Despite being hundred of thousands of dollars underwater, the St. Louis City Sheriff Alfred Montgomery continues to burn through the budget. The latest expenditure revealed is $28,000 for 250 new badges. Chair of the Aldermanic Budget Committee Rasheen Aldridge is growing tired.
"To be honest, I'm exhausted," sighed Aldridge, "it's like every other day we find out in City government of another expenditure that the sheriff department has [made]. Whatever his reasoning is, recently it's been to try to, 'upgrade the department.'"
Aldridge also questioned the priority of badges.
"There's other needs. It sounds like they need tazers and these other things. The question is, was it smart to buy badges."
One of Sheriff Montgomery's first acts in office was terminating numerous high ranking officials in the department. The result was a near half million dollar in severance payouts, blowing a hole in the department's budget. The financial imbalance was exemplified when Montgomery gave out raises to deputies shortly after.
Aldridge also questioned the timing of these expenses considering the Department's financial situation.
"Buying new outfits, buying new badges, buying new cars... things that are just not a necessary, spending need at the moment."
The badges are the latest in a number of questionable expenses recently brought to light, which has included electric golf carts, a new Chevy Tahoe for Montgomery to take home, new uniforms, and a tactical robot.
Financial issues are not the only concern surrounding Sheriff Montgomery's brief tenure, others involved rolling gold dice, detaining the Deputy Jail Commissioner and having department staff drive his kids to and from school. A watchdog group has requested Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore remove Montgomery from office.
KMOX spoke to Matt Seidler, the President of the Leon's Uniform company, where the badges were purchased from. He refutes reports the badges were not paid for. Seidler did acknowledge the payment came over a month past due but said they have no issues with the late payment, adding the Sheriff's Department is in good standing with them and a good customer.
KMOX reached out to the Sheriff's spokesman for further comment on the badges and the budget issues at large and is awaiting response.