Guest Editorial: Response To Tester Ad
Author: Nick Rauser, Broadwater County Sheriff
Response to Tester Ad
I am writing to address a recent Ad put in the Local MT 43 News Paper (October 25th, 2024) edition. There is a full-page ad stating that Senator Jon Testers secured $255,943 for the Broadwater County Sheriff's Office. I would like to set a couple things straight.
First off, the Broadwater County Sheriff's Office does not endorse any candidates.
Individuals can endorse who they please. The Ad came across to me that the Broadwater County Sheriff's Office supports/endorses Jon Tester. As a Sheriff's Office we do not endorse any candidates. We have a duty to serve and protect the citizens no matter what political party someone is associated with.
Second, the money the Ad is referring to comes from two different sources. In 2020 when a Mill Levy was passed by the Broadwater County residents, the Sheriffs Office vowed to apply for a COPS grant from the federal government. That grant is $125,000 per new Deputy spread over 4 years. After the 4th year the Sheriff's Office has to have the funding to maintain the new employee full time. The Sheriff's Office applied for 2 grants, hence the $250,000. That grant is over 4 years old. As far as the other $5,943, we do everything we can to lower the burden of the tax payers. There is a grant available to reimburse partial amounts for a new bullet proof vest. So, when we get a new vest we apply for the grant. Over the last few years we have received $5,943 which is a third of what we spent on new vests.
It is unacceptable to me, for the Broadwater County Sheriffs Office to be used as a political puppet. We were never notified that the Ad would be in the paper or asked for our permission. Jon Tester has never reached out to the Sheriff's Office or myself. The COPS grant was written by Undersheriff Harris, and Sheriff Meehan at the time was the one who had to maintain it and stay compliant. All the support we have received has been from the citizens of Broadwater County. So, Thank You to the citizens for the support, and if you have any questions please call me.
Sheriff Nick Rauser
Broadwater County Sheriff
