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Here in Clinton where I live we have a Clinton City Police Department and a Henry County Sheriff’s Office. The Clinton Police Department is responsible for deterring crimes, stopping crimes in progress, investigating crimes, and serving as first responders. The Henry County Sheriff’s Office is responsible for patrolling any unincorporated areas of the county as well as enforcing legal judgments such as foreclosures, repossessions, and tax delinquencies. I know that they are really good about supporting local businesses and they allow certain people to go into the jail and its a faith based organization called “Celebrate Recovery on the inside”. My dad actually used to volunteer and did it for several years. 

They actually want to help the criminals that they arrest and leave a positive impact on them. I think they are a positive example of what a police agency should be. They all seem to be one big family from the outside looking in. They also are really good at handling the rowdy teenagers and they don’t give them too much of a hard time. They are also very quick at responding to calls and they handle things very professionally. I would say they have a good reputation.

Julie Swadley, Student, State Fair Community College

Current Grants

The Henry County Sheriff’s Office seeks to apply for a multitude of grants throughout each budget year. Some of our more successful/routine grant applications include Division of Highway Safety, Local Law Enforcement Block Grant, Bullet Proof Vest Program and Truman Lake Foundation.

Division of Highway Safety

Division of Highway Safety grants provide funding for equipment (radar guns, e-ticketing) as well as overtime pay for deputies to enforcement hazardous moving violations. This grant typically provides 10,000-20,000 in funding for overtime pay and equipment in a given fiscal year. The purpose of this grant is to reduce the number of fatalities on Missouri roadways.

The Patrick Leahy Bullet Proof Vest Partnership

Division of Highway Safety grants provide funding for equipment (radar guns, e-ticketing) as well as overtime pay for deputies to enforcement hazardous moving violations. This grant typically provides 10,000-20,000 in funding for overtime pay and equipment in a given fiscal year. The purpose of this grant is to reduce the number of fatalities on Missouri roadways.

 

Henry County is located in west central Missouri between Kansas City and Springfield.  The 2020 population is just over 21,000 people.  The county is general agricultural including crops and livestock production.  It includes the cities of Clinton, Montrose, Urich, Windsor, Calhoun, Blairstown, Brownington, Ladue and Tightwad.   Founded in 1834 and first named Rives County after William Cabell Rives, it became Henry County in 1841 for Revolutionary War patriot Patrick Henry.  The name was changed because Rives joined the Whig Party and lost popularity in Missouri.

 

Henry County covers 732 square miles and is home to a significant portion of Truman Lake.  There are many opportunities for outdoor and recreational activities in this rural setting.  The History of the Sheriff’s Office was compiled by Sheriff Oberkrom and his wife Diane in the early 2000’s, with research both local and at the Secretary of State’s Office in Jefferson City, Missouri. 

HISTORY OF THE HENRY COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

The Henry County Sheriff’s Office began with the appointment of Joseph Fields, who was appointed to the Office of Sheriff in 1835 by the Governor. When Joseph Fields died in 1936, Nathan Fields became the acting Sheriff until Robert Allen was elected to the Office of Sheriff in 1837. Robert Allen was the first elected Sheriff to serve Henry County.
The office of Sheriff was a two-year term of office until 1905 when it was changed to a four year term., as it remains today. The Office of Sheriff and Collector were combined until 1872 when, the Collector became part of the County Treasurer duties. The longest term Sheriff in Henry County was Wilbur R. Schmidt, who served from 1961 until 1980 (20 years). The longest serving Sheriff today is J. Kent Oberkrom
The County has built and operator four jails over its history including the current Jail that was opened in 2010. The first Jail was opened in 1856. The second Jail opened in 1881 and the third Jail opened in 1953. When the third Jail was planned, Robert M. Eberting was Sheriff and when it was completed, Everett Austin served as Sheriff. A total of 40 Sheriffs have served Henry County since its beginnings in 1835. Below is a listing of the Sheriffs that have served and their term of office.

Joseph Fields1835-1836
Nathan Fields1836-1837
Robert Allen1837-1840
William R. Owen1841-1844
Robert Allen1844-1848
William R. Taylor1848-1850

John M. Van Hoy1851-1853
Dewit C. Stone1854-1857
William R. Taylor1858-1861
Jasper M. Coats1862-1862
Samuel K. Williams1863-1865
James M. Miller1866-1867

Henry M. Dodson1868-1871
John Curtis1872-1873
David T. Terry1873-1876
William B. Calvird1877-1880
Ambrose B. Hopkins1881-1884
William J. Elliston1885-1888
James H. Calloway 1889-1892
James E. Bennett 1897-1900
Isaac Adair 1901-1904
Jesse D. Hall 1905-1908
J. D. King 1909-1912
John C. Pepper 1913-1916
Warren T. Runner 1917-1920
Glen E. Runner 1921-1924
Jay Markle 1925-1928
August Kahmann 1929-1932
Sterlin V. Harness 1933-1936
Dalton Davis 1937-1940
J. D. Teays 1941-1944
Robert M. Eberting 1945-1952
Everett W.Austin 1953-1956
Lawrence W. Sarton 1957-1960
Wilbur R. Schmidt 1961-1980
Peter R. Werner 1981-1984
Jerome H. Wareham 1985-1992
Jack M. Reynolds 1993-1996
J. Kent Oberkrom 1997-Present
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