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Prosecutor offers help to get drug dog for sheriff
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By Jeff Haldiman
jhaldiman@newstribune.com
Cole County Prosecutor Mark Richardson told county commissioners Wednesday he is willing to work with Sheriff Greg White to get the sheriff's department a drug dog.
“It would be another tool that our citizens deserve to be used for their protection,” he said during a budget hearing.
Richardson said grant money could help ease the cost, estimated between $19,000 and $25,000.
Eastern District Commissioner Mike Forck said he liked the idea and thought it might be even more effective than just adding an extra deputy.
Currently, the sheriff's department only has access to a drug dog through the Missouri Highway Patrol. He also said 90 percent of the criminal cases they are dealing with now are related to drug activity.
Richardson said the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that a dog's sniff around an area is not a search as long as the dog and the handler are lawfully upon the premises, like a school or a parking lot making a sweep. If a dog is on a sidewalk and sniffs something suspicious on a person or in a vehicle, then a search can take place.
On a related note, the commission approved using $27,000 in reserve funds to pay for housing prisoners outside the county during November.
Finance Officer Debbie Malzner said this brings the county's total for the year to $188,000 and will probably mean the total for this year will be above $200,000 when the bill comes in for December.
Commissioners also heard requests from Richardson and County Public Works Director Larry Benz to see if they would be able to give some merit increases to employees in their departments who have gone beyond the call of duty to get things done in their departments.
Last month, County Auditor Jim LePage presented a proposed budget of nearly $40 million that included an average pay raise for county employees of around $1,000.
There would be a $700 cost-of-living increase, with up to $300 for longevity.
To provide these increases would cost the county $258,000.
The total county payroll is projected to be $11.6 million for its 255 employees.
Wednesday, Assistant Auditor Kristin Gerber said no merit raises were put in the budget because this was the last push to get employees up to the minimum level of pay under the new salary structure that was adopted a few years ago.
She said it was possible that merit increases could be in next year's budget.
“It would be another tool that our citizens deserve to be used for their protection,” he said during a budget hearing.
Richardson said grant money could help ease the cost, estimated between $19,000 and $25,000.
Eastern District Commissioner Mike Forck said he liked the idea and thought it might be even more effective than just adding an extra deputy.
Currently, the sheriff's department only has access to a drug dog through the Missouri Highway Patrol. He also said 90 percent of the criminal cases they are dealing with now are related to drug activity.
Richardson said the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that a dog's sniff around an area is not a search as long as the dog and the handler are lawfully upon the premises, like a school or a parking lot making a sweep. If a dog is on a sidewalk and sniffs something suspicious on a person or in a vehicle, then a search can take place.
On a related note, the commission approved using $27,000 in reserve funds to pay for housing prisoners outside the county during November.
Finance Officer Debbie Malzner said this brings the county's total for the year to $188,000 and will probably mean the total for this year will be above $200,000 when the bill comes in for December.
Commissioners also heard requests from Richardson and County Public Works Director Larry Benz to see if they would be able to give some merit increases to employees in their departments who have gone beyond the call of duty to get things done in their departments.
Last month, County Auditor Jim LePage presented a proposed budget of nearly $40 million that included an average pay raise for county employees of around $1,000.
There would be a $700 cost-of-living increase, with up to $300 for longevity.
To provide these increases would cost the county $258,000.
The total county payroll is projected to be $11.6 million for its 255 employees.
Wednesday, Assistant Auditor Kristin Gerber said no merit raises were put in the budget because this was the last push to get employees up to the minimum level of pay under the new salary structure that was adopted a few years ago.
She said it was possible that merit increases could be in next year's budget.
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chitown wrote on Dec 8, 2007 6:36 PM: