ST. LOUIS 鈥 A plan to rein in the embattled city sheriff advanced through committee this week at the Board of Aldermen, reversing the panel鈥檚 deadlock last month.
The bill, sponsored by Alderman Matt Devoti, of the Hill, is aimed at two issues: Sheriff Alfred Montgomery鈥檚 dozens of refusals to take city jail detainees to doctors when needed, and a string of controversial purchases.
It says the sheriff is obligated by state law to transport the detainees, and would require the office to justify expenses to the city comptroller and produce monthly spending reports for aldermen.
City officials, including Mayor Cara Spencer, have said the refusals 鈥 a break from precedent under two previous sheriffs 鈥 have forced shorthanded jail staff to scramble to cover medical transports. Spending on new badges, used golf carts, and a take-home Chevrolet Tahoe for Montgomery amid a growing budget deficit in the office has drawn sharp criticism from aldermen.
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On Thursday, Devoti said the bill would offer a way forward. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not to pick on the sheriff,鈥 he said.
David Mason, a retired city circuit judge serving as Montgomery鈥檚 government attorney, called the bill illegal and unworkable. State law, he argued, does not require the 果酱视频 sheriff to transport detainees to medical appointments, and past practice does not bind the present. Montgomery, he said, needs a bigger budget and more staff to meet all duties without sacrificing others.
Montgomery aide Yosef Yasharahla said the only option would be to pull deputies from courtrooms, where the sheriff is clearly obligated by law to provide bailiffs.
鈥淵ou鈥檙e asking us to take from the courts,鈥 he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not going to happen.鈥
A month ago, some aldermen opposed the bill, saying they worried that the transportation requirement would invite a lawsuit and that the spending rules were too harsh.
But Thursday, those critics went along, and the committee advanced the bill to the full board without dissent. Alderman Rasheen Aldridge, last month鈥檚 chief opponent, said he still doubts the bill鈥檚 legality. But he appreciated an amendment making the spending restrictions expire after a year, and said the situation in the sheriff鈥檚 office had reached a point where something had to be done.
鈥淧eople do want to see some responsibility and accountability on the board,鈥 Aldridge said afterward.
Mason said it was just another step towards a lawsuit. 鈥淚f the mayor signs this bill, pretty much the next day we鈥檙e going to file a declaratory judgement action,鈥 he said.
The next meeting of the full board is scheduled for Sept. 12.
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