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ST. LOUIS—A St. Louis legal group is calling for the St. Louis sheriff to be removed from office. The Holy Joe Society, which says it promotes honest, lawful government, sent a letter to Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey, St. Louis Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore and St. Louis City Counselor Michael Garvin urging the officials to “take action.”
The letter says based on published reports, the Society says Sheriff Montgomery is “guilty of willful or fraudulent violations or neglect of official duty.”
The letter lists four allegations:
- Sheriff Montgomery had employees use government vehicles to transport his children to and from school, calling it a “violation of the Sheriff’s fiduciary duty” and misuse of public resources for personal benefit
- Sheriff Montgomery allegedly arrested the Acting Corrections Commissioner of the City of St. Louis while “attempting to exercise dominion and control over the St. Louis City Justice Center.” The group explains by law, the sheriff’s office does not have general arrest powers.
- Sheriff Montgomery violated his official duties in regards to discipline when he forced a deputy to roll dice in order to avoid being fired. The group added that the conduct is “scarcely conceivable in a responsible elected official.”
- The sheriff has failed and refused to assign deputies to maintain courthouse security and preserve order in the courtrooms as well as to transport and guard prisoners in need of medical care.
Spectrum News reached out to the sheriff’s office for comment and has not received a reply.
In the group’s letter, it also refers to quo warranto suit Attorney General Bailey filed against former St. Louis City prosecutor Kim Gardner seeking her removal of office in 2023.
