Candidate for Barry County Sheriff, Sheriff candidate and incumbent sheriff, Gary Davis (R)
July 22, 2020
Sheriff candidate and incumbent sheriff, Gary Davis (R)
1. Why are you running for sheriff?
I am currently the Sheriff. My experience, training, professionalism and integrity have brought a new beginning to Barry County law enforcement. I am asking the voters of Barry County to elect me for another term so I may continue what I have started. A Sheriff must focus not only on patrol but must ensure all procedures and policies are being followed. He also prepares and manages multiple budgets (Patrol and Jail), as well as managing the officers that work for him. We have made a great start on professionalizing the Barry County Sheriff’s Office, but we can continue to improve and do better. That is why I want to continue as your Sheriff.
2. What type of experience do you have that makes you a good candidate for this office?
Current Sheriff of Barry County. I am a retired Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent with over 36 years of law enforcement experience. I have conducted and supervised criminal investigations including drug trafficking, organized crime, bank robbery, counterterrorism, fraud and a host of others. My more notable investigative involvements included the attempted assassination of President Ronald Regan, the Oklahoma City bombing, and on the Incident Command of the September 11th terror attacks. I have developed and managed multi-million-dollar budgets, HIDTA and OCDETF grants, intelligence centers and technology projects, including the personnel associated with them.
Education: Bachelors of Science degree Business Administration (cum laude); FBI Executive Development Institute—Inspector Training—Certified Police Instructor—Security Officer Training, Security Seminars—Equal Employment Opportunity for Managers—Interrogation and Interviewing—Interpersonal Communications—Creating World Class Organizations—Business Area Analysis—Management Training for Supervisors—Basic Organized Crime—Labor Racketeering—Racketeering Enterprise Investigations—High Intensity Drug Trafficking—Espionage Interrogation and Interviewing—Espionage—Criminal Intelligence—Organized Crime—Drug Trafficking—International Terrorism and Counterintelligence—Department of Defense Joint Task Force Six Threat Assessment School—Fingerprint Examiner. Numerous seminars and classes pertaining to Missouri laws and the investigation of violations thereof.
3. The budget for the Sheriff's Office is the largest in the county. Do you feel it's adequate for current operations? Are there changes you would like to see made to it?
The budget must be addressed within the context of available funds. All Barry County Offices are funded via sales tax. Only so much is available to go around and is subject to the ebb and flow of the local economy. The current budget is the result of negotiations between the County Commissioners and the Sheriffs’ Office. To provide major improvements to deputy equipment needs and an increase in the number of patrol deputies would require additional funds. Barry County Deputies are the lowest paid of the surrounding counties.
4. It's essential to have a good relationship with other law departments. Are there areas in the relationship between other municipalities, the Conservation Department and the Highway Patrol that could be improved? If so, how would you improve them?
Communication is the best way to improve relationships. Regular meetings, both formal and informal, help foster a positive working relationship and leads to coordinated efforts to better serve the citizens of Barry County.
I am currently the Sheriff. My experience, training, professionalism and integrity have brought a new beginning to Barry County law enforcement. I am asking the voters of Barry County to elect me for another term so I may continue what I have started. A Sheriff must focus not only on patrol but must ensure all procedures and policies are being followed. He also prepares and manages multiple budgets (Patrol and Jail), as well as managing the officers that work for him. We have made a great start on professionalizing the Barry County Sheriff’s Office, but we can continue to improve and do better. That is why I want to continue as your Sheriff.
2. What type of experience do you have that makes you a good candidate for this office?
Current Sheriff of Barry County. I am a retired Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent with over 36 years of law enforcement experience. I have conducted and supervised criminal investigations including drug trafficking, organized crime, bank robbery, counterterrorism, fraud and a host of others. My more notable investigative involvements included the attempted assassination of President Ronald Regan, the Oklahoma City bombing, and on the Incident Command of the September 11th terror attacks. I have developed and managed multi-million-dollar budgets, HIDTA and OCDETF grants, intelligence centers and technology projects, including the personnel associated with them.
Education: Bachelors of Science degree Business Administration (cum laude); FBI Executive Development Institute—Inspector Training—Certified Police Instructor—Security Officer Training, Security Seminars—Equal Employment Opportunity for Managers—Interrogation and Interviewing—Interpersonal Communications—Creating World Class Organizations—Business Area Analysis—Management Training for Supervisors—Basic Organized Crime—Labor Racketeering—Racketeering Enterprise Investigations—High Intensity Drug Trafficking—Espionage Interrogation and Interviewing—Espionage—Criminal Intelligence—Organized Crime—Drug Trafficking—International Terrorism and Counterintelligence—Department of Defense Joint Task Force Six Threat Assessment School—Fingerprint Examiner. Numerous seminars and classes pertaining to Missouri laws and the investigation of violations thereof.
3. The budget for the Sheriff's Office is the largest in the county. Do you feel it's adequate for current operations? Are there changes you would like to see made to it?
The budget must be addressed within the context of available funds. All Barry County Offices are funded via sales tax. Only so much is available to go around and is subject to the ebb and flow of the local economy. The current budget is the result of negotiations between the County Commissioners and the Sheriffs’ Office. To provide major improvements to deputy equipment needs and an increase in the number of patrol deputies would require additional funds. Barry County Deputies are the lowest paid of the surrounding counties.
4. It's essential to have a good relationship with other law departments. Are there areas in the relationship between other municipalities, the Conservation Department and the Highway Patrol that could be improved? If so, how would you improve them?
Communication is the best way to improve relationships. Regular meetings, both formal and informal, help foster a positive working relationship and leads to coordinated efforts to better serve the citizens of Barry County.
