Artist deputy’s drawings bring comfort to Jackson County Courthouse visitors
By Jackson Kurtz
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JACKSON COUNTY, Mo. (KMBC) — For many people, a visit to the Jackson County Courthouse brings stress. Whether they are paying bills, attending appointments or showing up for court, the day can feel overwhelming.
But inside the security area, tucked near the rush of people unloading keys and phones into trays, something unexpected often catches their eye.
A hand-drawn sketch with a thoughtful quote is posted on a wall.
The artwork is created by Jackson County Sheriff’s Deputy Rodney Moyer, a 29-year veteran of the sheriff’s office who began drawing during the COVID-19 pandemic. He has no formal training.
“Sometimes I will be watching TV and I will see a character and I will say, oh, you know, I could draw him,” Moyer said.
His sketches range from mythical figures like Odin to classic monsters to well-known celebrities, including a portrait of Tupac Shakur. Most works are paired with a quote.
“You do not have a soul. You are a soul. You have a body,” one reads.
Visitors have noticed.
“One of the staff members looks like they drew that. They got talent,” one passerby said.
Another courthouse visitor said, “It puts a human touch to our staff and shows that they have interest outside, in addition to caring about the people who come in the building.”
Moyer said those reactions keep him motivated.
“That is really a big part of the job,” he said. “That de-escalation of things.”
His goal is simple. He wants to help people feel a little more at ease as they enter the courthouse.
“Helping them helps me also,” Moyer said.
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