By JEFF LAMPE
For The Prairie News
The face of law enforcement in Stark County changed dramatically on Nov. 10.
Wyoming Police Chief James Tiller announced his immediate retirement on Nov. 10 and Stark County Sheriff Steve Sloan announced his planned retirement at the Nov. 10 meeting of the Stark County Board.
Tiller is moving to West Virginia and his retirement was effective last week. Wyoming is advertising for a replacement, according to Mayor Jim Mercer.
“I talked to the county and we’ve got it covered three days a week and the county will cover the rest of the week until I get somebody hired,” Mercer said.
Phil Wells is currently working as a part-time officer for Wyoming, but not does want to take on a full-time position, according to Mercer.
Another officer, Kerry Copeland, should graduate from the police academy in December. Copeland has expressed interest in the police chief position.
A Wyoming resident, Sloan will end a 48-year career in law enforcement on Dec. 31. He has been Stark County Sheriff since Dec. 1, 2016, when he replaced Jimmie Dison. Sloan, 67, started his law-enforcement career with the Stark County Sheriff’s Office on Dec. 7, 1978 as a deputy.
After five years, he took over as chief of police in Wyoming for about 25 years.
Sloan then returned to the sheriff’s office in 2005 as a jailer and dispatcher. He eventually began working again as a deputy.
At the time of his appointment in 2016, Sloan called the position of Stark County Sheriff a dream job.
Sloan laughed when asked if the job actually turned out to be a dream. “Yes it was,” he said. “I’ve enjoyed working with all the people and the citizens in Stark County. I’ll miss them, but I’m looking forward to retirement.”
Sloan said he thinks Chief Deputy Chuck Demetreon will be his replacement on an interim basis. The County Board meets again Dec. 9 and can formalize the appointment of Demetreon, 48, chief deputy since 2017.
The next election cycle is in 2026, with a primary on March 17 and a general election on Nov. 3. Sloan said Demetreon is the only person who has announced his candidacy to be sheriff.
Demetreon has worked in the sheriff’s department for nearly 22 years, starting as a deputy and moving up to become sergeant in 2010.
Sloan said his proudest achievement is helping bring Emergency 911 service to Stark County, which was the last county in the state to receive E-911 status. Peoria County agreed to an intergovernmental agreement to combine with Stark County in 2024.
“I have nothing but high marks for the Peoria County ETSB (Emergency Telephone Systems Board),” Sloan said.
Sloan was not as pleased with Illinois passing the SAFE-T Act in 2021.
“It’s just ridiculous the amount of paperwork that has to be sent into the state now,” Sloan said. “I’m looking forward to retirement.”
