In just over one year, more than 50 employees have resigned or been fired from the Texas County Sheriff’s Department. Many of the moves correlate to the promotion of Jennifer Tomaszewski as jail administrator.
Tomaszewski and Sheriff James Sigman were charged last Wednesday with six felonies. The Missouri State Highway Patrol said the two had a romantic relationship. They are scheduled to appear in court Tuesday.
Tomaszewski was hired as a jailer in December 2016. She was promoted to jail administrator in July 2017 despite no previous law enforcement experience. She was formerly a manager at the Bark Plaza Hotel and employed by a local restaurant.
County deputies were irked at his selection, leading to a closed door meeting in the department as they threatened to resign. Tomaszewski was placed on paid administrative leave by the sheriff and later returned after reporting treatment for smoke inhalation from an incident at the jail.
On July 31, 2017, as the turmoil between the sheriff and deputies over his jail administrative selection continued, a county commissioner, John Casey, makes a prediction: “It will work itself out or come to head.”
Then the departures began.
Deputy Dameon Shaw landed a Howell County officer job and later joined the Cabool Police Department.
Detective Rowdy Douglas took the parks administrative job at Houston in early January.
A week later, Sgt. Travis Davis joined Bee Rock Outdoor Adventures, a ranch and hunting preserve at Raymondville.
Deputy Jacob Shannon began duties with the Houston Police Department on Jan. 25. He was one of three deputies who applied with the agency.
Deputy Brent Honeycutt, who is the Cabool fire chief and a Cabool Police Department reserve officer, tendered his resignation in late January.
Kenny Reynolds joined Shannon in late February on the Houston Police Department.
Cpl. Mike Huffman, a county officer since 2004, left in late April and joined the Willow Springs Police Department.
Reuben Salazar resigned May 12 to work for Texas County Memorial Hospital and open a new gym in Houston
By May 1, a total of 41 dispatchers, jailers and deputies left or were fired. The number is now near 50.
The Texas County Commission on Jan. 18 – days after Honeycutt’s departure – issues a one-sentence statement: “The Texas County Commission has no authority over the Sheriff’s Office. As such we have no control over his operation/personnel issues.”