July 20, 2020

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It is with sincere honor and no hesitation I offer my endorsement of Craig Allison in his candidacy for Montgomery County Sheriff.  Having spent my last 20 years as a member of the Callaway County Sheriff’s Office, the last three as the elected Sheriff; I’ve had the distinct honor of working alongside Craig in our adjoining counties.  Trust me when I say, criminals do not stop at county lines.  

Having worked with Craig over the course of several years and witnessing both his personal and professional characteristics, I have no doubt Craig will meet the expectations of Montgomery County’s hardworking, taxpaying citizens who deserve a professional and proven law enforcement leader.  After all, the elected Sheriff is the Chief Law Enforcement Officer of the County.  That’s why it’s so important the right person take the seat.  

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As an elected Sheriff, I can attest firsthand the many responsibilities of the County Sheriff.  The responsibilities are so great; an entire Chapter in the Missouri Revisor of Statutes is devoted to the Office of Sheriff and their responsibilities.  While many citizens base their opinions of, and vote for a Sheriff based on the actions (or inactions) of the uniformed men and women patrolling the streets, the Sheriff has so many other responsibilities that are too many times discounted in the public eye.  That starts with the county jail, the largest liability the Sheriff, and county government as a whole, encumbers while too usually being the primary source of personnel issues.  If patrol and jail duties are not enough, the Sheriff is also given statutory responsibilities for sex offender registrations/verifications, process of Court documents (criminal, civil, and probate), CCW permit issuance/verifications, prisoner extraditions all across the nation, court bailiff/security detail, and other numerous tasks.  Sheriffs are given these responsibilities as they are elected by the people, answer direct to their constituents, and are trusted to fulfill said responsibilities within the parameters of law.

  

It’s imperative any elected Sheriff have a great understanding of the aforementioned responsibilities given to them.  It’s even more important the Sheriff have a true working knowledge of these responsibilities as proven by having their boots on the ground performing them.  Above all though, an elected Sheriff must first understand their community’s needs and then apply law enforcement functions appropriately.  It’s not an easy job by any stretch of the imagination but Craig is up to the task.

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I look forward to working with Craig as one of the state’s 115 elected Sheriffs whom answer direct to the people without having a filter in between them and their constituents.  

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Respectfully,

Clay Chism

Callaway County Sheriff