ST. LOUIS — A St. Louis judge issued an administrative order for 16 sheriff's deputies to immediately stand down from their jobs, stating that they were not hired following standard procedures.
Presiding Judge Elizabeth Hogan issued an order Wednesday naming 16 deputies who she said were hired without following requirements of state law, including completing applications and background checks and submitting references to the 22nd Circuit Court's Personnel Committee for review and interviews.
The order said the deputies, as well as any other deputies hired by Sheriff Vernon Betts without the approval of a majority of circuit judges, are "unauthorized hires" and are "immediately prohibited from holding themselves as employees as the Sheriff's Department or carrying out any duties delineated to the Sheriff's Department," until they are approved through lawful procedures.
"When you are sworn in as a law enforcement officer in the city of St. Louis
to protect judges and to protect courtgoers, you have to have qualified deputies, experienced deputies and experienced deputies," said former deputy Alfred Montgomery who lost a 2020 election against the Sheriff.
He is running again next year for the seat.
"They were given badges. They were given firearms...Some deputies may have felonies. Some deputies may have misdemeanors. That we don't know because they were not properly hired. They did not go through the background check and
they did not go before the judges," Montgomery added.
Betts' attorney, retired judge Jimmie Edwards declined an interview, but said the Sheriff thought he had emergency powers to bring on the 16 new deputies the way that he did. He says the matter is a misunderstanding and that he plans to get in compliance with the judge's order.
It comes as a jury sided with the Sheriff Thursday on a separate matter. A long-time deputy filed suit against Betts, claiming he retaliated against him by demanding he cut off his beard, which he wears due to a skin condition. The deputy claimed Betts only made that demand after he appeared in court for a subpoena in a another deputy's discrimination complaint.
"He feels as though he can do what he wants when he wants," a current deputy who spoke with 5 On Your Side under the condition of anonymity said. "If you're going to hire 16 people, you have to do it the correct way. We have to do our job
the correct way all the time so who are you to be exempt?"
"Vernon Betts has been here for 6 years. He knows better. He knows the process," Montgomery added.
Hogan said the Sheriff's Department has four business days to submit needed application materials, at which point the deputies would need to interview with the personnel committee in order to be hired. Edwards says the Sheriff plans to have the matter resolved by that deadline.