian School District), and served in the U.S. Army from 1949 to 1954, serving in Korea.

He served as mayor at Mounds from 1973 to 1977.

Dixon is the only sheriff in the county's history to be elected to three consecutive terms.

He announced his decision to the media recently that he would not be a candidate for a fourth term, saying he didn't think it was fair to the people to wait until filing time to announce his retirement.

A new sheriff will be elected in April 1998. Filing starts in December.

Dixon said the county sheriff's department now has nine deputies -- six of them hired under a federal grant program. When he first became sheriff, it was Dixon and one deputy.

"I feel I have helped the sheriff's department progress," he said in a prepared statement.

Dixon said he was "sincerely moved" by the many people and organizations asking him to remain as the Democratic candidate.

"I want to spend more time with my family and pursue some other options," he said.

Dixon was a leading proponent for the regional justice center that is being planned near state police headquarters near Ullin.

The new jail facility will house prisoners from Pulaski, Union and Alexander counties, and provide courtroom space.

Pulaski County has no jail facility. It houses its prisoners in the Massac County jail at Metropolis.

Representatives from The Western Corrections Group, headquartered at Albuquerque, N.M., which will finance, construct and operate the new regional jail facility, were in Mound City this week to meet with various officials.

A construction manager will visit the area in mid-April to meet with subcontractors, vendors, suppliers and construction employees concerning the new regional jail project.

"We were scheduled in the area this week," said construction manager Keith Sorenson. "We've rescheduled the meetings for the week of April 14."