SHERIFFS NEED TRAINING TO THEIR JOBS WELL

The Missouri Senate unanimously passed a measure that would require all elected sheriffs in Missouri to get 470 hours of state-approved law-enforcement training. The measure has been sent to the House for further debate, and it stands a good chance of passage.

As proposed, beginning Jan. 1 a sheriff who failed to get the 470 hours of mandatory training from a certified academy within 18 months of his or her election would not be allowed to participate in any primary law enforcement activities and would be removed from office. The proposal provides for the director of the Missouri Department of Public Safety to consult with Missouri sheriffs and their professional organization -- the Missouri Sheriffs Association -- to formulate a training program for new sheriffs.

The only fiscal note on the Senate bill is that the state must pay for the sheriffs' tuition and board while at a training academy. Otherwise, the cost of the training would be the responsibility of the sheriff or the county in which he serves, if that county were to agree to pay for the training.

The measure sponsored by state Sen. Ken Jacob, D-Columbia would exclude the sheriff of St. Louis City, who is appointed to handle administrative duties that mostly involve the serving of court papers.

Currently, all law-enforcement officers in the state are required to undergo certified training, and most must obtain it at their own expense. Most municipal police departments and sheriffs' departments require that officers they hire be previously certified in training, so it is logical that elected sheriffs should be required to get training, particularly since they aren't required to have any law enforcement experience whatsoever.

Jacob's bill was introduced at the request of the Missouri Sheriffs Association, which had tried to get the measure passed by the Legislature last year. The association board has voted unanimously both years to impose the training requirement.

Sheriffs around the state, many of whom must learn on the job, realize the importance of at least a minimum amount of training if they are to carry a badge and gun.