Jefferson County voters on Nov. 8 will choose a new sheriff for the first time since 1992, when Glenn Boyer was elected to succeed Walter “Buck” Buerger, who retired after serving 28 years.
They’ll choose from two veterans who have served on Boyer’s command staff: Lt. Col. Steve Meinberg, who is the undersheriff, or second-in-command to Boyer, is running as a Democrat against Republican Capt. Dave Marshak, the office’s law enforcement group commander.
The winner will serve a four-year term. The sheriff is paid $88,027 per year.
MEINBERG, 61, lives at 1034 Cantebury Circle in Imperial. He and his wife, Sue, have two children. Before starting with the Sheriff’s Office, he worked for the Crystal City Police Department and was police chief in Nixa.
A graduate of Lutheran South High School, Meinberg received two associate’s degrees, one in law enforcement and one in business management, from Jefferson College, and bachelor’s degrees in behavioral science and criminal justice from Missouri Baptist University. He also is a graduate of the FBI National Academy.
He is the president of the Jefferson College Board of Trustees, of which he has been a member since 2009, has been a member of the Windsor Board of Education since 2007 and the Jefferson County 911 Dispatch board.
Meinberg is the executive director of the Arnold Rotary Club, an associate member of the Vietnam Veterans of America, the district chairman for the Boy Scouts of America River Trails District, the Salvation Army board, House Springs Lions Club, Rock Memorial Sons of the American Legion, De Soto Amvets, Jefferson County Veterans Tribute Memorial Park Board, Child Advocacy Center Board and the Festus-Crystal City Elks.
Social media: Website: meinbergforsheriff.com Facebook: meinbergforsheriff
MARSHAK, 46, lives at 3311 Magnolia Lane, Festus, with his wife, Jennifer. He has worked for the Sheriff’s Office since 1994 and before that worked in law enforcement for three years in north St. Louis County. As law enforcement group commander, he is responsible for special operations, special investigations, the Detective Bureau, narcotics and three road patrol divisions.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in human resource management at Lindenwood University and a master’s degree in communications with emphasis on training and development through Lindenwood University and St. Louis University. He has thousands of hours of professional training and is a state Police Officers Standards Training Law Enforcement Instructor.
He is a member of the Festus-Crystal City Elks, the Festus-Crystal City Rotary Club and volunteers to teach concealed carry and personal protection courses around the state. He is a past board member of Critical Incident Stress Management, which includes fire, EMS, police and mental health professionals who help first responders in crisis. He also is a member of the Friends of the National Rifle Assocation, Ducks Unlimited, National Wild Turkey Foundation, Camp Hope and the Humane Society of Missouri.
Social media: Website: MarshakforSheriff.com Facebook: Dave Marshak
What training and experiences have equipped you for this position?
Meinberg: I started my career in 1980 at Crystal City, working my way through the ranks to detective and finally assistant police chief before leaving after nearly 10 years to become the police chief of Nixa. For a time, I was the only deputy commander of the St. Louis Major Case Squad representing Jefferson County. I returned to the county at Sheriff Boyer’s request to become the undersheriff about 24 years ago. I have 36 years of experience and training, nearly 30 of which has been in an executive command leadership position. I’m the only candidate who has done the job and has positioned himself for this transition. I oversee all units within the Sheriff's Office and make sure we maintain our international accreditation.
Marshak: Over the last 22 years serving Jefferson County, I have prepared myself like no other candidate. While working my way through the ranks, I trained hundreds of deputies, completed bachelor’s and master’s degrees, and served in almost every position from patrol officer to captain. As commander of special operations for almost nine years, I made critical decisions that saved lives. As commander of the Detective Bureau for several years, I lead a team that had an unprecedented success rate and worked with the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office to get justice for victims. Overall, I made strategic decisions in several areas to improve technology, which resulted in increased efficiency, reduced response times and tax dollars saved for Jefferson County residents.
What changes do you plan to enact in the next four years, if elected?
Meinberg: We are working on a strategic technology plan that would be comprehensive in its approach to cover all law enforcement aspects. This would make our community safer by giving all deputies the tools they need to be productive and more efficient. Multiple funding sources would be part of this plan. The plan would also eliminate roadblocks to access by residents. I also would extend deputy assignments to certain positions to benefit more from their training and experience.
Marshak: My priorities will include technology upgrades like GPS dispatching to ensure the fastest response times. We will reorganize manpower and responsibilities to put more officers on the road. We will put the right people in the right positions based on their skills, abilities and competence. We will focus on traffic for safety, not revenue. We will work to reduce jail liability while still holding those accountable for their crimes. We will foster a better relationship with the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office to build higher-quality cases, which will result in more prosecutions and justice for victims. We will take the fight to the heroin dealers so they will quit profiting from poisoning our community.
Should the sheriff's job continue to be an elected, partisan position? Why or why not?
Meinberg: The sheriff's position should remain elected. The sheriff is held accountable by the people. When the other elected officials have authority over the Sheriff’s Office, you have untrained, inexperienced people trying to influence and do a job that they have no idea of what they’re doing. That's why you have trained employees and a sheriff doing the job. We’ve seen what happens when law enforcement leadership is restrained from doing their jobs from other elected officials – it doesn’t work. I believe the sheriff's position should be non-partisan as it has nothing to do with legislating law or developing societal policies.
Marshak: Yes, the sheriff should be directly accountable to the residents of Jefferson County as an elected position. In terms of partisan elections, I’m torn. I like that voters can readily identify me as a conservative who shares their strong support of their Second Amendment and Constitutional rights. At the same time, I am concerned that voters may allow national politics to dictate which local candidates they choose. I have met Republicans posing as Democrats and vice versa.
Outside of the office's budget, what is the most pressing law enforcement issue facing Jefferson County?
Meinberg: ■ Manpower. Over the years we've cut expenses. At some point, for the safety and security of residents and employees, we have to invest in more personnel. I’ll work with the county to develop a plan to increase manpower. This also will reduce response times and allow for better investigations.
■ The jail. We are at capacity and it is probably one of the largest liabilities the county has. More space and manpower is needed.
■ The drug issue. Circuit Judge Patricia Riehl and I have been coordinating professional and community citizen groups to address this problem countywide and comprehensively to go beyond education and enforcement to include treatment and social aid. This will reduce crime.
Marshak: We have an unacceptable clearance rate on crimes, and it needs to be addressed immediately. Victims deserve justice, and to increase the clearance rate within budget limitations, we need to work smarter. Overall, we need a cultural (and departmental) shift in terms of efficiency and effectiveness. Internally, we will increase training and incorporate technology to maximize our tax dollars. Externally, we will enhance our communication with the community so they can be part of the solution.
Do you support your party's nominee for president? Explain why or why not.
Meinberg: I respect the right to confidentiality. That being said, I will be researching the facts of the candidates and will base my decision on who has the best credentials to represent this country’s citizens and ideals for our quality of life. I hope the citizens do the same for all of the elected offices instead of selecting a candidate based on hearsay.
Marshak: Yes, as he is the party’s nominee. Is he my perfect candidate? No.