About Your Sheriff

Robert Evenson's family roots in McDonald County run deep.  His great grandparents Frank and Mary Carlin and Tommy and Rosey Alexander, and his grandparents Doc and Huelene Carlin, farmed and ran small businesses in the county. His father, Robert “Bob” Evenson”  was born and raised here, and has spent his entire life here except to leave for college and military service. After serving in the Marines, Robert's parents returned here in 1973 and bought a farm. He grew up here, and a strong sense of community and hard work was instilled in him at an early age. He went to the Noel School, and then McDonald County High School, graduating in 1987.  He was active in ROTC, football, baseball, National Honor Society, and Student Council. In 1984 he began his career in public service at the young age of 15, when he became a Noel fire fighter. At 17, Robert achieved the distinguished honor of Eagle Scout, after fulfilling numerous requirements for service, leadership, and outdoor skills.

Robert Evenson graduated with his BS in Criminal Justice Administration from Missouri Southern in 1991. He attended the University of Tulsa School of Law for one year in1994/1995, before making his decision to dedicate his life to the protection of others.

He was first commissioned as a law enforcement officer in 1989 and worked for the Noel Police Department under Marshal Frank Marshall until he was hired to fill the unexpired term of Pineville City Marshal Lloyd Perkins. He went to work in Barry County as a detective in 1994. Other than his two previous terms as McDonald County Sheriff, that’s where he served. 

Robert Evenson has been trained in almost every aspect of criminal investigations, and has attended and been trained through the Missouri Sheriff’s Association in all manners of administration of a  Sheriff's Office. 

• Demonstrated fiscal responsibility as the budget and outside funding declined
• Consolidated the two dispatch centers into one, saving the county money
•  Reduced inmate meal cost by MORE THAN 25%
• Entered into a contract with a medical clinic that reduced jail medical expenses by MORE THAN 50%
• Implemented an inmate hospital responsibility policy where INMATES WERE MADE RESPONSIBLE for the cost of any medical attention they received at the hospital. This contributed to significant savings for the county 
• Created an investigations division; expanded the division to add another detective.
• Maintained the supplies and equipment with what money had been allocated.  Example: continuous mending of heavily worn jail uniforms rather than purchasing new ones