The Texas County Sheriff’s Department has a new deputy.
Sheriff Scott Lindsey said Springfield native Graham Applegate has joined the agency. Applegate now resides in the Houston area with his wife, Ashley. He spent 17 years with the Nixa Police Department, including assignments as a patrol supervisor, S.W.A.T. and detective.
Applegate left law enforcement for a private sector job for about three years before deciding to continue his career in public service. He attended the law enforcement academy at Drury University in Springfield, graduating in 1997 in same class as Lindsey.
Applegate is assigned to the patrol division of the TCSD, whose primary duty is to answer calls for service, conduct investigations and provide pro-active enforcement. Deputy Melissa Emerick has transferred from the patrol division to chief of court security, and will still assist with patrol when court is not in session.
“I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to add a deputy with the experience and qualifications of Graham Applegate,” Lindsey said. “It’s not very often that I get applications of this caliber. Deputy Applegate’s experience at Nixa exposed him to a wide variety of crimes and investigations, and I think it’s a benefit to our entire staff to have that type of knowledge to call on when we work cases.
“I’m also pleased to have deputy Emerick as chief of court security. Her knowledge of the jail and court system and her experience with the sheriff’s office will be an asset to that position as well.”
Applegate’s first day with the TCSD was Wednesday, Feb. 12.