Cape Girardeau County Sheriff John Jordan announced Monday that he will resign his position effective at 1 p.m. Monday, Aug. 13.
Jordan has been nominated to serve as a federal marshal and is still awaiting confirmation by the U.S. Senate.
“Some say the safe thing to do is to wait for the final confirmation vote, but in my heart I know now is the right time, and it’s also the right thing to do,” Jordan said in a prepared statement.
“By stepping down now, it allows the County Commission to call for a special election a new sheriff to be held during this year’s general election in November. It also allows the county’s two political central committees to nominate their candidate to be placed on the November ballot. All of these things must be occur and names be certified for the November ballot by the close of business Aug. 28.
“By stepping down now, it will save the county taxpayers the $80,000 expense of conducting a special election outside of the November election. This is the right thing to do.”
Jordan said his nomination as U.S. marshal, along with other nominations, are on the Senate Calendar for a final confirmation vote, so it’s time to step down, even though he doesn’t know the outcome of the Senate vote. “I have and will continue to trust God,” he said.
Jordan thanked voters for putting him in office nearly 24 years and praised the employees of his office.
“One of the greatest privileges of my life has been to serve as sheriff of Cape Girardeau County. It has been challenging, yet very rewarding. Every day across the country, law enforcement officers face choices. Often the choice is between doing what is safe or what is right. Time and again officers choose what is right over what is safe.
“Thank you for allowing me to serve as your sheriff for almost 24 years. I’ve been privileged to work with some of the greatest employees on the planet. All credit or praise for any successes I may have experienced, belong to them, but above all, [to] God.”
