Letter to the Editor: Marion County Sheriff’s Department addresses claims made by local towing company

On April 14, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office became aware of a social media post made by Scott’s Minor Collision and Towing. The post questioned the towing service procedures employed by the City of Hannibal and criticized our office for not adhering to a similar rotational system, suggesting that our towing practices lack fairness.

We believe it is important to address and clarify these claims.

The statements made by Scott’s Minor Collision and Towing misrepresent the policies and procedures followed by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office regarding towing services. Our office does not operate under a fixed tow rotation system. Instead, when a tow is needed, and the party involved is unable to choose a business themselves, we offer a list of towing companies from which a selection can be made.

This list includes qualified providers located within Marion County and surrounding areas, including companies based in Illinois. It is routinely reviewed and updated to ensure that all companies meet standards for service quality and availability. Providers may be added or removed based on these criteria, all in the interest of ensuring public safety, reliability, and transparency. It is important to note that Scott’s Minor Collision and Towing has maintained a place on this list since the list was established.

Again, on April 14th, Scott’s Minor Collision and Towing continued to promote misleading narratives through both social media and local news outlets, including a segment reported by KHQA. According to KHQA’s coverage:

“Scott’s Minor Collision and Towing posted on Facebook last week alleging that the business had been repeatedly passed over for calls by the sheriff’s office, even when specifically requested by name. The company claims it is being unfairly excluded from towing opportunities across Marion County.”

We categorically deny the allegations made. At no time has the Marion County Sheriff’s Office intentionally bypassed or refused to contact Scott’s Minor Collision and Towing when they were specifically requested. Furthermore, prior to these recent public statements, our office had not received any formal complaints or direct communication from Scott’s Minor Collision and Towing regarding these concerns.

The Marion County Sheriff’s Office is responsible for law enforcement across nearly 500 square miles, operating with limited personnel and resources compared to municipal police departments, which may have significantly higher staffing levels in smaller jurisdictions. Our road patrol operates at approximately a quarter of the staffing level typical for similar coverage areas. 

Consequently, factors such as response time, scene management, traffic conditions, time of day and geographic location all influence operational decisions. These practical considerations are a major reason we have not

adopted a rotational towing system.

It’s also important to note that Missouri Law does not require law enforcement agencies to establish or maintain a rotational tow list. Our current approach is based on efficiency, practicality and our responsibility to provide effective service to the entire county.

We want to stress that it is not our intent to discredit Scott’s Minor Collision and Towing. However, public attacks on the integrity of this office, the sheriff and the dedicated deputies who serve this community are both unfounded and unacceptable. It is unfair to single out our agency when many other law enforcement entities employ similar towing procedures.

To hold the Marion County Sheriff’s Office to a different standard in order to serve the interests of a single business, especially through social media, is unreasonable and inappropriate.

The Marion County Sheriff’s Office remains committed to fairness, professionalism and transparency in all aspects of our service. We encourage anyone with concerns or questions to contact our office directly at (573) 769-2077 rather than relying on misleading or incomplete information circulated on social media.

Capt. Brock Decker
Chief Deputy
Marion County Sheriff’s Department
Palmyra, Missouri