The Moniteau County Sheriff's Department is responsible for patrol and law enforcement in about 515 square miles. The responsibility includes the entire county, except for the City of California and the City of Tipton, each of which has its own police force. The department implements needed upgrades when possible.
All road deputies of the Sheriff's Department are now equipped with tasers. The department has a taser certified instructor who will train the remainder of the officers before they are equipped with a taser in addition to the equipment they already carry.
The department is staffed by full-time and part-time employees. Assisting Sheriff Jeptha "J" Gump in law enforcement duties are Chief Deputy Kevin Morse and Sergeant Wayne Cleveland, and several additional full-time deputies. Morse is in charge of the patrol officers and is second in command.
Lorrie Strickfaden is Jail Administrator and James Wiecken is Assistant jail Administrator. Leticia Howard is Sheriff's Business Office Manager.
After the opening of the new jail in 2013, the old jail at the 102 East North Street became the Sheriff's business office. The jail is now the center of the Moniteau County Sheriff's Department. The $3 million facility is north of the courthouse at 210 East North Street and is capable of housing up to 42 inmates, including 12 to 16 females. Average inmate populate is 22. The capacity of the new facility reduces some costs related to the former need for housing a number inmates off-site, including all females. Not only did it cost the county for other county facilities to feed and house Moniteau County prisoners, the need for transporting prisoners to and from the other county jails for court appearances added to the costs. In addition to other savings, the new jail reduces the resources needed for maintenance of the transporting vehicle and the pay expense for deputies doing the prisoner transport.
To carry out the duties of the Sheriff's Office, the department has four Ford Crown Victoria patrol cars, three Chevrolet pickups, a Dodge Durango and in reserve, a 1985 Chevrolet truck from Surplus Property. The 4x4 pickups allow easier access to some of the gravel roads in the county and also allow law enforcement response in the rough winter months. The Durango is used for transporting jail inmates when needed.
According to information provided by Presiding County Commissioner Kenny Kunze, Nicholas H. Gray was Moniteau County Sheriff/Collector when the county was organized in 1845.