Barton County Sheriff
Barton County Sheriff John Simpson
Sheriff's Office
1010 Cherry Street, Lamar, Missouri 64759, United States
417-682-5515 Fax: 417-682-5805
By Nancy Zoellner (Missouri Sheriffs' Association)
Sheriff John Simpson is putting his idea into practice.
A few simple and uneventful ride-alongs in the passenger seat of a Liberal, Missouri squad car were all it took for 15-year-old John Simpson, who now serves as Barton County sheriff, to know law enforcement would be his life’s career...
Former Sheriffs of Barton County
The list below is from several different sources including the BC Historical Society and the Lamar Democrat. Every attempt has been made to be as accurate as possible.
1855-1857 Alexander Henry
1857-1864 James Sevely
1864-1866 Samuel Cones
1866-1868 William Morris
1868-1872 Henry Harrington
1872-1876 Morris B. Earl
1876-1878 John Jackson
1878-1882 Dennis Springer
1882-1886 Simon Finley
1886-1892 George Garrett
1892-1896 William Carl
1896-1898 Lee Livingston
1898-1901 William Phillips
1901-1904 John Harlow
1904-1906 John Slavens
1906-1908 William Evilsizer
1908-1912 Charles Harrington
1912-1916 William Evilsizer
1916-1919 John Harlow (killed 3.13.1919)
1919 Jim Pinkerton (appointed by special election after Harlow was killed)
1919-1920 William Sewell
1920-1924 William Noble
1924-1928 Lisby Garrett
1928-1932 William Noble
1932-1936 James Bassett
1936-1940 Chris Wattenbarger
1940 Roy Patterson (killed 8.17.1944)
1944-1945 Thomas Box (appointed until special election could be held)
1945 Chester Austin (elected 2.27.1945. Resigned 10.6.1945)
1945 Thomas Box (appointed by special election to replace Austin)
1945-1952 James Bassett
1952-1964 Cecil Blanchard
1964-1980 Calvin Dockery
1980-1985 Ron Jeffries
1985 Wayne Shackleford (appointed after Jeffries retired)
1985-2004 William Griffitt
2004-2008 Shannon Higgins
2008-2020 Mitch Shaw
2020-Present John Simpson
Sheriff John M. Harlow Jr.
End of Watch Mon, Mar 3rd, 1919
Sheriff John Harlow was shot and killed by a prisoner who was smuggled a gun while incarcerated in the county jail. The suspect shot Sheriff Harlow as the cell door was opened and the suspect was allowed to enter the hallway to make a phone call to his wife. The Sheriff's son was also shot when he entered the room and died six days later, and the suspect also fired at the Sheriff's wife. The suspect was arrested in Colorado and returned to Missouri. The man was sentenced to life in prison but was taken from the judge's chambers by an angry mob of citizens and hanged outside of the courthouse.
Sheriff Roy Patterson
End of Watch Thu, Aug 17th, 1944
Sheriff Roy Patterson and his 18-year-old son were shot and killed by three robbery suspects on US 160.
The sheriff had been called at home at 4:00 am and notified that a gas station had just been robbed. The sheriff and his son immediately got dressed and responded to the area. The two parked their vehicle along the roadway and waited for the suspect vehicle to pass.
When they saw the vehicle they immediately overtook it and waved it over. After speaking with the three occupants the sheriff took one of the men's wallets and told them to turn around and drive back towards town as he followed. The suspect vehicle drove a short distance before pulling over. Two of the occupants approached the sheriff's car and pulled out their .32 caliber pistols and told the sheriff to give them his gun.
The sheriff immediately drew his weapon and fired a shot. The two men then returned fire, fatally shooting the sheriff. One of the suspects then shot the sheriff's son in the head, killing him.
All three suspects fled the scene and remained at large for almost one year. They were eventually apprehended, confessed to the murders, and sentenced to life in prison.