Attorney General Bailey Strips Ray County Sheriff of Law Enforcement License

Attorney General Bailey Strips Ray County Sheriff of Law Enforcement License

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Today, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey announced that his office finalized a settlement agreement with Ray County Sheriff Scott Childers, who had been temporarily removed from his position while Bailey's office pursued litigation to remove him from his post permanently after he broke Missouri law. As per the settlement, Childers resigned from his position effective Monday, August 19, and has been stripped of his Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) certification. Childers will not be allowed to serve in Missouri law enforcement ever again.

"This outcome is a major win for the residents of Ray County who have been forced to watch the perpetrators of their crimes roam freely in their communities due to the negligent actions of those sworn to protect them," said Attorney General Bailey. "I am extremely proud of the work my team put into removing another official who refused to do their job as required by Missouri law. We will continue to fight for Missourians across the state by holding bad actors accountable."

In the lawsuit filed earlier this year, Attorney General Bailey asserted that Childers failed Ray County residents when he engaged in willful acts of misconduct, malfeasance, misfeasance, and nonfeasance in office. Attorney General Bailey specifically noted that Childers:

1. Unlawfully allowed multiple detainees (including those accused of sexual assault) to leave or be released from the Ray County Jail.
2. Stated on social media his plan to use detainees to work at his home or other businesses.
3. Allowed released detainees to work on his property and the property of friends and acquaintances.
4. Allowed detainees to drive vehicles, make purchases at local stores, leave the state, and move freely about Ray County without supervision.
5. Permitted detainees to bring contraband (drugs, alcohol, cellphones, etc.) into the jail. This included weapons, including 20 knives found in the jail during a search.
6. Received or accepted a benefit in exchange for keeping pretrial detainees in the jail.

Due to Attorney General Bailey achieving what he was pursuing in litigation, his office will dismiss the quo warranto.

The final settlement can be read here.

The petition for quo warranto can be read here.