dailyjournalonline.com
MADISON COUNTY – A chapter in the history of southeast Missouri law enforcement will come to a close effective 11:59 p.m. Dec. 31 (2012) when Sheriff David Lewis will retire after serving the residents of Madison County for the past 16 years.
Lewis started his law enforcement career in September 1982 as a Madison County Sheriff reserve officer. In 1989 he applied with the Fredericktown Police Department and was hired in March. He rose through the ranks rapidly and was promoted to Sergeant in 1990. He ran for, and was elected Sheriff in November 1996.
During his tenure in law enforcement, Lewis worked cases that shocked the county, the state, and the nation, including the disappearance of a young girl, who to this day has never been located.
Gina Dawn Brooks was abducted Aug. 5, 1989 while riding her bicycle down a city street. The case gained national media attention when she went missing, and again in 1999 when suspect Nathan D. Williams was arrested and charged with her murder.
While the case fell under the jurisdiction of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Lewis assisted in the abduction case as a patrol officer, and later was responsible for the housing and protection of suspect Williams.
“When it happened back in 1989, the FBI and the highway patrol came in, and I wasn’t that active on it, as I was a patrol officer at the time,” Lewis said. “Over the years, anytime we had a lead we would run it down. When the suspect (Williams) was charged we were responsible for incarcerating him and providing security for him because of the public outrage. And you don’t like it, but you still have to do your job to keep this man safe for a successful prosecution.”
The cased against Williams was dropped in 1999 due to lack of evidence. He is currently incarcerated on an unrelated rape conviction.
