KIRKSVILLE, MO -- Sheriffs' from around northeast Missouri gathered in Kirksville on Thursday for an annual meeting. Missouri Sheriffs' Association Executive Director Mick Covington was on hand to discuss any issues that sheriffs' offices may have.
“It’s very important to listen to the voices of each sheriffs office” said Covington. “We have these regional meetings to be able to air the sheriffs’ concerns in different parts of the state. You can well imagine with 115 sheriffs' offices located throughout the state we have very different view points and various problems that crop up, various issues of concern.”
Half-a-dozen sheriffs' from northeast Missouri participated in Thursday’s meeting.
“We have some issues that are of concern of sheriffs statewide” said Covington. “One of them would be changing the qualifications to the officer sheriff. That individual must have a valid peace officer license when they take that office. Currently that is not required; if that individual does not have that license, they can’t make arrests, can’t make search warrants or anything along those lines.”
Covington meets with each sheriffs' department from Missouri at least once each year, generally by these regional meetings.