SHANNON COUNTY, Mo. — The Shannon County Commission has moved to terminate nearly all staff from the sheriff’s office, citing budget mismanagement, News Nation reported.
The commission said in a public letter that as of June 11, the sheriff’s office had used over 75% of its 2025 budget, despite repeated warnings. The release stated the office failed to implement corrective measures, forcing the commission to act.
While Sheriff Steven Hogan’s $81,000 annual salary remains intact, funding for deputy salaries is depleted for the remainder of the year.
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Despite the staffing cuts, the county jail and dispatch services will continue operations.
Hogan responded on June 20, calling the commission’s actions a threat to public safety and legally questionable. He said that when he took office in January, the agency was severely understaffed and under-resourced, requiring immediate personnel and infrastructure investments. Hogan said new deputies relocated from across the state and country, many at personal expense.
Hogan added that partnerships with local municipalities helped increase coverage. Eminence, Birch Tree and Summersville have all agreed to fund deputies serving their jurisdictions.
The sheriff also cited inherited challenges from the previous administration, including unpaid bills and unsafe vehicles. He said new patrol vehicles were acquired without tapping into the office’s budget or general funds. Uniforms alone cost over $26,000, and most deputies provided their own equipment.
Hogan accused county officials of refusing to amend the office’s budget to reflect increased revenue or operational needs, claiming he was told by the county clerk that amending the budget was “too hard.”
“Another time I was told, ‘We really don’t know how to amend the budget,’” Hogan said. “When I asked whether the sheriff’s office had ever gone over budget before, I was told it had — and that it was simply expected.”
On June 20, a temporary restraining order was filed in the 37th Judicial Circuit to block the staff terminations.
On June 23, that restraining order was dismissed in a hearing, KY3 reported. A judge ruled that because County Prosecutor William Seay filed the petition both as a private citizen and in his official capacity, he had a conflict of interest. However, the judge stated that Seay could file again.
Seay told KY3 that he had already refiled for another restraining order.
Hogan argued that only the elected sheriff has the authority to hire or fire within the office and warned that the commission should expect legal challenges. He said public safety is at risk in the large, rural county, especially during the summer tourism season.
“I answer to the people, not the commission,” Hogan said. “We need more help, not less.”
