Dear Editor:

About 8 weeks ago, I read in the paper about the Barry County Sheriffs Citizen Police Academy. We responded and supplied our application to the Sheriff. We were accepted and attended the classes given on Tuesdays from 6-8 p.m.

In 2018, I retired from a governmental agency in Chicago and came to the area shortly thereafter. We liked the town of Cassville and bought a home outside of town. We had our CCW permits and went to the Sheriff’s office and former Sheriff Gary Davis issued our Missouri permits. Sheriff Davis was the stereotype county Sheriff that I assumed that most county Sheriffs would be. He was pleasant and well liked.

Along came the name of Danny Boyd who ended up running for Sheriff along with Davis and several others. I was sorry that Davis lost the election. Sheriff Danny Boyd took office and the rumors started to fly about vehicles, releasing prisoners from jail and cronyism, etc.

Was it poor losers or were the rumors true? I tried to keep an open mind when it comes to rumors.

When the Sheriff’s Office announced a Citizens Police Academy, we jumped at the chance. I wanted to learn more about the Sheriff and the goings on in Barry County. This was not my first experience with Police academies, having attended several in Illinois. Over the last 8 weeks, we have experienced Sheriff Danny Boyd and his excellent crew of officers, administrative staff, correctional officers, bailiffs and the new facilities. It is a wonderful and exciting experience.

Let me tell you what I think of Sheriff Danny Boyd and his staff. They make me proud to be a resident of Barry County. He has the finest staff of people who work for him. He is astute, well mannered, down to earth individual, who cares for the people of Barry County.

One of his goals is to cut costs where he can without a burden tossed onto the taxpayer. Wherever he can, he makes a decision, along with staff input, for the benefit of the citizens of Barry County.

Vehicles were one of the rumors I had heard about buying a big vehicle and not locally. He saved time and money buying it where they could outfit the car with everything needed to put it on the road, instead of buying locally and then sending it to the outfitter.

Releasing prisoners from jail was another rumor. The Sheriff has no authority to release prisoners once they are locked up. That comes from the Courts system; if you have a problem with that, take it up with the prosecuting attorney and the judges. The sheriff was at all the sessions, providing wit and his insight to his profession.

Sheriff Boyd is an honest, intelligent, and caring human being, who has Barry County residents at heart. He tries to save taxpayer money wherever he can. He has our backing at election time and we are proud to have been chosen for the first Citizens Police academy.

Want to learn more about Sheriff Boyd? Apply to the next session in September and you will enjoy his company and meet his wonderful staff. I guarantee you will learn about the new jail, competent staff, and policing procedures in Barry County.

Sheriff Boyd, you really hit a homerun with this academy and best of luck with them in the future.

Cindy & John Krzoz

Eagle Rock