U.S. Marshal Retires

C. Mauri Sheer and his wife attend his retirement celebration.

It’s not often a retirement celebration is held honoring a law enforcement official who has protected every president from Ford to Bush. This was, in fact, the case in May, when U.S. Marshal C. Mauri Sheer was recognized for his service.

In 1987, during his Secret Service career, Sheer transferred from Washington, D.C., to the Kansas City area to serve as the assistant special agent in charge of the four-state, five-office regional division.

After being appointed as the U.S. Marshal for the Western District of Missouri by President George W. Bush in August 2001, Sheer was confirmed by the Senate on May 3, 2002. He left the Secret Service and started his new role as the U.S. Marshal on May 6, 2002.

With his collective 28 years in federal law enforcement prior to his U.S. Marshal appointment, the move from one federal law enforcement agency to another made for an easy transition.

Judge Fenner presents a gift to the marshal.

Sheer shared his vision for the U.S. Marshals Service: “Even though we’re under the Department of Justice, the U.S. Marshal is to serve all entities of the court equally to make sure that the justice process goes as smoothly as possible. That includes carrying out the orders of the courts, bringing the defendants into the courts, and ensuring it’s done orderly and safely. And serving the defense bar by vetting out any problems they have with the defendants in a custodial situation.”

In the Western District of Missouri, an average of 600 defendants are in custody and awaiting trial, hearing or sentencing–defendants being held prior to acquittal or prior to being sent to the Bureau of Prisons.

Sheer is looking forward to developing a consulting business in corporate protection, offering services to help prevent threats and workplace violence, providing high-profile brand protection, and teaching security to neutralize these situations before they happen.

On behalf of the court en banc, Judge Gary A. Fenner presented a gift to the marshal thanking him for his years of service to the Western District of Missouri.