County hires former cop to fill justice of peace job

In a whirlwind last week, Lincoln County commissioners sifted through 26 resumes and interviewed five candidates, announcing Friday afternoon that a Lincoln County deputy would become the next justice of the peace.

Jay Sheffield, who has been in law enforcement for almost 30 years, took the oath of office Monday to fill the post formerly held by Gary Hicks. The job will be up for election in November 2010.

He removed the plastic from his new judge’s robe just hours before he was expected to preside over south Lincoln County’s justice court. Though the position came quickly, Sheffield had his eye on the job long before there was a vacancy.

“I had considered some time back that I was probably going to run and challenge (Hicks) in two years,” Sheffield said. “When the opportunity was available to apply, I was ready.”

Lincoln County commissioners emphasized how difficult it was to choose from the many qualified applicants, but in the end, what stood out about Sheffield was his experience.

 “It was a difficult decision, but Jay came out on top,” said Commissioner John Konzen. “He worked as a bailiff assigned to a district court judge for approximately five years. He was involved in that process and we felt that gave him the edge, along with many other things in his resume.”

Usually a justice of the peace is elected in November and attends a school in December before taking office in January. Sheffield won’t be able to attend a justice school until the next session in April, so he will depend on his prior experience, as well as help from a mentor justice and advice from Terry Utter, who served as interim justice for the past three months.

Sheffield lists consistency as his top priority in his rulings. He will also be looking into repeat offenders.

“When people repeatedly get a suspended sentence for committing the same offense three or four times – that is something I will be looking at real hard,” Sheffield said.

During his interview with commissioners, Sheffield pointed out that in addition to regular fines given to minors for alcohol and tobacco use, he believes community service should be utilized. In the past, community service has only been used to work off fines, but not as part of the penalty.

Sheffield moved to Libby in 2004 with his wife Kathleen and son Hunter, who is now 17, after retiring from the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department in California.

He tried his hand at substitute teaching when he heard Libby had a shortage.

“It was a drastic change working 25 years as a deputy and then working with 15-year-olds,” said Sheffield, chuckling. “It was refreshing.”

“I really liked that he had a rounded application,” said Commissioner Tony Berget. “I leaned toward getting someone with a balance of experience and being a community member.”

Sheffield also worked for the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office as a civil and transport deputy for the past year-and-a-half. His position will most likely be filled internally, according to Sheriff Daryl Anderson.

Sheffield is originally from northwest Arkansas and moved to San Diego when he was 13. His move to Montana actually began the summer of 1989 when Sheffield and his wife vacationed in Libby.

“I had some very distant relatives that live here, this is a nice community and the mountains are where we wanted to be,” Sheffield said. “We took a vacation, fell in love with the place and bought land before we went home.”