CALHOUN: Crime Stoppers honors Calhoun Fire and Police officers at meeting

By Editor | April 12, 2022 |

Crime Stoppers President Terry Woelfel, (left), presents Calhoun Sheriff Bill Heffington, (center), and Chief Deputy Greg Weishaupt, (right), with an award for their actions in apprehending a suspect last year during the Kampsville Fourth of July Celebration after a three-county chase. (Carmen Ensinger/Calhoun News-Herald)

North Calhoun Fire Protection District Fire Chief Gary Hall accepts the plaque on behalf of the entire department for their help in stopping the suspect before he reached the Kampsville Fourth of July celebration. (Carmen Ensinger/Calhoun News-Herald)

The entire group of North Calhoun Fire Protection District members who were present Monday night at Straight Home Bar and Grill for the presentation and who received a medallion: Richard Gibbs, Travis Hall, Gary Hall, Debbie Hall, Chase Prokuski, Jim Smith, Kevin Slone, Adam Hughes and Eddie Johnson. (Carmen Ensinger/Calhoun News-Herald)

By Carmen Ensinger

The April meeting of Crime Stoppers, which was held at Straight Home Bar and Grill in Hardin Monday night, honored Calhoun Sheriff Bill Heffington and Chief Deputy Greg Weishaupt for their bravery during an incident which occurred during the Fourth of July in 2021 when a suspect led police on a three-county chase that ended in Calhoun County.
The North Calhoun Fire Protection District was also honored at the meeting for their efforts which led to the apprehension of the suspect in ultimately creating the barrier which led to his capture.
The incident occurred on the day of the Kampsville Fourth of July celebration. The suspect had broken through the gates on the Hardin bridge and was heading to Kampsville.
North Calhoun Fire Protection District Fire Chief Gary Hall, when accepting his award, said he knew there was the possibility of a great loss of life if the suspect were not stopped before he came into Kampsville.
“There were a lot of people in the streets and a lot of people along the side of the streets and we just thought that if he got past us and got into town that it could really be a bad situation,” Hall said. “That is why we decided we had to set something up to stop him and that is why we did what we did. This award means a lot to us.”
Crime Stoppers President Terry Woelfel said the pursuit originally started in Madison County.
“They couldn’t get him stopped there and it moved into Jersey County and then into Calhoun County,” Woelfel said. “These guys (Sheriff Heffington and Deputy Weishaupt) did a great job being such a small department.”
Sheriff Heffington was also honored for his upcoming retirement in November after spending 16 years as Sheriff of Calhoun County.
Brenda Schulte has worked with Heffington for the past 10 years as a dispatcher at the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office and said he is going to be hard to replace once he retires this coming November.
“His retirement is going to be hard to adjust to,” she said. “He is a fair man who has a big heart for his community. I can remember several times during the 10 years I have worked for him when he would help out some of the drifters that would come through the county. He would buy them a meal, some coffee or even put them up in a hotel – all of which came out of his own pocket. I’ve even seen him take people to the bus station and buy them a ticket and hand them cash to get them back to their families.”
Speaking of families, Schulte said that the legacy that Heffington has created is one like a family.
“Sheriff Heffington and all of the employees who worked during his time were a tight knit family who helped each other out,” she said. “He always had the backs of his fellow deputies and dispatchers. While he still has several months left, when he does go, he is going to be missed by so many but most of all by me.”
When asked what she is going to miss most, Schulte said the list was too long to name just one or two.
“To name just a few of the top ones, I would have to say his humor, kindness and his compassion,” she said. “Mostly, I’m going to miss his phone calls asking me if my car knows what double nickels are. And I’m definitely going to miss those 10 traffic stops at one time. Best wishes and may God continue to bless you in life.”