Keokuk County Sheriff Charged With OWI

Keokuk County Sheriff Jeff Shipley (photo courtesy Sigourney News Review)

Sigourney, Iowa – Keokuk County Sheriff Jeff Shipley has been charged with OWI, 1st offense. The charge stems from a traffic stop that was initiated by Iowa State Trooper, #252 Rick Diephuis. Diephuis stopped Shipley’s vehicle in Sigourney around 8 p.m. on Wednesday, July 27 for an alleged vehicle registration violation.

Captain Mike Winter with the Iowa State Patrol stated, “On July 27, shortly before 8 o’clock at night, a State Trooper stopped a vehicle for a registration violation in Sigourney. Upon further investigation, the driver, they suspected he was operating while intoxicated. That driver was Sheriff Jeff Shipley. At that point, the trooper continued with his OWI investigation. He was taken to the Keokuk County Jail and released on a promise to appear.”

Captain Winter stated that Washington County Attorney’s office is going to handle the prosecution of the case. “The county attorney, he recused himself from involvement in the investigation and prosecution based on potential conflict of interest.” Winter further explained.

Shipley, while acknowledging the complaint, stated, “Being a servant of the judicial system, I am fully confident that I will be vindicated and I respectfully ask that my case be tried in a Court of Law; not the media.”

Shipley is one of three officers that was involved in a shootout with a subject on April 4, 2011. During that standoff, Keokuk County Deputy Eric Stein lost his life, as well as the subject Jeff Krier in a shootout with police.

A criminal charge is merely a criminal charge and not an indication of guilt. All suspects should be considered innocent until proven guilty.

SNR Editor, Robin Handy contributed to this story.