“He was a man of many hats with shoes too big to fill for any one person alone.”
Those were the words from Assistant Fire Chief Garrett Schott and others across the community. For many, he was someone who left the world much too soon, and a big hole in the heart of Perryville.
Major Bill Jones, touted as a man with much knowledge and a kind heart, died after a short battle with cancer August 2 at the age of 61.
“There is a huge hole in our blue family. When you work with someone as long as we have, you become family. We grieve with Paula and Amy and the rest of his family. He was a mentor to so many officers both in the police and fire departments. Not only within our departments but across the state. His loss is felt by all of us. He was a wealth of knowledge and experience which the loss of will be felt for years.” Perryville Police Chief Dierk Hunt said in a statement
During his professional career, Major Jones started serving the citizens of Perryville in 1983 as a Reserve Officer. In 1984 he became a full-time Patrol Officer with the city. Major Jones rose through the ranks quickly, becoming a Sergeant in 1986 and moving up to his current rank of Major in 1988. During his tenure at the police department, he was also an Evidence Technician and held the title of Interim Chief of Police twice. In addition, he trained hundreds of officers during the 1990s at the SEMO Law Enforcement Academy in crime scene collection and investigations. Major Jones has been a trainer for the fire department and in emergency management fields for just as long, training others throughout the state in fire-fighting and disaster preparedness, mitigation, and recovery as the Perryville Assistant Fire Chief and Emergency Management Director.
Major Jones was involved in many organizations throughout the State of Missouri and nationally. Some of these include the President of the board of Cape Girardeau Area Fire Training Library, Missouri Peace Officers Association, Missouri Fire Chiefs Association, Firefighters Association of Missouri, International Association of Arson Investigators, International Association of Fire Chiefs, Missouri IAAI, Missouri Emergency Management Association, Ozark Firefighters Association, Professional Fire and Fraud Investigators Association.
“Losing Bill prematurely will literally be felt for months and even years. I don’t think any of us truly understand everything he did for our community, whether as a police officer, fire fighter or Emergency Management Director.” Perryville City Administrator Brent Buerck said. ”He knew what needed to be done, and did it, never seeking accolades, and often without anyone knowing he was even doing it.”
Jones was always proud to serve Perryville in his numerous roles.
“This is my hometown,” he said in October 2022 after celebrating his 40th year with the Perryville Police Department. “This is where I was born and raised and I think this is a very good community. I think you would be hard pressed to find a community that is better to raise a family in or to send your kids to school, or to work in. “The citizens respect law enforcement and treat us very well as police officers and there are some cities where that is not the case,” Jones said. “The city administration from the mayor to the board of aldermen and the city administrator have given us great support for 40 years or close to it.”
Jones, who also described as a man of great faith, was born September 19, 1961 in Perryville to Grover and Doris (Hansen) Jones. He was baptized September 1961 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Friedheim. He and Paula Lawson were married on October 4, 1986 in Minnesota. Bill was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Perryville, where he also served on the Board of Elders.
“There is a saying that at the end of one’s life, the thing that matters most is the dash between the dates. Major Jones has made that dash matter. He lived a life of service. Major Jones served his church and God as an Elder at Immanuel Lutheran Church; as well as mentoring many young people over the years.” Said a post from the Perryville Police Department. “He served his community as not only the Assistant Chief of Police but as an Assistant Fire Chief and the City of Perryville’s Emergency Manager. His favorite days at work were when he got to interact with children. Whether it was going to eat lunch with the students at Immanuel Lutheran School while in uniform, giving a fire presentation, taking kids shopping for Shop with a Cop, or a firehouse open house; he was all smiles.”
Not only was he a role model for the children he met, but also the countless officers and fire fighters he interacted with on a daily basis.
