Toelke noted that on June 26 Schulte contacted his office “in reference to a petition that had been submitted to the Gerald Board of Aldermen. The petition contained 159 signatures. Schulte requested an investigation by the Sheriff into the alleged forgeries, giving them the names of nine people who had told them that they had not signed the document.

The ensuing investigation verified that seven of those names were forged, but two of the individuals could not be contacted.

According to the report, during random checks, investigators located another four individuals not mentioned by Schulte who stated they did not sign the document.

The report lists Diane Ballard, Ryan Mahurin, and Megan Trest as three who circulated the petition. All three report they were not contacted by the Sheriff’s Department. At least five other individuals helped to gather names.

It was also noted that someone “signed the document at a garage sale where anyone could have signed the document without a witness along with two other locations.”

The report concludes: “According to Missouri Law, the document cannot be used for its intended purpose and hods no authority or significance. The initial investigation has revealed that signatures were forged. Since the petition holds no legal value, the Prosecutor has decided not to pursue the matter any further.”
One man called The Republican during the investigation and said that his and his wife’s name were on the petition, but they had not signed it. “It’s unfortunate,” he said, “because we probably would have signed it if we had known about it.”

One of the circulators admits that two people signed it at a garage sale she held. “It was kept under the cash box. No one had access to it unless I pulled it out. I asked two people who I knew if they wanted to sign it.” She also notes that she was not contacted by the Sheriff’s Department.

Some of those who circulated the petition said that they were told by more than one person that they were in favor of removing Schulte from office, but didn’t want to sign the petition for fear of reprisal from him. “I don’t want him after me or my kids,” one person is reported to have said.

Another woman who signed the petition complained at having a policeman in an unmarked car  show up to verify her signature. “That’s why I have always been reluctant to sign things,” she says. “I don’t want to be harassed.”

The petition was drafted after it was revealed that the mayor and aldermen had hired Bill Jakob as a police officer. Jakob was not licensed to serve as a law enforcement officer. Three police officers including the chief, appointed by Schulte, were fired in that affair which has resulted in two federal lawsuits being filed against the city.