WC Behind the Badge: Scott Starkey

by MATT HUGHES
J-E Editor

Everyday the people of Webster County are served by the members of our various local law enforcement agencies. From the city police departments to the Sheriff’s office and Fish and Wildlife officers, these men put their lives on the line every day so that we can be safe.

During 2015 the J-E will look to honor each of these officers by telling their story in the pages of our newspaper. Please, join us in thanking these officers for what they do.

Deputy Roy “Scott” Starkey, a Union County native who grew up in Evansville, began his law enforcement career in the Marine Corps Security Force Regiment (MCSFR), a far stretch from being a road deputy in Webster County. But for Starkey, it’s that personal touch of dealing with people on the street that make the job worthwhile.


“The best part of the job is when people know your there to help them,” Starkey said of his current job. “When they know that someone cares and will try to help them. There is nothing better than the look of relief on a victim’s face when you tell them that you arrested the person who committed a crime against them.”

Early in his career Starkey’s job was a little less hands on with the public.

MCSFR is a dedicated security and anti-/counter-terrorism unit that provides security forces to guard high-value naval installations, most notably those containing nuclear vessels and weapons. It also provides Fleet Antiterrorism Security Teams (FAST) and Recapture Tactics Teams (RTT).

Following his time with MCSFR, Starkey continued working in the security field, this time providing private security. Between the two jobs, he spent a total of 16 years working in security. His primary training was in the fields of facility security and personal protection.
“Then I had the opportunity to work in corrections,” he said. He spent a year working in corrections and then took a job as a patrol officer with the Providence Police Department.
In 2005, after spending four years working in law enforcement, Starkey accepted a position with the Webster County Sheriff Department.

Deputy Starkey isn’t the type of officers that remains just a nameless face in a patrol car. He can regularly be seen around the county talking with residents face-to-face.

But, as with all law enforcement officers, there is always a downside to the job. While helping a victim  get justice is a positive, sometimes the suspect that you have to arrest is not.

“The worst part of the job is taking a juvenile into custody,” he said. “You hate to do it, but you hope that it might help them in the long run.”