By Austin Huguelet
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
ST. LOUIS — The city sheriff’s office is making another change under newly elected Sheriff Alfred Montgomery: It is asking its employees to take a stand against gossip.
A notice distributed to deputies this week titled “Professional Conduct Policy: No Gossip Commitment” says the office’s ability to serve the public and uphold the law depends on mutual trust, unity and professional discipline.
“Gossip compromises all of these,” the notice reads. “Choosing not to engage in gossip supports a stronger, more respectful Sheriff’s Office.”
No gossip commitment
The St. Louis Sheriff’s Office is asking employees to refrain from gossip or risk discipline.
The notice calls on deputies to pledge to “avoid speaking about others negatively in their absence unless required for work-related purposes,” and “disengage from gossip by redirecting conversations or stating my commitment to professionalism.”
It says that failure to comply may result in disciplinary action, “up to and including termination.”
The directive follows months of controversy in the office.
Since taking office in January, Montgomery has made headlines for having a top jail official arrested, telling a deputy to roll golden dice for his job and having a deputy pick up his kids at school.
And just a couple of weeks ago, he made news again when aldermen discovered he had spent $12,000 to buy four used golf carts. Aldermen repeatedly questioned why the office would need them when its deputies do much of their work between two neighboring courthouses downtown.
But Blake Lawrence, an attorney and top aide to Montgomery, said the new policy was not prompted by anything in particular.
It was drafted as part of a larger review of the office’s employee handbook, he said, and is an addendum to the office’s anti-bullying policy.
“And it’s pretty standard stuff,” he said.
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