SCOTT COUNTY MAN TO FILE FOR SHERIFF'S POST

BENTON -- Rick Walter wants Scott County to be a safer place to live, especially for families.

Walter announced Monday his plan to file for Scott County Sheriff.

Filing for county offices opens next Tuesday at 8 a.m. Other statewide office and primary candidates can also file on that day. The filing period closes March 28 at 5 p.m.

Walter, 39, would face longtime Sheriff Bill Ferrell in the November election and acknowledges it will be "a struggle."

Law enforcement has been part of his life since 1987. "It's something I really enjoy and I'm pretty good at it," he said.

Walter is the first person to announce for a Scott County office. Other Scott County offices open for the November election are assessor, two of the county commission seats, associate circuit and circuit judges.

People seeking countywide office can file with the county clerk and don't have to file in Jefferson City with the secretary of state.

He and his wife, Lisa, have three children. The family lives on Highway E between Scott City and Benton.

Walter said the county sheriff's department can operate more efficiently than it is and should "make better use of the taxpayer's money."

He acknowledges problems with the rising number of meth labs in the area but thinks there could be ways to address the problem.

Walter has received training at the Southeast Missouri State Law Enforcement Academy and has worked as a reserve officer for the Scott County department for 10 years. He has been a law enforcement officer for the state since 1987. He also has been a reserve officer for the Oran Police Department and a road officer for the county.

Among his qualifications for office, he lists training in street survival, defensive tactics and clandestine laboratories. He has also had training courses offered by the Missouri Sheriffs' Training Academy and firefighting and arson investigations offered by the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Law enforcement officers shouldn't just keep up with minimum training, he said, adding: "If it's just the minimum, then you aren't moving ahead." He wants the department to take better advantage of Southeast's training academy.

Walter, a native of Oran, works as a project coordinator and manager for Penzel Construction in Jackson.