Dems, GOP will have choice in Scott County sheriff's race

Republican and Democratic voters in Scott County both will have choices for their candidate for sheriff for primary election Tuesday.

Incumbent Rick Walter, 55, is running against SEMO Drug Task Force grant officer Ron Meredith, 48, on the Democratic ticket.

Retired Scott County sheriff’s captain Gregg Ourth, 59, and Scott County Prosecuting Attorney’s office criminal investigator Wes Drury, 54, are running as Republicans.

The winner of the primaries will face off Nov. 8.

Meredith, Ourth and Drury agree on a few positions, particularly improving Scott County’s relationship with other law-enforcement agencies and the department’s reputation in the county.

Meredith spent two years with the Sikeston Department of Public Safety and rose to captain after eight years with the Miner Police Department. He worked as a road deputy with Scott County before taking his current role with the SEMO Drug Task Force.

Meredith said working with the SEMO Drug Task Force would be one of the key ways to curb drug activity, which he views as one of the top law-enforcement priorities for the department.

“They’re not staying in Scott County and Mississippi County,” Meredith said of drug dealers. “Working with other agencies makes things easier.”

All the candidates agreed drug activity was a concern. Meredith wants to have a dedicated narcotics investigator in the department. Walter said the department does not have such an investigator because of staffing concerns.

Ourth also talked about adding personnel who could address drug activity, although he will consider budget constraints.

“I think it boils down to revamping personnel in certain positions throughout the department,” Ourth said. “You may see job responsibilities change. I have no interest in discharging personnel.”

Ourth worked with the Scott County Sheriff’s Department for 15 years before retiring in 2013. He also has served on the school board and park board in Chaffee, Missouri.

Walter said one of his proudest achievements in the 12 years he has been sheriff is fashioning lasting relationships with other agencies through task forces. Scott County had a prescription drug task force with Mississippi County and joined a DWI and SEMO Cyber task forces. Walter sits on the board for the Missouri Human Trafficking Task Force with only one other law-enforcement official. It is one of five advisory boards he serves.

“A lot of people bring different things to the table,” Walter said. “Being a small department, you have to be part of these multi-jurisdictional task forces.”

Drury wants to improve the sheriff’s department by conducting more thorough investigations. His experience working 21 years as an investigator for the prosecuting attorney’s office gives him an insight on the steps necessary to reach a conviction.

“You can ruin people’s lives when you get them charged and figure out you had bad information,” Drury said. “I’d say there will be more precise and accurate investigations.”

Drury worked as a corrections officer and road deputy for the sheriff’s department. He said he did not think added scrutiny on investigations would result in fewer arrests.

Walter could not remember a case that was dismissed because a deputy failed to investigate.

“Just because you put a warrant on somebody doesn’t mean an investigation is over,” Walter said.

Drury also wants to improve the jail division’s responsiveness in bringing defendants to court. Walter said this is a rare occurrence.

“There’s always a reason for a continuance, but we don’t need to be part of it,” Drury said.

Meredith and Ourth want to increase deputy presence in Scott County’s rural areas.

“Our main area to cover is out in the county,” Meredith said.

Walter designated one deputy to rural crime investigations. He said he wants that deputy to know where every piece of irrigation line and equipment sheds are in the county.

Meredith and Ourth expressed concerns about deputies leaving the department, and deputy pay may need to be addressed within the constraints of the budget.

“You lose a certain amount of people because of money, but you also lose a certain amount because of management,” Meredith said. “Going through six deputies in half a year — it’s more than money.”

Walter said he has asked the Scott County Commission about increasing deputy pay and adding positions during nearly every budget discussion. The department is limited by its budget, he said.

“I would love to hire more deputies and hire more jail staff,” Walter said. “Every year, I meet with the county commission to give my proposal, and they tell me how much money they have; it’s black and white.”

Each candidate expressed the importance of obtaining outside funding through grants. Walter said his department has used money generated through civil-process fees from the county to pay for vehicles and equipment.

Each candidate talked about having an open-door policy and being available for public comments, barring releasing information about ongoing investigations. Walter said some days he spends all day on the phone talking to residents.

Walter said he wanted to run again because he enjoys the fact he can do the administrative work that is necessary with a sheriff’s job, but the department is small enough, he still can get out on the road.

“I enjoy doing this job,” he said. “I think I can make a difference.”

Ourth said he has nothing against Walter, but it’s time for a change in leadership.

“In my opinion, there are definitely some improvements that can be made,” Ourth said.

bkleine@semissourian.com

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