this is not the first time something of this nature has happened. linn chief of police richard bray has a son who was drinking and driving and crashed, however he did it off duty....BUT he's still a cop. the whole county is corrupt, from the court, sheriff, ems, and townships. the only way to fix the problem is to get fowler, and grellner out of the positions first. but seeing as that wont happen for some time ill just stay away from there. i once lived there, but never again till the corruption and drama stops.

"Only in America",.....you don't seem to understand. If you are a citizen of Osage County, no one in their right mind would write a letter to any paper lest be the target of the "lynch mob". Yes, Fowler has been elected 4 times because no one has run against him! Besides who would run in this situation and subject themselves to the court house hipocricy or the U.D. controlled court house!

The only way to clean up this mess is to oust ALL current elected officials, start fresh and keep the U.D. out of the courthouse.

Send help in O.C.

Only in a free society would mostly uninformed citizens be allowed to comment. Sheriff Fowler has been elected 4 times by the voters of this county and at no time have any of the people commenting written a letter to the editor of any paper in the area including the UD. With this much negative comments a reasonable person would think that Sheriff Fowler could not get elected dog catcher.

You hit the nail on the head Joe, we should vote the idiots out of office, but it's immpossible for the voters to know what goes on in the county if it's not reported correctly in the infamous U.D. The only things you read are the things J.V. and co. want you to hear (or not hear). They DO NOT print an unbiased paper, but as people come to realize this they WILL eventually meet their demise.

The owners of the U.D. basically run the court house, take a look: A retired judge, a daughter who double dips a salary (911 & EMS), a son who is a auxilary deputy, a son-in-law who is a trooper in O.C. and Fowler a personal family friend who spends holidays with the paper owners. Everyone in the court house walks a straight line (their line), because they do not want to become headlines. The presiding commisioner, hasn't enough brains or gonads to do what's right because he doesn't want to make headlines.

Sounds to me, Joe K., you know lot of what's happening in the county. Well I do too, but I have reservations because of what it would bring on from the idiots. I know what Mr. Fowler did to swing the election on his first bid for his office and have evidence and witnesses to prove it. His actions as a deputy at the time are felonies. Man I'de like to tell the story!

When will the truth come out on the Dale Helmig case? THIS MAN IS INNOCENT!!!...and was put in prison on the lies Fowler stated in testimony...not right.

Your like me, it's easier just to leave the county than to put up with the B.S.

looks like the people in osage county .are finialy waking up .to what kind of people that are in the court house .and publishers of the so called news paper .you can't do anything about the paper--------- except quit buying it -but you can vote the crooks out of office .they are all over the internet .and tv. about the dale helmig case.it's really a shame .

"not so quick to judge".....sounds like you're talking out of both sides of your mouth. First you praise 'em for what they do and then you condemn them for what they do! ???? Fowler's Follies and the entire legal system in O.C. is a joke. They can't seem to get anything right. I do agree with you that in most cases law enforcement officers are to be commended for the risk they take to protect us, but this circus is ridiculous.

I lived in Osage County for awhile and what a sick mess. It is a collection of the most misfit local yokals you'll ever find in a county. I can't name one elected official that is fit for their position. You could write a good comedy on this place. I am LMAO but feel for the citizens who must put up with such leadership.

Not a bit surprised!! That's what we call "Osage County's Finest"!!!! Where do they find these daryl-licks to protect and serve our county?!?! What a shame! I certainly hope that he gets treated/punished like anyone else would; right Amanda Grellner???? And I hope this is plastered all over the UD; right Jerry Voss???
Lets get some people to protect and serve with a little bit of education. These guys don't even need to have a GED to be a deputy!! That's nice!
Thank Goodness no innocent people were injured!
WAY TO GO OSAGE COUNTY!! WOO HOO!!
Let's cook up some Meth in the parking lot of the court house parking lot!!

This comment is for "Big Smoker" from Linn and "J.F." from Belle. If you and others knew about this officer drinking prior to this accident they why didn't you report it to the Highway Patrol! In my mind you are as guilty as the officer. I have a lot of officer friends and would never let them leave my house drunk to go chase someone!

This is just another day in the life of O.C. Too bad for Fowler and Co. that the MSHP got involved or it would have just been another deal swept under the rug. You wonder why drugs are running wild in the county; the cops are passed out in the patrol cars! It is also strange that you never hear about this in the little U.D. that published down there, well I take that back, this may. What happened to the Linn auxilary cop that was drunk and crashed into a yard a couple of years age? Oh ya, cover it up O.C. and the U.D., anyone else would have been lynched by the idiots.
This dept. is a total joke and WASTE of taxpayer dollars. What's sad, is how much of this goes on and no one ever hears about it.

I wonder if we can put the breathalizer system on all O.C. vehicles before they go on duty?

Yeah Think!!!!!LOL

I didn't know there was a certain time frame for stopping "criminals". If a person is speeding through any town, whether on their way to work at 6:30 in the morning or not, they are fair game to being stopped and given a ticket. That speed limit sign means just what it says 24 hours a day.

People should not be so quick to judge our law enforcement deputies, with all the meth and drugs that we have in our county we should feel pretty lucky to have not lost anymore lives due to chasing meth heads and blowing up buildings due to drugs. Stress free jobs anymore are very few and fair away. When these officers go out on a call they never know if they will see there family again. Not defending what this deputy has done, by know means is it right for him to have been drinking and driving while on duty or any other time, He made bad judgement and he will pay for this the rest of his life. I have always heard good things about this deputy. As far as the city cops, they need to slow down, halloween nite with about 200 kids on our street one came flying down the street just to sit at the corner stop with another fellow cop. He could of wiped out several children, they also sit on private property and run radar which I have heard is not legal. They stop alot of criminals at 6:30 in the morning on there way to work as well.

Fowler has known about this guy's drinking problem and still did nothing about it. Ever since Fowler has taken over as Sheriff the OC's law enforcement department has become a joke. You can cook meth right across the street from his office, and apparently you can work for Fowler and drink on the job. NICE. I guess as long as it keeps him from getting up in the middle of the night to respond to calls it is justified.

the linn officer was not charged and is still a cop after a 1 year suspension

I agree... why is he not going to be charged with unlawful use of a weapon? I know if I was just "anybody" that got pulled over while driving while intoxicated with a loaded gun in my vehicle, that'd be an automatic felony charge!!!

It's about time he got caught. He has drank while on duty for years. Everyone around home knew it and now everyone else knows. My questions is... How did his boss/co-workers not know?? It was obvious the man was a drunk. Glad he lost his job. So much for 'to serve and protect'. What if he had hit another vehicle...? I hope to see many charges pressed against this hypocrit.

How come he was not charged with unlawful use of a weapon like the Linn cop that wrecked drunk driving on this same highway.

You have GOT to be kidding.

I drove up on this accident right after it happen. I assumed he was in that ditch due to a deer. Never in my wildest dreams did I assume he was there due to drinking too much alcohol. I don't feel safe!!! Scary to feel this way!! I worry about drunk drivers killing my family. Was not aware I needed to worry about our county deputies!! How do we teach our children not to drink and drive???, When the cops do it??

As a long time resident of Osage County... This does not surprise me!! Too funny... Way to go Linn city cops!! I am just surprised this is only the 1st one caught... I am telling ya... You need to have a degree in alcoholism to live in Osage County!! It is the most ridiculous county to live in.

I wonder how many DWI's this baffoon has givin out in the last 4 years.... I can understand how a DWI can "just happen".... But, while you are a on duty police officer! This has to some type of record... Call Guiness..... All joking aside, I am sure since he has protected and served in Osage County for soooo long, there will be a milder punishement for him.... LOL

Hard to think this is the kinda officer we have, if they realy knew how many officers did this we would not have as many worthless cop out there,I know of one in Moniteau officer that wrecked his car leaving my house to chase some one....after drinking many beers with us...I hope they start checking officer before and after they are on duty....

That whole department is a joke!!! The don't have one single good officer!!! They don't do a damn thing, I hope there is a change soon! Wish the highway patrol would just take them over !!!