Community continues search for police chief

LILBOURN, Mo. — While Lilbourn now has a police officer, the community is still in search of a police chief.

In April, voters opted to leave the decision of who will serve as police chief to the Lilbourn Board of Aldermen. Previously the police chief was an elected position.

However, Mayor Robert Taylor said the board has yet to find someone to meet their criteria. According to Taylor, the board wants the next police chief to have lived in Lilbourn at least a year.

“Also you can’t have a second job,” Taylor said. “That is what we have had problems with in the past.”

The board has hired one officer since the election. On June 8, the board employed Royce Champion to patrol the community.

The New Madrid County Sheriff’s Department also provides patrols in the community.

New Madrid County Sheriff Terry Stevens said Lilbourn is like many of the small communities in the county and can’t afford a 24-hour police staff. He said he and his officers work with all the communities to provide law enforcement.

“We try to augment their law enforcement with patrols and answer calls and we will continue to do that as long as I am sheriff,” he said. “Even though they are a municipality, it is my job of sheriff to provide quality law enforcement to all the citizens of New Madrid County.”

The mayor added the board is continuing its efforts to improve local law enforcement. The Lilbourn Board is in the process of getting a police car and is also seeking a second officer.

Meanwhile, Taylor added, the search will continue to find an individual to serve as chief of police. He urged anyone interested to contact city hall.