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New jail administrator adjusts to desk job
Nevada Daily Mail
The Vernon County Sheriff's Office added a new face to their staff when Lt. Eric Terry joined the team as the jail administrator in January, after six weeks of training for the position.
Born in Jacksonville, Fla., Terry's family moved to Joplin, where his parents' family lived, when he was a senior in high school. By that time, Terry said he had already developed a desire to become involved in law enforcement.
After he graduated from high school, Terry spent some time helping with dispatch and when he was 21 years old, went to the police academy. He then spent 16 years as a patrolman in Jasper County before getting some experience in administration when he helped an assistant chief for a short time in a small town.
It was during that time when Terry first met Vernon County Sheriff Jason Mosher. When he heard about the opening in administration at Vernon County, he decided to give it a try.
"It's a good place to come work," Terry says of the Vernon County Sheriff's Office.
Terry's position includes responsibilities such as supervision of employees, setting policies, building and jail maintenance and holding positions in the mental health and drug courts. He also looks ahead in setting goals for the department in future years and putting things in motion towards those goals.
"Drop description-wise, it's a couple hundred hats," Terry said of his new job, which he says includes a lot of paperwork. "Just making sure everything in the jail ... gets to the right place."
After spending so many years serving on patrol, Terry says it has been an adjustment moving to an administrative position where he spends much of his time at a desk instead of in the field.
"It's been a challenge," Terry said. "It's definitely a lot different on the administrative side than on a patrol side ... It's a different mindset. It's challenging, but it's been very fun so far."
Despite the added responsibilities and the sometimes tedious nature of the job, Terry said he enjoys being able to take action in order to correct things, instead of leaving it up to a boss.
"I've embraced the whole office job, desk job," Terry said. "I don't feel that desire to get out. I'm excited to see some of these steps I've started putting into motion now come to life in three or four years."
Although he has not had a long period of time yet to get to know the area, Terry said he has enjoyed life in Nevada so far.
"It's got everything I need," Terry said, adding he especially enjoys being on the lake now that warm weather has arrived.
Terry said he occasionally misses the time and experiences he had as a patrolman, but has adjusted to the position as jail administrator and enjoys it.
"I'll always miss aspects of it, but not on a regular basis," Terry said. "I'm pretty content."
Mosher said Terry has been a good addition to their staff over the past few months.
"There are a lot of obstacles to overcome when managing a county jail, and Lt. Terry has proven he is up for the task of maintaining a high level of professionalism and security in our jail," Mosher said. "I consider Lt. Terry an asset to my staff and think he will serve the county well as our new jail administrator."