Oran's new chief settles in

ORAN, Mo. -- Oran's new chief's style is much different from that of his predecessor, Marc Tragesser.

"I haven't written a ticket," chief Steve Shoemaker said Friday, a little less than two months into his job as police chief. Tragesser's department issued 120 citations from July 2005 to mid-January 2006.

Where Tragesser drew fire for writing tickets for all manner of traffic violations, Shoemaker said he hasn't even "red-lighted" anyone on the town's roads. He admits his style is more like that of Howard Stevens, who served as chief for decades before Tragesser and was known more for talking to townspeople than writing tickets. Shoemaker, an Oran resident most of his life, once worked under Stevens and admits he wants to emulate the old chief's small-town diplomacy in policing. He's not the only one drawing comparisons to the old ways.

"He's pretty close to the chief we used to have," said Eula Mansker, a resident of Oran for 30 years who said he never had any personal problems with Tragesser.

Like many people in town, Mansker knows Shoemaker personally. "I'd say 90 percent of the people here know him," he said.

Mansker said that since Shoemaker has taken over, the town has started to return to the way Oran used to be.

Tragesser's tenure as chief in Oran started in summer 2005 and ended in November, when he and his entire department resigned. During that time, a rift developed among some townspeople, pitting those who supported Tragesser's aggressive law enforcement style against those who wanted a chief more like Stevens, who wrote few tickets.

Tony Brashear, former co-owner of Otter's Bar and Grill, alleged Tragesser unfairly targeted his customers.

When Otter's went out of business in July, a marquee on the building said "Closed ... Thank your chief and mayor."

Now Brashear says life in the town has gotten back to the pre-Tragesser days, but "there's still some bad blood." He says Shoemaker doesn't put up with lawbreaking but is "a great guy."

Shoemaker says he has a good relationship with the town's board of aldermen, too, which was often lacking during Tragesser's tenure.

Mayor Tom Urhahn said Shoemaker is showing dedication to his new job, putting in more than 40 hours per week and keeping the city government informed of the police department's operations.

"I know he is getting settled in and will continue to put in whatever hours are needed to provide the city with police protection," Urhahn said.

Now, Shoemaker is the police department. Whereas Tragesser had two full-time officers working with him, Oran has elected to leave only Shoemaker's position intact, using close cooperation with the county sheriff's department to watch over the town while the new chief is sleeping or away.

Despite fewer officers, Shoemaker said he knows of only one serious crime since he's been chief. During his first night on the job, a flatbed trailer was stolen. The perpetrator was caught, he said.

Shoemaker said he's also dealt with plenty of "normal" incidents in a town Oran's size -- teenagers driving too fast and domestic disputes. Other than that, the town remains quiet, he said, and many residents agree.

"We've never had that much crime," despite the image of lawlessness some worry outsiders may have after Tragesser, Mansker said.

For now Shoemaker said he's continuing to introduce himself to townspeople and is building relationships, the best way to stop and solve crimes in a small town, he said.

"I do a lot of talking," Shoemaker said. "I fraternize with the public."

Still, Shoemaker said he doesn't expect everyone to like him.

"Some like me, some don't," he said.

msanders@semissourian.com

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