"I am a proud father, law enforcement officer and citizen of this county. I have been involved in law enforcement since 2004 and involved in the public safety field for 20-plus years. I want to continue my work for you. There is still a lot of work to do, and four years does not allow all the time it takes to bring great change! With more than two decades of public safety experience, I know what it takes to find solutions, navigate complicated agencies, and get things done. Thank you for your support.”
THE PLAN
TRAINING ACCOMPLISHED!
Effective and ongoing Law Enforcement training is critical in today's environment. Since taking office in 2017, I have employed a variety of methods to enhance this area of the Sheriff's Office, for all units – road patrol, detention, investigations, administrative, and communications. Members of our staff have earned scholarships for training, have attended free trainings offered locally on a variety of topics, and have been able to attend conferences and training provided by experts such as Mid-America Regional Council, the Missouri State Highway Patrol and other entities that offer free and low-cost training. Mandatory in-house training has been put into place, certifications are recorded, and expirations are monitored closely. Whenever possible, we take advantage of grants and scholarships for training. However, because of the important nature of up-to-date, effective training, we also make certain to include this line item in our annual budget.
I will continue to insure that every member of our staff is well-trained in the responsibilities of their position, current in their certifications, and is provided opportunities to attend advanced training in areas that will benefit the Sheriff’s Office and the citizens of Clinton County.
JAIL IN PROGRESS!
As a previous Jail Administrator, I understand that officer and detainee safety, and reducing liability exposure within the jail, are critical. I have worked within the jail budget allotted by the County Commission, utilizing grants, in-house training, and other creative methods to insure that our detention staff is well-trained in all aspects of jail management. In addition, we have identified services that can be utilized to cut our costs, and create a revenue stream to offset the costs of jail operations.
I will continue to work with our staff, and with other agencies, to insure the most current best practices for jail and detainee management are being utilized. We will continue to seek out cost-effective ways of funding our detention facility. In unison with the current County Commissioners, we are closer than ever to constructing a new jail facility to safety and adequately house current prisoners as well as additional prisoners.
​
GRANT FUNDS ACCOMPLISHED!
Multiple grants have been awarded since I took office in 2017, and are utilized on an ongoing basis. The Department of Public Safety’s (DPS) Deputy Sheriff Salary Supplementation Fund (DSSSF) grant is one of the most critical grants we have been awarded, and it has been in place the entire time I have been in office. The purpose of this grant is to make certain that our deputies have a minimum annual salary of $30,000 – a figure that cannot be achieved through County funds alone.
Our deputies start out at $24,095 annually, which is paid by the County. The difference of $5,905.00 is paid in increments, divided equally by each pay period, and reimbursed by the DPS through this grant. While $30,000 annually is still far below what many neighboring agencies pay, it does make Clinton County Sheriff’s Office slightly more competitive in hiring and retaining well-trained, quality law enforcement officers.
DPS also offers several DWI and Speed enforcement grants throughout the year, which we utilize to make sure we have extra deputies on patrol during times of higher risk, such as New Year’s Eve. Other grants currently in the works include requests for body cameras, bullet-resistant vests, a drone, AEDs, and other equipment that would enhance the safety and effectiveness of our staff and our citizens.
I have surrounded myself with competent law enforcement officers who possess the experience in procuring grants and equipment to supplement the budget and provide items that might otherwise not be obtainable.
​
RESERVE DEPUTY UNIT ACCOMPLISHED!
I have developed a Reserve Deputy Unit of commissioned, well-trained and experienced deputies to supplement manpower. This unit has proven its value many times over when extra manpower is needed for enforcement within the county, as well as during times when we are called to assist other agencies in enforcement, or in providing extra manpower for our neighbors during a crisis, such as the two recent losses of local law enforcement officers. This supplemental manpower is an affordable and valuable asset to our Sheriff’s Office, and I will continue to develop this Unit.
​
FIGHTING DRUG ABUSE AND VIOLENT CRIME
ACCOMPLISHED & STILL IN PROGRESS!
Since taking office, our deputies and K-9 unit have taken criminals, illegal weapons, and drugs off the streets of our County. From routine car stops to pursuits, to warrant services and sex offender sweeps, our staff actively investigates and prosecutes those who break the law and compromise the safety of our citizens. We will continue these enforcement efforts through specialized training, concentrated enforcement events, in-depth and ongoing investigations, and in our daily operations.
​
COUNTY WIDE / JOINT COMMUNICATIONS UNIT
IN PROGRESS!
Numerous critical advancements have been made in the Sheriff’s Office Communications Unit since I became Sheriff. The communications center has been renovated, and updated furniture acquired for less than $20 on an online auction site, Our ACCD 911 Board has provided updated equipment, software and technology, which has greatly improved the efficiency of our 911 call-taking, mapping system, records management, and CAD (computer-aided dispatching).
The Sheriff’s Office Communications Center dispatches for all Clinton County law enforcement, fire and emergency medical service providers, plus the Conservation Department’s Clinton County agents. Our dispatchers also monitor radio traffic of surrounding agencies 24/7, often identifying where assistance is needed before the request is made, allowing our officers to be prepared to assist with “shots fired” or efficiently take over a pursuit that started in another county.
In the last three years, in-house and outside training for our dispatchers has reached a level never achieved before in Clinton County. I have made certain that our staff is trained in the latest technology, from receiving 911 calls via text, to receiving car crash information from OnStar or similar services, to being skilled in the use of the Missouri Uniform Law Enforcement System (MULES) and Criminal Justice Information Systems (CJIS). We now have two certified Communications Training Officers on our dispatch team, insuring that training is consistent and effective. We have advanced to electronic warrant entry, maintenance and storage, enhancing information sharing throughout the Sheriff’’s Office.
Our Civil Service Unit has made technological advances as well, increasing the speed and efficiency with which papers are served. This also enhances information sharing throughout the Sheriff’s Office. This Unit also now handles collection of detainee board bills and has improved the collection rate exponentially, offsetting the costs of inmate housing, food, transportation and other things necessary to jail operations.
​
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT ACCOMPLISHED!
From water fights with elementary students on the last day of school, to presentations at civic organization meetings, I value opportunities for community involvement. I have filled my staff with employees who are committed to serving the public and, if re-elected, that dedication to the citizens of our County will continue. We rely on the teamwork and support we receive from our citizens to do our jobs effectively, and to continue winning in our fight to reduce drugs and crime in our County. We live where you live. We care about our communities. We care about you, your family, your rights, and your safety. We will never compromise where those are concerned.
​
TRANSPARENCY ACCOMPLISHED!
In today's law enforcement, transparency is a standard. We pledge to continue to communicate with the public about what we do. I have created an environment where we communicate through media releases, social media posts, and a user-friendly Sheriff's Office website. We feel the actual performance of our duties is more important than creating a press release or social media post, so we will not attempt to cover every enforcement activity we conduct. We will, however, make certain to communicate immediately anything that presents a safety concern to our citizens, or even a minor inconvenience of a temporary road closure. We will also provide information about significant investigations, arrests, pursuits and enforcement activities, when making that information public can no longer compromise the enforcement.
​
EMPLOYEE RETENTION ACCOMPLISHED!
Retention of high-quality employees is critical to the operation and continuity of service in any organization or business. Beginning with the hiring process and continuing through the employment, we strive to provide a positive working environment and encourage a “team” attitude. We are constantly seeking ways to improve equipment, training and programs to benefit our employees and provide a safe, comfortable and productive work environment. Additional support is made available through the Chaplain Division, which my administration created in 2018, and other resources with whom we partner. My administration is diligent in making sure that our staff members know they are valuable members of our team. In 2022 a law enforcement tax was passed by the citizens of Clinton County. This brought the base pay for all Sheriff employees within competition range of neighboring agencies, something that should have happened a very long time ago. This tax also allows for purchase of needed equipment for deputies to accomplish their duties.
​
CIT (CRISIS INTERVENTION TEAM) ACCOMPLISHED!
During my campaign in 2016, I promised to make the development of a Crisis Intervention Team a priority. I have kept that promise and remain committed to maintaining ongoing training of our team members. Several of our dispatchers and deputies have completed special training in recognizing and managing calls-for-service which involve emotionally-disturbed persons or those with mental health issues. We have established partnerships with agencies which provide additional assistance after the immediate threat has been resolved.
Instances involving mental health crises are becoming more common. This specialized training benefits not only the individuals who are experiencing a crisis, but also our staff members, during and after the call. We will continue to provide training on an ongoing basis and stay abreast of the most effective methods of producing a positive outcome for everyone involved. Most all for the Patrol Unit deputies are trained in CIT. Those that are not on the list for attend this specialized training.
​
POLICY & PROCEDURE / REVIEW & DEVELOPMENT
ACCOMPLISHED!
Immediately upon taking office, I began development of a Policies & Procedures Manual for all Sheriff’s Office employees and administration. This now-completed manual is critical in giving direction to our staff so they can competently perform their jobs. It reduces liability for the Administration and the County Government, and removes any chance of employees being treated in an unfair or unequal manner. Updates will continue to be made as needed, to reflect the most current best-practices of law enforcement administration.
​
CITIZENS’ ACADEMY ACCOMPLISHED!
As promised in my previous campaign, I developed and the Sheriff’s Office hosted a Citizens’ Academy. This popular program familiarizes community volunteers with law enforcement procedures, and how those procedures are important to citizens. Expert instructors from the Sheriff’s Office and outside agencies were brought in to conduct the various portions of the academy. The program is not designed to teach citizens to be law enforcement officers; rather, it creates understanding and a partnership through which the Sheriff’s Office and citizens work together as a team.
I will continue to coordinate and host these Citizens’ Academies, and will use valued feedback from attendees to develop the most comprehensive program possible.
​
SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS (SROs) ACCOMPLISHED!
In these uncertain times, it is more important than ever to ensure the safety of our children in their homes, in our schools – anywhere they might be. I plan to research the most effective ways to implement a School Resource Officer program, which includes an SRO in each of the schools in our County. I will work with the other law enforcement agencies within Clinton County to identify the most cost-effective means of training our officers and providing an SRO in each building. Together we will pursue available grants and other funding as necessary to make this program a reality. In 2023 this became a reality with a partnership with East Buchannan High School. One dedicated Deputy now serves the school and community full time!