By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post
Buchanan County voters brushed aside the national negative narrative and calls to defund the police to show overwhelming support for law enforcement in Tuesday’s election.
Unofficial results from the Buchanan County Clerk’s office tell the story: 6,653 voted in favor of the quarter-cent law enforcement sales tax with only 1,925 voting against. That is an incredible 77.56% to 22.44% split in support of the issue that will pay for deputy pay raises and additional staff on the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Department.
Buchanan County Sheriff Bill Puett says the county placed the issue on the ballot after the county survey showed law enforcement was a top priority of county residents.
“I think it goes to show that the citizens have spoken, not only in the survey, but as well in the overwhelming majority support for law enforcement and what they want in our community and how they want it done,” Puett tells St. Joseph Post. “We’re so greatly thankful and appreciative to everyone who supported it.”
Puett says he didn’t assume an outcome while watching election results come in.
“You’re always nervous, but I know we have an outstanding community. We have a great community,” Puett says. “So, it doesn’t surprise me when we have our outstanding citizens get out and show this level of support for law enforcement.”
County officials project the quarter cent increase will generate $3.6 million annually. The money will be used to increase deputy salaries, which according to Puett, have failed to stay competitive with neighboring sheriff’s departments, such as those in Clay and Platte Counties. It also will be used to fill vacancies which now plague the department as well as add law enforcement officers.
Puett says this emphatic statement from the voters will boost morale among his staff.
“Well, I think it will have a dramatic impact, a huge shot in the arm.”
Puett says this vote proves the community supports law enforcement.
“This is not the stuff you see in the national rhetoric and in other places,” Puett says. “We don’t have that kind of community here. We have an outstanding community that supports its law enforcement and wants the problems addressed.”