Robert “Radar” Patton
GALLATIN CO. – A man who was instrumental in helping uncover one of the biggest stories Disclosure has ever delivered in print or online has passed away.
Robert “Radar” Patton, 60, of Shawneetown, died in the early morning of Wednesday, February 22, 2017, of what friends and family were saying was a heart attack.
Patton was the long-time Shawneetown chief of police (a little over 30 years before he retired) who was in place when former Gallatin County sheriff Raymond Martin was arrested and charged with multiple federal counts for moving pot through the county, this in May of 2009.
In the couple of years prior to the discovery, Patton was a valuable source to Disclosure in the investigation this paper was conducting into reports of Martin not only moving marijuana through the area, but also the matter of illegals coming into the county and getting registered to vote, as well as threatening folks who dared to look into his behind-the-scenes activities in Gallatin.
Patton was instrumental in pointing Disclosure to several people who had been victimized by Martin over the years, as well as successful in distancing himself from Disclosure in order for the finger of suspicion as to who was “talking” to not be pointed at him. Disclosure aided Patton in this endeavor by writing critically of him at times, so that a sense of “animosity” between the paper and the police chief might throw off anyone suspecting Patton was talking.
Patton’s obituary listed survivors as his wife of almost 38 years, Nancy Howard Patton, and two sons, Shane and John. He had been, since his retirement as police chief, coaching at Gallatin County Schools. A memorial scholarship fund has been set up in his name at the school; those wishing to donate can send those donations to the Gallatin School Scholarship Fund – Radar Patton, 5175 Hwy 13, Junction, Ill., 62954.