Puett sets new goals as he beings third term as sheriff

By Charles Christian

Buchanan County Sheriff Bill Puett is continuing to pursue new goals for his office, despite being re-elected for a third term during the Nov. 5th, 2024, general election in which he ran unopposed.

Sheriff Puett stated that he will continue addressing violent crime, illicit drugs and scammers within the community. Additionally, the Sheriff stated that his office will be keeping up with county projects currently under discussion, such as a new juvenile detention center.

“I want to continue to work on recruiting and retaining quality officers,” Sheriff Puett said. “We want to add to the quality officers we already have in order to fill the ranks and to better serve the community.”

Sheriff Puett shared that his fellow Deputies and himself will continue to foster healthy relationships with community members, stating that he believes law enforcement departments and the community they serve are partners.

“We have good partnerships with the Police Department, the Highway Patrol and University Police,” Puett said. “We have also worked hard to develop partnerships with other sheriff’s offices and police departments throughout Northwest Missouri.”

These partnerships, the Sheriff shared, allow his department to be part of a larger team with a more successful approach to the bigger crime issues that are part of the Sheriff’s ongoing agenda.

Overall, Sheriff Puett stated that he believes that partnering with other law enforcement organizations and the public at large allows everyone to be safer in the long run. For the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Department, this means beginning with transparency and respect for the public.

“We want to be transparent and honest in everything we do,” Puett said. “The partnerships we have in the community with organizations and citizens are crucial; we can’t do this alone.”

Sheriff Puett shared that although running unopposed made his recent re-election campaign easier than the previous two races, he doesn’t take the support from the community for granted, and that both himself and the department want to continue earning the community’s trust.

“I can’t say ‘thank you’ enough to our community for its ongoing support,” Sheriff Puett said.

Looking ahead at 2028, Sheriff Puett stated that although he would still be within the age requirements to run for re-election, he plans to evaluate that decision as that election approaches.

The Sheriff referred to the possibility of running for re-election in four years time as a “game time decision.” However, until that election approaches, Sheriff Puett shared his hope of serving the citizens of Buchanan County both consistently and effectively.