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Posted by Sedalia Democrat on 6/9/2008, 7:19 am By Sarah Nail
Police officer politicking debated here, elsewhere
June 4, 2008 - 7:06PM
Restrictions on police officer politicking is a topic debated throughout Missouri, prompting a law enforcement organization to lobby for a statewide standard.
The Sedalia City Council discussed Monday, and ultimately tabled, an amendment to an ordinance prohibiting any political activity — including bumper stickers and yard signs — by employees of the Police Department. The amendment calls for lifting the restriction in relation to county, state and federal elections. It would still apply to municipal elections.
City Administrator Keith Riesberg said the proposed amendment was prompted by inquires from police officers who wanted to know the guidelines for participating in campaign efforts in the Pettis County sheriff’s race.
Police officer Brad Anders has taken a leave of absence from the department to challenge Sheriff Kevin Bond in the Nov. 4 election. Bond, a Republican, and Anders, a Democrat, are unopposed in the Aug. 5 primary.
Riesberg said he and City Attorney Anne Gardner reviewed the ordinance and found that “not granting police officers the same rights” as all the other employees regarding political activities “is taking away from their rights to participate.”
“We want our employees to vote and be good citizens just like everybody else,” Riesberg said.
Some Sedalia police officers feel the same way. Sgt. Adam Hendricks said he “doesn’t have any interest to serve in the political arena.
“On duty, there’s not place for” political activities, Hendricks said. “Off duty, we should have the same rights as everyone else.”
Patrolman Kelley Casto said he thinks officers should be able to put bumper stickers on their personal vehicles and yard signs at their homes. He said serving on political committees would be acceptable, but restrictions should apply on public activities.
Casto said he thinks officers should be prohibited from “knocking on doors” for political candidates, because some may recognize them as law enforcement and be influenced.
“Because we are badge holders, we shouldn’t be doing those things,” he said.
The City Council asked Gardner to research the policies at the county level. Some councilmen said they would be more willing to support an amendment eliminating the restrictions regarding state and national election, but prohibit political activity in city and county elections.
Sedalia Police Chief John DeGonia said he was not involved in the amendment proposal.
“The officers wanted to do the right thing, and went to the city attorney and asked what the process was and what they needed to do to stay within the bounds of the process (in participating in political activities),” he said.
Gardner researched the policies of municipalities across the state regarding limitations on police officers’ political activities.
Little Missouri case law exists regulating political activities of police, Riesberg said.
Municipal ordinances run the gamut, from completely restricting any political activity to banning politicking related to the governing body which employs the officer.
Butch Albert, vice president of the Missouri Fraternal Order of Police, is chairman of the organization’s legislative committee. He said the topic in Sedalia is one that is inconsistently addressed across the state.
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