Brown County Constable Precinct 1 Bob Beadel announced his plans to retire by October 31, 2014.
According to Beadel, after 35 years of service to Brown County, he is ready to retire and spend time with his wife Ann. Beadel is 75 years old and stated that his wife had had some health problems, and although his passion is law enforcement and serving the citizens of Brown County, he wants to spend time with his wife now.
Mrs. Beadel joked, “At our age, if we want to run and play, we better get after it.”Beadel explained that he has always enjoyed serving the people of Brown County, both in the private business and in law enforcement. “The citizens of Brown County were always good to me.”
He stated that he worked in his family business JRB Supermarkets for many years prior to his law enforcement career, from a sacker up to being a purchasing agent as the business grew over the years. Beadel began his law enforcement career in 1979, while still working in the family business and served Brown County in a few different capacities over the years, including patrol officer, reserve co-coordinator, jailer and dispatcher for several months. He served as a reserve deputy for Brown County Sheriff Danny Neal for a couple of years, before starting his constable career in 1981.
He retired from this position of public service after 25 years in 2004, at absolutely no expense to Brown County.
Beadel was appointed by Judge Stephen Ellis as constable in 2005, filling an unexpired term.
After that term ended, in May of 2006 he was unanimously appointed by Brown County Commissioners to fill the term of the current constable. At this time the position was given a meager salary according to Beadel which has since slowly increased.
He served with Jim Bitters as a constable for years with no pay and stated that they both performed their duties serving the citizens of the county, sometimes spending their own money to fund the needs of the position after their small budgets were expended. He proudly served stating, “Because I wanted to be of assistance to the citizens of Brown County in the area of law enforcement, a real love of mine.”
Beadel stated that he plans to retire by October 31st but that he will stay on until Brown County officials appoint a qualified new constable. If someone can be appointed sooner, he will retire at a sooner date; however he stated that he would not “leave the county in a lurch” or put more work on other constables.
Pictured above are Constable Bob Beadel and his wife Ann Beadel.
