Jefferson County, MO – A piece of Missouri’s law enforcement past has resurfaced this week as the Jefferson County Law Enforcement History Project announced the recovery of rare constable artifacts dating back nearly a century.
According to the project’s statement, the collection was obtained from the Cape Girardeau County Law Enforcement History Project and includes the original badge and commission documents of Deputy Constable John Reavis Tomes, who served Meramec Township under Constable Adolph Bauer from 1935 through at least 1941.
The documents are signed by Tomes, Bauer, and Justice of the Peace H.J. Dickhardt of Cedar Hill, Missouri. The project described the items as “historic treasures” that shed light on the early structure of local law enforcement in Jefferson County.
Meramec Township—now defunct—was established in 1821 and once covered much of northwestern Jefferson County, including Cedar Hill, Dittmer, Lake Tekakwitha, Hoene Springs, and Byrnesville.
“These artifacts help preserve the story of those who served our county generations ago,” the project shared in its post. “We are honored to have these historic items.”
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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