Question 1: 

Why do we have out of county inmates and no room for locals? Are there any safeguards in place to protect VC citizens from those inmates?

Actually, the VC jail is not full and VC inmates have never been turned away because of space issues. By law, if a judge issues a warrant or an inmate is arrested in VC, that inmate must be held by the VC Sheriff. If the jail were to be full, we would simply send the out of county inmates back to where they came from to make room for our own inmates. 

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The current contract we have with KC is the safest and most profitable contract for our community that we have ever had. Through our negotiations, we were able to get KC to add the language “no inmates shall be released in VC and must be transported back to KC for release.” This guarantees that no inmate will be released in our community. We were also able to get KC to pay VC an additional $24,000 per month as a flat fee to transport those inmates back to KC. This is on top of the nearly $50 per day per inmate that KC pays us just to hold them in our jail, and all inmates are charged with misdemeanor charges (no felony charges). 

 

Question 2:

What are some ways VCSO can be more involved in rural communities? What can be done to expand patrol coverage throughout the county?

We will continue to promote the programs we have been participating in such as the county youth fair dinner, our Halloween safety drive in the schools, the Christmas food drive for children, county business checks, and by assigning staff from various departments to attend meetings with other county organizations. 

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We have gradually expanded patrol coverage throughout the county by adding 24/7 patrol staff, and by increasing the number of deputies we have on patrol. Our deputies are logging more miles on patrol cars than ever before because of their constant patrolling in out county.  I have also added GPS trackers to all patrol vehicles so that we can see where vehicles are and where they have been to ensure county-wide patrolling is being accomplished. My goal is to eventually add more deputies to increase coverage even more. 

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Question 3:

What would our plan of action be if civil unrest occurred in VC?

We created a plan of action for our county back when civil unrest took place during the Ferguson riots. While I can’t share every detail of that plan, it does include placing all deputies on stand by for response, equipping them with the gear and tools they would need, and having command staff in positions to make sure the overall situation is being monitored so decisions can be made without delay. 

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There is a big difference between protesting and rioting. Lawful protests are protected by the Constitution, but once the line is crossed into rioting, it should be dealt with quickly and effectively to ensure that our community’s citizens and property are protected. 

 

Question 4:

Would you support executive orders requiring masks and another shut down if so ordered? 

No. While I think people should listen to the advice of the medical community and follow such advice to their ability, these orders are civil orders and not criminal; the Sheriff’s Office enforces criminal law. Regulating where people can go and what they must wear is a dangerous road. And once we go down this path, where would it end? Would stay at home orders with lists of places you are allowed to travel become a regular part of flu seasons? Our country was founded by people fleeing from over-reaching and over-controlling governments. The position of Sheriff is to uphold the law and enforce lawful orders, but above all else the county Sheriff is to uphold and support the constitution that grants us our freedoms.  

 

Question 5:

What is the number one issue impacting Vernon County and how do you plan on dealing with it?

The number one issue we deal with in law enforcement is the catch and release system that our state and federal government has created. Members of law enforcement put a great deal of time and effort (at the tax payers expense) to catch those committing crimes, only to deal with them again a short time later. This issue needs to be discussed on all levels of our state and local communities so that awareness can be made. Regardless of the number of offenders being released back into the community, law enforcement must continue to pursue those who commit crimes against people and property.  

 

Question 6:

Since the state mandates training for deputies, how important is it to you that detention officers also receive training?

Training has always been one of the most important issues to me within law enforcement. The state has no mandatory training requirements for detention officers and because of this, they often receive no training at all apart from “learning as they go.” Because of this, I created the VCSO Jail Training Academy and hosted our first academy class in September of 2017. This academy includes certified instructors from the VCSO and other agencies in the area. The VCSO has also been involved in the Missouri Sheriff’s Association’s efforts to create a specialized CIT (Crises Intervention Training) just for jail staff. This class will be ready for use this fall and will become part of the required training for jail staff along with other training classes.  

 

Question 7: 

What is the importance of deputy training and education and how, in your opinion, should it be addressed?

I have always said the quality of training directly affects the quality of an officer. Deputies should receive not just the training required by the state, but training that will directly affect their ability to perform the task given to them. Since taking office, I have sent all supervisory staff to supervisory and leadership schools. We have more certified instructors than ever before, including the areas of firearms, less lethal, pursuit driving, racial profiling, use of force, live scan operations, and more. All our patrol staff are CIT certified and nearly all have graduated from the Joplin Police Department SWAT School. You must always hope for the best as you prepare for the worst and training is how you prepare. 

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Question 8:

How has your training, education, and experience prepared you for this position?

While some may attempt to rely on their training and experience alone, what helps me perform this job is the knowledge, experience and advice of those I surround myself with. A leader is only as effective as those in which they lead. I pursue knowledge and training on a constant basis, but this is only a supplement to having staff that can perform the tasks set before them. 

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My current training and education include: Associates degree in law enforcement, bachelor’s degree in criminal justice administration, business management degree (will receive this fall), and schools such as the FBI-LLEDA Executive Leadership school that I was fortunate enough to attend. I am also a certified instructor in multiple areas including a POST Generalist instructor and am certified in Crime Scene Investigation levels 1-4. I am CIT certified and have received interview and interrogation training as well as FBI Advanced Interview and Interrogation training.