Scott County Sheriff Rick Walter faces challenge from criminal investigator Wes Drury

Scott County Sheriff Rick Walter says his officers do a good job of investigating crimes, but his Republican opponent contends there is room for improvement.

The issue is playing out in a fall election in which Walter has campaigned on his accomplishments in office, while opponent Wes Drury has called for changes to how the department operates.

Drury, who is making his third run for sheriff since 2004, said he wants to upgrade the sheriff’s department by conducting more comprehensive investigations. He said he wants to avoid “revictimizing victims” because of inexperience and poor or incomplete investigations.

“If 50 people saw what happened, you need to talk to everybody,” said Drury, 55, who has worked as a criminal investigator for the Scott County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for the past 20 years.

He added it is important to obtain all the facts.

Wes Drury

In his role with the prosecutor’s office, Drury said he knows what investigative work is needed to prosecute a criminal defendant successfully.

But Walter, a Democrat who has served as sheriff for 12 years and is seeking his fourth term, said he and his officers are excellent at investigating crimes.

“We do a very thorough investigation on everything that comes in,” he said. “We not only use our own people; we also reach out to other agencies.”

Walter said his office makes extensive use of state and national crime databases.

He said he doesn’t have major projects on his agenda in this election because in law enforcement today, there is constant change.

“Technology is changing almost daily,” Walter said. “We are constantly changing our equipment. We are always training our people because of new technology coming out. It is not the same sheriff’s office that it was 10 or 20 years ago.”

As sheriff, Walter said he seeks to run an efficient operation by trying to “stretch every dollar.”

The sheriff’s department used donations to obtain a tracking/drug dog and a drone.

“It didn’t cost us a dime,” he said.

Walter has said his office has made several improvements, including installation of computers in patrol vehicles, the use of body cameras and the addition of new digital radios.

Drury said he wants to make sure inmates are transported promptly for court appearances to avoid delays.

He said that does not always occur now.

But Walter said his officers transport inmates to court on a timely basis.

The only delays are when an inmate is added to a court docket at the last minute, he said.

“Then, it becomes a manpower issue,” Walter said.

Judges also can hear from defendants in jail via video arraignment. But Walter said it is up to the judges to decide whether they wish to use the video system.

Drury said he wants to house all sheriff’s department operations at the county jail.

Currently, the sheriff’s office is separate from the jail.

“I want to consolidate everyone into one building,” he said, adding he believes there is enough room to accommodate such a move.

Drury said he wants the department staff to work together as a team.

Walter said he is not a sheriff who just sits behind a desk.

“Every time we do a search warrant, I am there,” he said.

As for Drury, he said he has the experience to be sheriff.

He has worked with emergency and fire/rescue services. He also has worked in the sheriff’s department as a dispatcher, jailer, jail administrator and deputy.

“The only job I have not had is sheriff and secretary in that department,” said Drury, a lifelong Kelso, Missouri, resident.

Drury said, “I have been asked by a lot of people to run again, and that is the reason I am doing this. You don’t do this for yourself. You do it for the people.”

Walter said he has an open-door policy when it comes to the public, whether they show up at his home or his office.

“I always try to help them out,” he said.

mbliss@semissourian.com

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