Law enforcement agencies see fewer, qualified applicants

Tension between law enforcement and communities are high across the country. So far in 2016, 68 officers have been killed in the line of duty. July has been the deadliest month of the year with 18 officers killed; 11 by gunfire.

According to Cole County Sheriff Greg White, his agency is seeing fewer qualified applicants. Considering the atmosphere regarding police across the county, Missouri Sen. Mike Parson doesn’t seem surprised.

“You didn’t sign up for somebody to kill you, because you’re wearing a uniform,” he said.

During a press conference about the recent violence on law enforcement, Parson said (communities) cannot let “activists use racially-charged words and phrases to divide us.”

Parson said eventually, there won’t be anyone who wants to be a law enforcement officer.

Before shift, White reminds his deputies to “keep your head on a swivel, be aware of your surroundings, and execute your job as you’ve been called to do it, as the Constitution requires.”

White said he sees the tension between agencies and communities but isn’t feeling it in Cole County and Jefferson City.

In Columbia, there has been criticism of Columbia Police Department leadership, both from the community and internally from the department. An anonymous survey released earlier this week showed low morale among officers, some citing it is caused by leadership.

“The leadership of all agencies must remain under that umbrella of authority,” White said. “They have to lead. They have to lead by example. They lead by their verbage, and they certainly reinforce what our constitutions, laws, and policies require.”

White said the country as a whole is divided, and people should start learning how to relate to each other again.

There are at least six counties in mid-Missouri who will have a new sheriff after the November election.