VIENNA — Belle Police Department Sgt. Mark Morgan, 46, recently discussed his final thoughts on his campaign for Maries County sheriff as the Aug. 6 Republican primary election is less than one week away.

Morgan said he thinks his education sets him apart from his opponents. Although he does not hold a degree in law enforcement, Morgan estimated he has around 130 credit hours through various criminal justice programs in addition to his 11 months in the Missouri Sheriffs’ Association police academy, annually required training and leadership courses he attended through the military.

“I think I have a much better understanding regarding how a sheriff’s office should ethically be run,” he said. “I think it really does make me a better candidate overall. I believe that we should be placing the needs of the county above our own.”

Morgan said continuing the education of both himself and his deputies would be among his priorities as the next sheriff.

“I think we need to implement better in-service training,” he said. “I want to make it mandatory that every year we do a case law update or a legal brief.”

During one such training, the sheriff’s office would bring in an instructor to help keep staff up-to-date about developments related to how judicial decisions impact the way law enforcement operates.

“I think we really need a sheriff that’s going to emphasize on those things of education and incentivize deputies to say ‘Hey, see about getting your degree (or) take some college classes,’” Morgan said. “Then, from the sheriff’s office point of view, I’m going to bring this training to you: ethics training, constitutional law, case law updates.”

Morgan emphasized building community trust as a priority if he is elected as the next sheriff.

“I think one of the biggest challenges going into this thing with the new sheriff is there’s going to be a lot of need for some healing,” he said. “Law enforcement agencies, we need our communities’ trust. We need our communities’ support. I think that’s been damaged quite a bit, especially recently, and I think it’s going to be a real big challenge to rebuild that trust. They say the first thing you have to do is identify the problem. I’ve already identified that problem, and I’m not even elected yet.”

When asked about the problem he had identified, Morgan said he wanted to make a policy update for sheriff’s office employees.

“If you’re representing the sheriff’s office, you will not participate in any election either for or against any candidate, including the sheriff,” he said. “Most agencies do not allow that. I really think that taxpayers do not want to see their sheriff’s office used for political purposes.”

Morgan said he believes his leadership skills qualify him to be the sheriff who rebuilds the community’s trust.

“I’ve led law enforcement officers as a first-line supervisor, as a road supervisor, and I believe I’ve the right tools and the right attitude to effectively lead and mentor people,” he said. “I really think that’s one of my biggest strengths over my competitors.”

Morgan again mentioned his “lead from the front” approach to running the sheriff’s office.

“It really creates a little bit of a rift not to see your leader, especially as an elected sheriff, working side-by-side with you, hand-in-hand with you and not just sitting in an office dictating policy,” he said.

In Morgan’s closing statement, he reiterated that the biggest challenge for the next sheriff will be regaining the community’s trust.

“Whoever wins, I think they’re going to have their job cut out for them,” he said. “The relationship with the sheriff’s office and the community has been damaged, and I think it’s going to take a lot of work to build that back.”