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Sheriffs of Reno County: Charles Heidebrecht

March 17, 2021 by Jim Potter 16 Comments

https://jimpotterauthor.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Sheriffs-of-Reno-County-28-Charles-Heidebrecht.mp3

· Charles Heidebrecht (b. 1927)

Sheriff 1963-1972

·

Reno County Sheriff Charles Heidebrecht, about 1968. Author’s collection

Reverend Richard Burson, minister at the Gospel Chapel, Elm Street and 6th Avenue, Hutchinson, Kansas, takes a deep breath. He looks shrunken, his eyes downcast.

It’s Sunday, July 30th, 1972, two days before Reno County citizens vote in the primary election to decide who will be the next top lawman. The Republican winner will almost certainly be the next sheriff since there’s no Democrat challenger on the ballot.

Click to read Sheriff Charles Heidebrecht’s political advertisement supporting Undersheriff Howard Nelson: Heidebrecht endorses Nelson 

Rev. Burson, 54, is about ready to face his congregation, to apologize for unintentionally spreading an evil rumor.

*

Rev. Burson has prayed about his professional dilemma. Howard Nelson, 47, and Jim Fountain, 43, are both running for sheriff on the Republican ticket. Burson has been drawn into the political campaign because members of his congregation have told him about rumors they’ve heard and have asked him for his advice.

In an attempt to get the facts, Burson has visited with Sheriff Charles Heidebrecht, 44, at his office in the Reno County courthouse. Heidebrecht informed Burson that when Captain Fountain worked for him on road patrol two and a half years earlier, the deputy was a drunk.

Political campaign flyer from 1972. Author’s collection

With that information, Burson preached to his congregation, warning them not to vote for Fountain, that Undersheriff Nelson would make a better sheriff.

When Fountain supporters learned that Burson had been spreading rumors from the pulpit, they informed candidate Fountain. Quickly, with the election just days ahead, Fountain, a family member, a friend, and Fountain’s minister, visited Rev. Burson at his church. All four of the men convinced Burson that Fountain did not have a drinking problem, and accused Heidebrecht of misleading the minister.

*

“I really thought I was doing something right,” said Richard Burson to Jim Fountain and his supporters. “I’ve failed my flock and I need to make things right.

“You must not pass along false rumors, Exodus 23:1,” quoted Rev. Burson. “The one who states his case first seems right, until the other comes and examines him, Proverbs 18:17.

“It’s hard for me to believe a police officer wouldn’t give me straight-forward information. I didn’t feel Sheriff Heidebrecht was trying to lie to me or mislead me, but I’m afraid I’ve been very much misled.

“I feel I should rectify this. I feel the information he gave me wasn’t factual. It was colored by what he wanted me to think, and it was not told to me in strict confidence.

“Mr. Fountain, I am sincerely sorry for having spread an evil, false rumor about you . . . I wish you luck in the upcoming election.

“Now, I’m going to correct my error to my congregation and ask them for their forgiveness.” With those final words, Rev. Burston stood up, prepared to rectify a wrong.

Reno County Sheriff’s Deputy Jim Fountain, about 1968. Author’s collection

*

“How could a minister give a sermon in violation of confidence?” asked Charles Heidebrecht. “Rev. Burson asked to speak to me privately and confidentially.

“I apologize to Jim Fountain and his family for Rev. Burson’s breach of trust in exposing to the public what I tried so hard to conceal because I didn’t want to embarrass my former deputy or his family.

“What happened was deplorable. Howard Nelson did not want a mud-slinging campaign. It appears to me that I, not Rev. Burson, is a pawn in a political gimmick.

“I regret that I have been forced to enter into this type of campaign. Rev. Burston has labeled me a liar. I know of no other way to defend myself except to answer his accusations in like manner; publicly though the press.”

*

Everyone involved, Rev. Burson, Charles Heidebrecht, Jim Fountain, and Howard Nelson, might have agreed that politics, especially when it gets personal, can be ugly and leave a bitter taste that won’t easily be washed away.

*

After Fountain won a narrow victory over Nelson, there was no smooth transition, as promised. Instead, the Hiedebrecht Administration was in a hurry to abandon ship.

The sheriff, undersheriff, Detective Captain Charles Maddox, and Office Manager Alice Bragg, all announced their three-month early departure, taking effect October 1st.

Sheriff-elect Fountain was appointed by Governor Robert Docking to fill the unexpired term of Sheriff Heidebrecht.

When the new administration arrived at the almost new city-county law enforcement center, 210 W 1st Ave., on their first day of work, they weren’t expecting a band, or a parade, or even a cake. Instead, they found a welcoming gift atop the sheriff’s desk. It was a giant pile of unmarked department keys.

*

Until next time, happy writing and reading.

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Filed Under: Blog posts Tagged With: Charles Heidebrecht, Detective Captain Charles Maddox, Gospel Chapel, Governor Robert Docking, Hutchinson Kansas, Hutchinson News, Jim Fountain, Jim Potter, Kansas Authors Club, Office Manager Alice Bragg, Reno County, Reno County courthouse, Reno County Sheriff, Reverend Richard Burson, Sheriff Charles Heidebrecht, Sheriffs of Reno County, Undersheriff Howard Nelson

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Alex says

    March 17, 2021 at 10:14 am

    Political conniving is not new!!!!

    Reply
    • Jim Potter says

      March 17, 2021 at 10:33 am

      Politics!

      Reply
  2. Miriam Iwashige says

    March 17, 2021 at 10:27 am

    My dad knew Richard Burson through a pastors group they were both part of. I never heard about this incident involving local law enforcement. If my dad knew about it, I think it would have reinforced for him the wisdom of staying free from political entanglements. I don’t think he ever doubted Richard Burson’s integrity though.

    Reply
    • Jim Potter says

      March 17, 2021 at 10:35 am

      Politics is one challenge. Another one is communicating through the media rather than one-to-one in private. Life is complicated.

      Reply
  3. Marilyn Bolton says

    March 17, 2021 at 5:17 pm

    The “good old days” were complicated indeed. Political endorsements from the pulpit seem ill-advised, if not reckless!

    Reply
    • Jim Potter says

      March 17, 2021 at 6:06 pm

      Agreed, ill-advised. How much is this naivete, not understanding the depth of politics? Think of how many people say & do stupid things on social media today that end up biting them in the rear (and helping LE solve crimes).

      Reply
  4. Louise says

    March 18, 2021 at 9:31 am

    Great story. I hope we get more information about the unmarked keys. You bring history to life.

    Reply
    • Jim Potter says

      March 18, 2021 at 9:33 am

      Thanks, Louise. I’ll bet it took several hours or days to figure out which key went to the appropriate lock.

      Reply
  5. Earl says

    March 18, 2021 at 9:34 am

    I can’t help but laugh because of the ending. I found this to be relatable!

    Reply
    • Jim Potter says

      March 18, 2021 at 9:35 am

      The worst fighting is infighting.

      Reply
  6. Earl says

    March 18, 2021 at 1:04 pm

    But being left a pile of keys to figure out on your own, I found humorous because it sort of happened to me. Being left a mess and a quick good bye, used to happen all the time at shift change. I’m so glad I don’t have to deal with that anymore.

    Reply
    • Jim Potter says

      March 18, 2021 at 1:07 pm

      When people leave angry, it’s often after a long process of felling ignored & abused. When it’s someone in the “family” it feels worse, so personal. Betrayal. A lover scorned, etc.

      Reply
  7. Jim Potter says

    March 18, 2021 at 1:09 pm

    I’m glad there are good people who are willing to be political. I also hope they can survive with a heart & soul.

    Reply
  8. Kathleen says

    March 18, 2021 at 1:11 pm

    Great article, I enjoyed it!

    Reply
    • Jim Potter says

      March 18, 2021 at 1:13 pm

      I admire people who are willing, at great personal risk, to get involved in change. Politics is certainly one of those double-edged swords.

      Reply
  9. Jim Potter says

    March 18, 2021 at 1:15 pm

    Hey, I see John Avery gave this article a “like.” I’ll bet he could tell us about political intrigue. John, if you’re listening, I believe your dad, Jerry, ran for sheriff in 1974 & 1976. Any memories to share or are they all x-rated?

    Reply

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What People Are Saying

Denise Low, author of Jackalope (Red Mountain Press)

Jim Potter is a cop, retired, but he brings deep understanding of this job to his novel Taking Back the Bullet: Trajectories of Self-Discovery. This layered novel has literary dimensions as characters explore crisis situations. Congratulations to this fine writer for his debut novel.

Rebecca from Proud Police Wife

Taking Back the Bullet is an emotional, yet captivating novel. Jim Potter does a superb job of intertwining each character and putting their individual identities on display. All law enforcement storylines are a true reflection of Potter’s years as a police officer because they are realistic and relatable. This is a book I highly recommend.

Dennis Perrin, educator

Masterful storytelling, exquisite character development, so real as to HURT and HOPE, a real page turner. Begs for stage, screenwriters, and visual episodic development a.k.a. TV series . . . Thanks Jim Potter for telling it like it is AND providing us visions of how it could be. Well done!

Rebecca Schillaci

As a former law enforcement officer, I found the story very relatable as it details the life of a law enforcement officer and the struggles some face throughout their careers. . . Taking Back the Bullet is a journey of understanding, respect, and forgiveness . . .

Sheryl Remar

I enjoyed the different stories of this book because Tom, James, and Suanna, the three main characters, represent in their own way the different struggles with themselves and society’s idea of what is normal.

John & Cindy Morrill, 20 years Air Force retired, 17 years law enforcement

I enjoyed your book. When I am looking for a new read, I always read the first page, last page and choose a random page somewhere in the middle before I decide to buy it. You had me on all three pages. I also like reading a book where you can relate to the characters and the settings in which they live and work. It makes a story more realistic if you can say, I am familiar with the area; I know where that town is or I have traveled that street. It was easy to relate to the characters. In one way or another, I have met them all somewhere in my journeys.

Judy Hawk

. . . I was impressed with the Native American information as well as the depth of character development . . . .

Wynona Winn, PhD, retired school superintendent

Three main characters walk different paths but with the same destination – each coping with his or her self-discovery, self-identity, and self-realization. Much like their earlier counterparts – Huck Finn and Holden Caulfield – their journeys are often joyous, often tedious and often tragic.

Diana Dester

Good story line, building the characters along the way. Great job!

Deb Theis, LSCSW, clinical therapist/hypnotherapist

Jim Potter has done it again! After his book, Cop in the Classroom: Lessons I’ve Learned, Tales I’ve Told, Jim has written another great work. In Taking Back the Bullet: Trajectories of Self-Discovery, Jim Potter takes us on an insightful journey into the lives and relationships of numerous characters. Jim is such a talented storyteller that the reader quickly becomes immersed and has a ‘bonding experience’ with each of the characters, feeling their joy, fear, passion and pain. Jim’s novel speaks to the empowerment of persistence with the characters as they work through their trials. As a therapist, I appreciated the heartfelt struggles from each of the characters and their diversity. I also found value in the novel’s understanding of society’s misunderstanding of both mental health and other conditions in which people struggle. The novel contains rich exposure to various realities that many of us do not know about . . . but should. When I finished this captivating novel, I was wanting to read the sequel! It was an honor and a wonderful, mesmerizing experience reading this book. Congratulations, Jim!

Jane Holzrichter

I finished it last night around midnight. What a great piece of work. It kept me intrigued all the way to the end.

Sean McArdle, Winchester, England

Retired police officer Potter’s novel centres on very disparate characters and through the tried and tested means of gradually introducing each one, builds a sense of anticipation about what is going to happen to them. This often used methodology is not easy to do well but is superbly handled by Potter who knows how to give enough detail to bring the characters to life, yet not too much so as to slow down the pace of the developing story. A climactic event affects the main characters and it is at this point Potter’s deep knowledge of people and police procedures really hits home; page by page we read how a seemingly simple, though terrible occurrence, can have huge consequences. To Potter’s credit the story does not have a completely conclusive or simplistic ending. Instead it leaves the reader thinking about how the events of a single minute can affect lives forever. I would whole heartedly recommend this book not as a crime novel or even as a novel about crime but as a beautiful and positive affirmation about what it is to be human and how ultimately it is relationships which matter more than events.

Morgan Penner

Taking Back the Bullet is a novel that provides the reader with a window into the world of law enforcement. As the novel unfolds, the reader is able to see how split-second decisions alter the lives of the main characters in the story. Taking Back the Bullet also explores how humanity is impacted by mental illness. One of my favorite quotes from Taking Back the Bullet is “We’re all just a critical moment from being disabled or mentally ill, and we don’t want to think about it.” The novel also provides the reader an opportunity to gain a better understanding of how mental illness impacts the individuals, their family, friends, and society. Taking Back the Bullet is a story of forgiveness and overcoming life’s struggles and tragedies.

Steve Becker

I’m impressed. It was an excellent read. . . . I hope you continue with more projects in the future.

Larry Kruckman, anthropologist

Jim Potter displays ethnographic skills in Taking Back the Bullet: Trajectories of Self-Discovery, creating vivid scenes and fascinating characters. The Greeks had a word for subcultures and people’s behavior: ‘ethos,’ or ‘ways of being.’ In colorful, sometimes marvelous detail, this novel captures various people and settings . . . the ethos of rural Kansas: a jail, art fair, powwow, rehab center, courtroom, albinos, and even someone in the throes of postpartum depression. So detailed are the descriptions that they must be drawn from the author’s personal experience. Besides the artfully created characters such as the struggling jailer and husband Tom Jennings, local artist Jesse Thomas, and Native American Joe Morningcloud, there is a tight story line that grabs your attention and won’t let go. Human tensions, love, conflict, joys and sorrows are all there. Magically, all the many pieces come together in a final crescendo, giving hope that even when we find ourselves in big trouble we can survive. This is a novel I highly recommend!

Larry Kruckman
Anthropologist
Karleen Wilson-Moon

Terrific story relevant to today’s social issues . . . well written . . . likable characters . . . insightful perspective from an insider in law enforcement.

Karleen Wilson-Moon

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