Many police and sheriff’s departments are having trouble keeping their officers, and spokesman for two major law enforcement organizations in Missouri point to paychecks as the cause. Spokesmen for the Missouri Police Chiefs Association and the Missouri Sheriff’s Association say law enforcement is a calling, that people who get into the field don’t get into it for the money. But many officers and deputies can’t STAY in it—because of the money. Beginning officers in outstate Missouri often start at well under 20-thouand dollars a year. Executive Director Sheldon Lineback with the police chiefs association says that’s not much for the responsibilities those people carry. His counterpart with the sheriff’s association, Mick Covington, is more blunt. He says some peace officers can make more money asking customers “if they want fries with that.” Covington says the average deputy sheriff in Missouri makes 22-thouand dollars a year. More than 90 counties have deputy’s salaries that make those officers eligible for food stamps. Police and sheriff’s officers are paid from local taxes. The state does not provide help with training costs, salaries or benefits although both Covington and Lineback point out their officers are enforcing state as well as local laws. Both say it’s time the state invested some of its money in local law enforcement.
Preventative Healthcare Emerges as Ideal for Replacement for Medicaid
New ideas being considered for Medicaid aim to transition the state’s healthcare from reactive to proactive. Spokesman Jessica Robinson with the Governor’s Office says nothing has been finalized. But, she says state agencies are looking at redefining state healthcare, moving away from “the crisis management” or medicating-the-sick approach and moving toward a program focused more on prevention, on maintaining health. An entirely new approach to Medicaid could also mean an entirely new name for the state’s next healthcare program. Robinson says it would be appropriate to rename the program if the state decides to redefine it. She says one idea is replacing Medicaid with Healthnet. New name or no, Robinson says finding a solution to state healthcare is one of Blunt’s main priorities for the next legislative session.
Quiz Is Offered to Teach Basics of Sunshine Law
A simple quiz, offered online by the Attorney General’s office, can gauge your knowledge about the Sunshine Law and, perhaps, make for more open government in Missouri. What is open to the public and what isn’t, from the school board, to city council to the State Capitol, is dictated by the Sunshine Law. The Sunshine Law is Missouri’s open meetings and open records law. It gives the public certain rights to observe government in action. Not all of us know it as we should. John Fougere with the Attorney General’s office says the quiz posted on the Attorney General’s Web site should help. One question on the quiz asks if a citizen can bring a tape recorder to the open portion of a city council meeting. There are two separate quizzes: one for the public and one for public officials. The Attorney General’s office spends a lot of time talking to public officials about their obligations under the Sunshine Law. The office held 23 training sessions which attracted 1,184 officials in 2005.Fougere says no one in the office actually thought a lot about how well the public might score on the quiz. He says the office hopes people will take the time to take the quiz and learn more about their civic rights.
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Insurance Companies Warn Holiday Shoppers to be on Guard Against Thieves
We’re heading into the prime holiday shopping season and the state’s insurance companies are warning shoppers to be on their guard. Calvin Call, Executive Director of the Missouri Insurance Information Service, says that while most people heading to stores and shopping malls are having a good time spending money, there are thieves in and around those malls, just waiting to ruin a shopper’s good time and steal that shopper’s money. Call advises shoppers to park in lighted areas, placing purchases out of sight – perhaps in the trunk, and making sure credit card receipts are secured.
Governor Blunt Stands In As Bell Boy
Governor Blunt wasn’t the drummer boy, but the bell boy. Blunt jingled his brass bell in front of the Jefferson City Schnuck’s in support of the Salvation Army’s holiday bell ringing campaign. Blunt says he wants Missourians to keep an eye out for Army volunteers as they tackle their holiday errands and drop donatations in the Army’s red kettles. The Army’s Captain Terry Selvage says the kettles are a little more empty than previous years. He says it’s not so much a lack of donation but a spike in demand that’s keeping supplies more scarce. He encourages residents to step up and meet that demand by making the kettles ring a little more often this holiday season. He adds the Army could always use more volunteers. Right now, he says he only has enough bell ringers to man 12 to 14 of Jefferson City’s 18 locations.
