The Ness County Sheriff’s Office said three deputies, the undersheriff, and a dispatcher resigned from their positions at the Ness County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday.
According to the Ness County Sheriff’s Office’s Facebook page, Undersheriff William Sutton, Deputy Cole Stoecklein, Deputy Jonathan Rahe, and Deputy Jim Lutters and dispatcher Rashel Hagans, all resigned at 10:50 a.m.
Due to the resignation of the undersheriff and majority of deputies, County Clerk Renee Kerr has assumed the duties of Sheriff, per K.S.A. 19-804a. She has appointed Brandon Mitchell, Republican Nominee for Sheriff, as her undersheriff and Travis Rothe as deputy. An Emergency Declaration has been signed and mutual aid is forthcoming. We are focusing on county business and moving forward.
“I feel like it’s my responsibility to carry out my duties as the county clerk and if that includes the responsibility of the sheriff, then that’s what I need to do,” Kerr said.
Kerr told KSN her responsibilities are to make sure the office is running smoothly and help hire deputies.
She said she doubts that she’ll ride in a sheriff’s vehicle during an emergency because the amount of mutual aid coming from the Hodgeman County Sheriff.
“He has sent one of his deputies to help patrol the county,” she said. “The county can rest assure that they have adequate law enforcement coverage.”
The sheriff’s office has already hired two full-time deputies and one part-time deputy.
Kerr said she expects to be fully staffed shortly.
KSN spoke with former deputy Jonathan Rahe who said he and his co workers resigned because they didn’t want to work under Mitchell’s leadership.
He stated his reasons for resigning in a letter.
He also said there’s been issues with the commission and clerk on the department’s budget.
Kerr and some community members said they’re disappointed in the deputies who resigned, but they’re looking to move forward.
On the other hand, some residents said they support the men who resigned because they don’t believe Mitchell is a qualified leader.
Resident Ronnie Palmer said she’s concerned that her county has no sheriff, but if they’re standing up for a cause, it’s a good thing.
“It’s been very political between the two groups,” she said.
Ness County also released the following statement:
Last month, Ness County Sheriff Bryan Whipple pleaded guilty to one count of knowingly selling a gun to a person who was prohibited under federal law from possessing a firearm. The plea agreement calls for Whipple to resign his position as sheriff and to surrender his law enforcement certification from the Kansas Commission on Peace Officers’ Standards and Training.
KSN will continue to follow this developing story online.
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Previous Story
The Ness County Sheriff’s Office said three deputies, the undersheriff, and a dispatcher resigned from their positions at the Ness County Sheriff’s Office.
According to the sheriff’s Facebook page, Undersheriff William Sutton, Deputy Cole Stoecklein, Deputy Jonathan Rahe, and Deputy Jim Lutters and dispatcher Rashel Hagans, all resigned at 10:50 a.m.
Ness County released the following statement:
“Due to the resignation of the undersheriff and majority of deputies, County Clerk Renee Kerr has assumed the duties of Sheriff, per K.S.A. 19-804a. She has appointed Brandon Mitchell, Republican Nominee for Sheriff, as her undersheriff and Travis Rothe as deputy. An Emergency Declaration has been signed and mutual aid is forthcoming. We are focusing on county business and moving forward.”
Last month, Ness County Sheriff Bryan Whipple pleaded guilty to one count of knowingly selling a gun to a person who was prohibited under federal law from possessing a firearm. The plea agreement calls for Whipple to resign his position as sheriff and to surrender his law enforcement certification from the Kansas Commission on Peace Officers’ Standards and Training.
KSN will continue to follow this developing story online.
