Profile: Leo McElrath, Bollinger County Sheriff (R)

Date of birth: Jan. 23, 1949

Place of birth: St. Louis

Spouse's name: Carolyn McElrath (41 years)

Children names & ages: Leo E. McElrath IV, 36; Eric W. McElrath (deceased)

Occupation: Chief deputy, Bollinger County Sheriff Department.

Employer: Bollinger County Sheriff's Department

1. What strategies/improvements would you work to put in place to better equip Bollinger County for disasters like we've experienced this year (flooding, ice storms, tornadoes, etc.)?

Answer: This year has been exceptionally challenging from a weather standpoint. We have learned several important lessons.

Provisions need to be made for an alternate fuel service for emergency vehicles during a power outage.

Some key county road and bridge employees need to have vehicles and chain saws with them so they can get to work. Many county road employees, just like everyone else, were stranded at their residences by fallen trees and could not get to the very equipment that they needed to help everyone else during the ice storm.

The fire departments need some sort of high-water rescue watercraft, preferably a hovercraft to transverse swift water safely.

Everyone still needs to equip themselves with a battery or crank operated weather radio to keep them informed about storms, shelters, closed roads, and rising water in streams.

2. Name the top two areas of law enforcement that will be at the top of your priority list.

Answer: My top priority in law enforcement for this county would be to keep people safe in their everyday lives and free to do the things that they enjoy without fear from interference from anyone that would cause them harm.

My second priority would be to treat everyone with respect and attempt to help as many people with their encounters with law enforcement to make it a pleasant or at least acceptable experience.

3. What makes you the best candidate for the job?

Answer: I feel that I am best qualified for the job of sheriff of Bollinger County because I genuinely want to serve the citizens of this county. I have worked for the last three years as your chief deputy, and I am familiar with the operations of the sheriff's department. I have assisted in the preparation of the budget, and I know how to work within that budget to make ends meet. I have been lead investigator on several cases, and I direct the operations of the deputies in their daily duties.

I began my career in law enforcement on July 1, 1972, as a member of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, and I retired in April 1999 as a sergeant, after spending 27 years with the patrol.

I served four years with the U.S. Army from 1967 through 1971 in an artillery unit in Korea.

I enjoy working with people and feel that I am a good listener, I am a problem solver and can get things done. I don't believe that any problem is too small or too big and everyone is important.

I believe there are two sides to every story and both should be heard before any action is taken that would affect people's lives. I believe that talking can solve many problems.

I have always lived my life to not only enforce the law but also to obey all the laws to the best of my ability. I believe that law enforcement officers are held to a higher standard and should set the example.