Retrospect: Deputy appointment caused controversy

There was a new (deputy) sheriff in town a half century ago this week, but not without a little bit of controversy.

George Scott, a former Jay County Sheriff, was appointed deputy sheriff July 26, 1967, much to the dismay of the county commissioners. A week earlier, the commissioners denied Scott’s application to be second deputy sheriff.

Scott received the oath from county clerk John L. Haitt, under the direction of Sheriff George Stultz, who at the time was out of town.

The legality of Scott’s appointment baffled county commissioners. His application was rejected — both as a temporary deputy for the remainder of the month and a permanent status thereafter — because he had not lived in the county for four years and the commissioners questioned his past conduct.

At the time, The Commercial Review reported “state law requires that the second deputy be approved by the commissioners, although no approval is needed for the appointment of the first deputy.”

Scott served as sheriff from 1955 to ’63, during which Stultz was his deputy. After leaving office, Scott lived in California and Columbia City, Indiana.

The Commercial Review reported this was not Scott’s first controversy. In the fall of 1960, he appointed Portland resident Paul Schaffer as his second deputy “on his own initiative.” After this, relations between Scott and other county officials — including commissioners, county council and the county auditor — became more tense.