ST. LOUIS 鈥 The city sheriff鈥檚 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 鈥淧rofessional Conduct Policy: No Gossip Commitment鈥 says the office鈥檚 ability to serve the public and uphold the law depends on mutual trust, unity and professional discipline.
鈥淕ossip compromises all of these,鈥 the notice reads. 鈥淐hoosing not to engage in gossip supports a stronger, more respectful Sheriff鈥檚 Office.鈥
The 蜜芽传媒 Sheriff鈥檚 Office is asking employees to refrain from gossip or risk discipline.
The notice calls on deputies to pledge to 鈥渁void speaking about others negatively in their absence unless required for work-related purposes,鈥 and 鈥渄isengage from gossip by redirecting conversations or stating my commitment to professionalism.鈥
It says that failure to comply may result in disciplinary action, 鈥渦p to and including termination.鈥
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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 .
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鈥檚 employee handbook, he said, and is an addendum to the office鈥檚 anti-bullying policy.
鈥淎nd it鈥檚 pretty standard stuff,鈥 he said.
A tornado devastated the 蜜芽传媒 area on May 16, and much of the following week was spent picking up the pieces. Volunteers turned out and the road to recovery began. View the week in 蜜芽传媒 through the Post-Dispatch photographers' lenses. Edited by Jenna Jones.
