UNDERSHERIFF
Undersheriff Riley is a 1995 graduate of the West Plains High School. In 1997, he graduated from Mineral Area College Law Enforcement Academy and became a full-time Patrol Officer in the City of Mountain View, State of Arkansas. While there, he received several certificates for his completion of required training by the Arkansas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training. In addition to the academy core classes, he has completed over five hundred-sixteen (516) hours of professional development in Law Enforcement presented by various agencies accredited through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies and approved Department of Public Safety providers. During his time with the City of Mountain View, he investigated traffic offenses, person offenses and property offenses as a uniformed Law Enforcement Officer allowing him to have exposure to different Law Enforcement models outside the State of Missouri.
In 1999, he was selected for employment with the Sheriff’s Office in the County of Ozark, State of Missouri. Throughout his seven years of service with the Ozark County Sheriff’s Office, he served as a Patrol Officer, an Investigator and lastly the coveted position of Undersheriff for Sheriff Steve Bartlett. In 2004, he was selected for employment with the Sheriff’s Office in the beloved County of Howell, State of Missouri. During his time with the Howell County Sheriff’s Office he has applied his experience in community policing under several Sheriff’s resulting in him being recognized for unwavering pursuit of serving the community, resulting in Undersheriff Riley being promoted to the position of Investigator. In 2007 and having served approximately three years at the Howell County Sheriff’s Office, he was offered the position of Undersheriff with a concentration of Leading Investigations at the Ozark County Sheriff’s Office under Sheriff Raymond Pace.
In 2009, he was offered a position at the Howell County Prosecutors Office as an Investigator for the Prosecuting Attorney Michael P. Hutchings. In 2014, Undersheriff Riley was offered a position as the Lead Investigator at the Howell County Sheriff’s Office for Sheriff James M. Shannon. During his 20+ years of service, Undersheriff Riley has had an array of Law Enforcement experiences under a multitude of systems and leadership; much in the area of investigations resulting in his depth of investigative applications in closing cases in: criminal homicide, negligent manslaughter, rape and attempted rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny theft, motor vehicle theft, arson, violent crimes and property crimes.
Undersheriff Riley has earned several law enforcement awards: Award of Hazardous Materials Certification and Award of Service with four Stars (20+ years) and he has maintained a State of Missouri Peace Officer Class-B License since 2000. Undersheriff Riley has received certificates of recognition for his exceptional skills and performance from various local and state agencies. Undersheriff Riley is married to Tara Riley and they have raised three children throughout his Law Enforcement career. Undersheriff Riley and Tara both come from family generations that are settled in Howell County and are well known for working their family farm and being committed to the community.