‘Sorely missed’: Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office mourns loss of veteran deputy

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- The Buchanan County Sheriff's Office is mourning the loss of a long-serving deputy who devoted more than four decades to law enforcement and protecting the public.

The department announced late Monday that Deputy Mike Aspey has died as a result of a medical event. He was 68.

"Mike was outstanding. He was always there to help everybody with a smile on his face. An excellent deputy," Buchanan County Sheriff Bill Puett told the St. Joseph News-Press. "Mike was a good man and a man of faith. He was very well thought of and he'll be sorely missed." 

A 45-year veteran of law enforcement, Aspey worked for the last 10 years as a court deputy for the Sheriff's Office's Court Security Division, supervising the courtrooms of the retired Judge Pat Robb and Judge Terry White at the Buchanan County Courthouse.

“He helped maintain safety and security in the criminal courts and did an excellent job at it," Puett said. "He had been contributing to the mission of the Sheriff’s Office for a long time. I can't say enough good things about him."

Prior to that, Aspey spent 15 years as the director of police and security for the Truman Library and Museum in Kansas City and 14 years with the St. Joseph Police Department.

Funeral arrangements are pending at this time.