Boone County Sheriff's Office - MO

06/05/2026

New Position Announcement

We are currently seeking an ideal candidate to fill a new Quartermaster/Equipment Technician position.

Do you have attention to detail? Do you get annoyed when things are disorganized or someone uses the last [insert any item here] and fails to replenish it or let anyone know? Are you known by your friends, family, and co-workers to be the organized one who can be trusted to keep things clean and orderly? If so, you may be the type of applicant we are looking for to fill this position.

The ideal Quartermaster will be tasked with maintaining, issuing, managing, and tracking the inventory of uniforms, equipment, and supplies for the Boone County Sheriff’s Office and Jail. We are seeking someone who is a team player, but willing to own their assigned duties/responsibilities within the organization. An ideal candidate will have a strong attention to detail, possess good organizational skills, and be willing/able to adhere to policies, procedures, and expectations in the oversight of the inventory they are tasked to oversee. The Quartermaster must be able to efficiently operate personal computers and software applications related to law enforcement processes and procedures, including records management software, and Microsoft Windows and Office Suite. This position will primarily operate in a professional office environment and manage a supply room; however, physical labor will be involved in maintaining inventory (e.g., stocking inventory, retrieving equipment/supplies, etc.).

This position is a full-time, non-exempt, benefited position with general working hours from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Starting Pay: $21.72 - $22.38 per hour

To view the Job Opportunity and apply, visit

Maintains, issues, manages, and tracks inventory equipment, supplies, and uniforms owned and/or managed by the Boone County Sheriff's Office.

06/02/2026

Media and Public Information Release – Suspect Charged with Murder

On 05/17/2026, the Boone County Sheriff’s Office recovered the remains of a 47-year-old deceased female Columbia resident from Perche Creek near the Missouri River. Probable cause was developed to believe Andrew B. Acton, age 53 of Columbia, transported the deceased victim to the area of Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area, where he illegally disposed of her remains. Acton was arrested and on 05/19/2026 was charged with abandonment of co**se as well as tampering with Physical Evidence in Felony Prosecution.

When the victim’s body was located, there was evidence present to indicate she was possibly murdered. Investigators have continued to investigate the death of the victim and throughout the investigation learned Acton had an established relationship with the victim prior to her death and the victim had resided with Acton.

On 06/01/2026, a probable cause statement was prepared and submitted to the Office of the Boone County Prosecuting Attorney detailing the probable cause to charge Andrew B. Acton with 2nd Degree Murder. On 06/02/2026, the Boone County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office filed an amended complaint charging Acton with 2nd Degree Murder, alleging Acton knowingly or with the purpose of causing serious physical injury to the victim, caused the death of the victim by strangling/smothering her. Acton continues to be held in the Boone County Jail without bond.

All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

05/21/2026

Media and Public Information Release – Victim Identified

On 05/20/2026, investigators with the Boone County Sheriff’s Office were able to determine the identity of the deceased victim recovered on 05/11/2026 from Perche Creek. The victim was a 47-year-old female Columbia resident and next of kin has been notified. We are deferring to friends and family of the victim to decide as to whether the victim’s name is publicly released, and we will not be releasing her name at this time.

We are asking anyone with any information regarding this investigation to contact the Boone County Sheriff’s Office through Boone County Joint Communications at 573-442-6131.

The investigation into the victim’s death is ongoing and further information may be released as the investigation progresses.

05/19/2026

Media and Public Information Release

On 05/17/2026, the Boone County Sheriff’s Office recovered a City of Columbia trash bin containing the body of a deceased individual from Perche Creek near the Missouri River. During the investigation into this incident, a photo was obtained showing what is believed to be the same trash bin being hauled in the back of a pickup on 05/11/2026 near where the trash bin and body were recovered. The high-quality photo revealed the trash bin being hauled by the pickup had similar unique features that differentiate it from the numerous other City of Columbia trash bins throughout the City of Columbia.

On 05/18/2026, at around 8:30 pm, the pickup shown in the photo from 05/11/2026 was located and stopped. Andrew B Acton, age 53 of Columbia, was identified as the driver, at the time of the stop and probable cause was developed to believe he was the driver of the pickup at the time it it was hauling the City of Columbia trash bin on 05/11/2026.

Based on the above detailed facts, Acton was arrested for the following:
• Abandonment of Co**se – RSMo 194.425
• Tampering with Physical Evidence in Felony Prosecution – RSMo 575.100

On 05/19/2026, the Office of the Boone County Prosecuting Attorney filed these charges against Acton and a no bond warrant for arrest was issued for Acton in the 13th Judicial Circuit. Acton is currently being held in the Boone County Jail without bond.

All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

05/18/2026

Media and Public Information Release

On 05/17/2026, at approximately 1:40 pm, Boone County Joint Communications received a report of a container being found in Perche Creek near the Missouri River. The reporting party reported the container had been altered in a suspicious manner and smelled of decomposition.

Deputies responded and the investigation revealed a human body inside the container. The deceased body was turned over to the Boone County Medical Examiner’s Office to await an autopsy, and the identity of the deceased has yet to be determined.

No further information will be released at this time as this is an active ongoing investigation.

We are asking anyone with any information regarding this investigation to contact the Boone County Sheriff’s Office through Boone County Joint Communications at 573-442-6131.

05/11/2026

Luckily this came to an end with no innocent citizens or law enforcement being injured by the suspect's actions!

05/11/2026

Congratulations Officer Layne Harris and K9 Keno of the Ste. Genevieve Police Department!

Officer Harris and K9 Keno recently completed the Basic K9 Handler Course at the Boone County Sheriff’s Office K9 Training Center. Officer Harris and Keno were an integral part of Class 33, but due to an injury unrelated to training, they were unable to complete the final week alongside their classmates.

Now fully healed, the team returned to complete their training and successfully certify through the North American Police Work Dog Association and the Missouri Police Canine Association.

We are expecting great things from this new K9 team and look forward to watching their future success serving the citizens of Ste. Genevieve.

Great job, Officer Harris and K9 Keno!

05/08/2026

Media and Public Information Release

On 05/07/2026, at approximately 1:18 pm, Boone County Joint Communications received a 911 call from a victim in the 5100 block of N Douglas Drive, Columbia, MO. The caller, a 65-year-old female, advised her son, a 35-year-old male, had been shot and was believed to be deceased. The female advised she had been shot as well.

Deputies responded and arrived on scene at approximately 1:24 pm. Upon arrival the 35-year-old male was found to be deceased, and the 65-year-old female was severely injured. Deputies on scene obtained a description of the vehicle the suspect, later identified as 32-year-old Steven A. Swanson, was driving when he departed from the scene and relayed this information to other law enforcement responding to the scene. It was also determined that Swanson was a relative to both victims.

At approximately 1:27 pm, the suspect vehicle, a blue Ford Bronco, was traveling southbound on Highway PP north of Mexico Gravel Road when it was met by a deputy traveling northbound to the scene. The deputy announced on the radio that they observed the suspect vehicle and a Columbia Police Officer, who was in the area, attempted to stop the Ford. Swanson failed to yield and fled in the Ford, resulting in a motor vehicle pursuit.

The Columbia Police Officer and a Boone County Sheriff’s Office Deputy pursued the Ford westbound on Mexico Gravel Road to Woodard Drive, south on Woodard Drive, and eventually northbound on US Highway 63.

The Boone County Sheriff’s Office took over the pursuit and was assisted by the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Columbia Police Department. Tire deflation devices were deployed during the pursuit which resulted in the Ford sustaining flat tires.

Shortly after the pursuit entered Randolph County, a Missouri State Highway Patrol Corporal performed a Tactical Vehicle Intervention (TVI) on the Ford to end the pursuit. The intervention was successful and resulted in Swanson losing control of the Ford and traveling into a muddy ditch along the east side of northbound Highway 63; however, during the intervention Swanson fired rounds at the MSHP Corporal striking the MSHP patrol vehicle multiple times. Luckily the MSHP Corporal was not struck by gunfire. No law enforcement personnel on scene returned fire.

Swanson never exited the Ford once it came to a stop in the ditch and did not respond to law enforcement on scene. Traffic was stopped on US Highway 63 for the safety of motorists. Once the windows of the Ford were breached, a small Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (drone) was utilized to view inside the vehicle, and Swanson was observed to be non-responsive inside the Ford. It was then determined Swanson was deceased from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol took over the investigation of the scene in Randoph County, and the Boone County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the assault and homicide on N. Douglas Drive.

We would like to thank the numerous agencies who assisted with this incident. These agencies include the Columbia Police Department, Missouri State Highway Patrol, Hallsville Police Department, Randolph County Sheriff’s Office, Moberly Police Department, Audrain County Sheriff's Office, and multiple fire and EMS units who responded to both scenes. If we failed to mention anyone who assisted, we apologize as it was not intentional.

We understand the disruption to traffic at both scenes was significant and would like to thank the public for their patience and cooperation while the roadways were temporarily shut down.

At the time of this release, the 65-year-old female victim, is in serious condition at a local hospital.

04/17/2026

The Boone County Sheriff's Office K9 Training Center is proud to recognize these outstanding Missouri K9 teams who just completed our 8-week Dual Purpose K9 Handler Course:
🔹 Jefferson City Police Department – Officer Cody Schueler & K9 Riggs
🔹 Callaway County Sheriff's Office – Deputy Shianne Rhorer & K9 Volk
🔹 Boone County Sheriff's Office – Deputy Michael Early & K9 Koa
🔹Kirksville Police Department - Officer Makenzie Maggart & K9 Erno

Officer Makenzie Maggart & K9 Erno completed our 4-week Single Purpose K9 Handler Course in 2024 and returned to join 4 weeks of this class to complete the additional training required to become a Dual Purpose K9 Team.

All four teams achieved certification through both the Missouri Police Canine Association and the North American Police Work Dog Association!

These K9 teams now return to their agencies ready to serve—bringing enhanced capabilities, professionalism, and commitment to keeping their communities safe.

04/17/2026

SCAM Alert Reminder

Recently scam activity has increased! Several days this week we received around 20 calls from individuals letting us know that they were called by people impersonating our deputies and these impersonators were trying to scam our citizens. Unfortunately, we had a couple who fell victim to the scammer, and each were out thousands of dollars.

As a reminder: Scammers are impersonating members of the Boone County Sheriff’s Office and targeting Boone County residents. PLEASE DO NOT FALL FOR THIS SCAM! NO reputable law enforcement agency/officer will ever call you and ask for you to make a payment over the phone.

These criminals spoof the Boone County Sheriff’s Office phone number when calling citizens. When they do this, the recipient of the call will see our telephone number show up on the caller ID with a name that makes it look like the call is coming from the Boone County Sheriff’s Office. The criminal will then identify themselves as a member of the Boone County Sheriff’s Office and provide a name of one of our deputies. Again, this is to try to make it sound as if it is a legitimate call.

The criminal will then tell the citizen they missed a court date, failed to show up for jury duty, failed to pay a ticket, or missed some type of court appearance. They may even provide a case number or court docket number to the citizen (again to establish a sense of legitimacy). They may even provide the name of a local judge and claim the judge not only issued a warrant or multiple warrants for the citizen’s arrest but will also claim the judge has issued a gag order on the case so it will be another violation if the citizen speaks to anyone about the call/case. They will threaten the citizen with additional repercussions (jail time or fines) if they text anyone about the call/case, if they disconnect the phone call, or if they speak to anyone about the call/case.

The criminal will often advise the citizen there are options to take care of the bond, fines, or fees by turning themselves in at the Sheriff’s Office, but that will require them being held in custody for a period of time (often cited as a 72 hour hold), or give them the option to pay the money without going to the Sheriff’s Office to avoid being held in jail. This is yet another lie and not how the criminal justice system works.

When someone falls victim to this scam, the citizen will elect to pay the money without going to the Sheriff’s Office as they don’t want to be held in jail. The criminal will then direct the citizen to withdraw cash from a bank or ATM and deposit the cash in a cryptocurrency machine. The criminal provides an account number to which the money is to be sent and will often claim the account is a government account, sometimes even stating it is a US Treasury account.

We have had NUMEROUS citizens become victims to this type of scam over the last few years by sending the money to the scammer and have had more than one victim this week. Please remember and share with all your friends and family that law enforcement will NEVER ask you to wire/transfer money to them. If you receive such a call, it is ALWAYS a scam. Law enforcement agencies DO NOT take care of warrants over the phone and absolutely NEVER use cryptocurrency to accept payment for fines, warrants, fees, etc.

Also, please DO NOT provide any bank account #'s, credit card information, or any other personal information to these impersonators.

If you are ever suspicious of these types of calls, or calls of similar nature, please discontinue the call. You can always call a verified number for the agency with whom the caller claims affiliation to verify your suspicions; however, please do not rely on a number provided by the caller and use a well-known published telephone number to contact the agency.