Cascade County Sheriff Candidate Profiles: Slaughter & Groskreutz

ECB Staff on May 16, 2022

Jesse Slaughter

In 2018 I ran for Cascade County Sheriff because I saw an opportunity to improve leadership and accountability at the Sheriff’s Office. I was inspired to bring transparency to the office and restore confidence to the people of Cascade County. I knew it would be challenging and I knew a culture change would not be embraced by everyone. However, I knew our community deserved it. 

As soon as we took office, and each day since, we’ve made it our mission to put our community first. Simply put, we’ve kept our promises. 

The team at CCSO has accomplished so much in my first term. Here is a short list of things we’ve done that directly affect public safety:

  • Streamlined staffing to put more deputies on the street
  • Added 5 deputies to the annual budget
  • Added 3 detention officers to the annual budget
  • Added an Internet Crimes Against Children Detective
  • Created a Violent Crimes Prevention Task Force 
  • Created a civilian Use of Force Review Committee
  • Improved capacity at the jail, by removing state prison
  • Made major repairs to the jail, improving security
  • Started the CCSO’s first online crime reporting system
  • Introduced an improved body camera program
  • Created a new K9 Program  
  • Introduced the Angel Initiative, which provides drug addiction assistance
  • Moved the 24/7 program to downtown Great Falls
  • Revitalized the Reserve Deputy Program 
  • Updated patrol vehicle video systems and body worn cameras 
  • Created a Resident Deputy Program  
  • Introduced the Drug Endangered Children Program
  • Acquired a body scanner for the jail
  • Purchased new riot gear for Our community 
  • Moved processing juveniles, with felony charges, to the JDC

I have served in law enforcement for over twenty-two years. I am guided by my faith and my family. My wife, Christie, serves as a Victim Witness Advocate on the Montana Board of Pardons and Parole. We have three amazing children and Christie and I each serve as volunteers in multiple facets in Cascade County.   

I am proud to be your Sheriff and I truly care about the people of Cascade County. I am dedicated to putting the community first, keeping the promises I make, and protecting your freedoms. 

I am accountable to the community members of Cascade County, my boss. 

I believe the best predictor of future performance is past performance .You hired me in 2018 to bring a change to the Cascade County Sheriff’s Office. I am proud to say we’ve done that, but there is more to do. To keep moving forward, I’d be honored to have your vote on June 7th.

__________________________________________________________________

Jay Groskreutz

I’ve worked for Cascade County Sheriff’s Office for 22 years. I have served in a supervisory role as a corporal and sergeant at the jail, and in numerous leadership positions as a patrol deputy, including SWAT, coroner, Search and Rescue, a School Resource Officer, a resident deputy for the town of Belt, and as a corporal. My wife of 22 years and I have raised our two daughters in this county. We love to hunt, fish, camp, and spend time together as a family. I want to serve Cascade County as sheriff to make our county safer and our sheriff’s office stronger.

            The number one public safety issue plaguing our county is drugs. I intend to wage a county-wide battle against the drug problem, because not only is the drug abuse a problem, but it creates other issues for our county too – thefts, assaults, sex crimes, and one of the most overlooked – crimes against children. That’s why the Drug Endangered Children approach is at the core of my plan. This nationally recognized approach does not cost us more money and has the potential to bring drug-fighting money into our county. The DEC approach allows us to proactively help children through better collaboration with agencies and community partners, such as Alliance for Youth, Toby’s House, and the Dandelion Foundation. It also means enhanced training for our employees.

            Another of my priorities as sheriff is to provide leadership for our sheriff’s office, which will, in turn, improve employee retention and morale. I will spend every day as sheriff making sure our deputies and detention officers have the tools and training they need to make them effective and to keep them safe so they can go home to their families. These men and women need to know how valuable they are to me and to our county. They need a leader who communicates a vision and works alongside them to carry it out. I want our detention officers to be emboldened, and I want our deputies to know the county. We play a huge role in making this county better and safer, so we have to know the citizens and businesses who make this county great. When deputies and detention officers get the leadership and training they deserve, they are more effective at their jobs, and that means a safer Cascade County.

            We also have to make current sheriff’s office programs and task forces work for OUR county. A lot of the ineffectiveness of our programs is related to poor employee retention and a lack of leadership and vision. If we could maintain higher retention, we’d be able to keep deputies on task forces and in specialized fields, such as K9 handlers. The sheriff needs to be the one to provide a vision for these programs. You can’t just start a program or a task force and waste incredible resources – namely our people – on mediocre plans. You have to finish it. That requires leadership. I intend to provide that leadership for Cascade County.

Letter To The Editor: Supports McKamey

ECB Staff on May 3, 2022

Editors note: the opinions expressed in our letters to the editor do not necessarily reflect the opinions of E-City Beat, our volunteer staff or contributors. All letters to the editor are welcome and will be considered for publication. Please include your name and city of residence and email to ectitybeat@straymoose.com. See our local legislative primary rundown here – 4 Statehouse Primaries On Tap In Cascade County: 3 GOP, 1 Dem

I am proud to write this letter in support of Representative Wendy McKamey, candidate for the office of Senate District 12. I have had the honor of serving with Wendy McKamey in the House of Representatives during the 66th and 67th Legislative Sessions. In addition, Wendy and I have served together on the House State Administration Committee which Wendy served as Vice-Chair of in 2019 and Chair of in 2021.

In Committee and on the House Floor, Wendy has consistently supported and sponsored bills promoting strong election integrity access and efficiency. Wendy has also worked with Veterans and Veteran programs throughout her tenure to promote and strengthen Veteran’s programs and services. In 2019, Wendy sponsored HB 351, which provides unlimited pathways for personalized, proficiency-based education honoring local school trustees control and providing support through grant funding.

Wendy is a proven leader, mentoring new legislators, such as myself. She utilizes her experience and knowledge to explain the processes of committees, navigating bills through the legislative system, and helping to search out solutions. As a Legislator, Wendy always takes the time to talk to and address the concerns of her constituents and works tirelessly to advocate for the issues of her District and for the betterment of all Montanans.

Vote for Wendy McKamey for Senate District 12, a Leader with Experience!

Rep. Julie Dooling
Montana House of Representatives
House District 70 -Broadwater & Lewis and Clark County
406-471-4125

Opinion: Cascade County Elections Staff Demeanor And Behavior ‘Unprofessional’ And ‘Alarming’

ECB Staff on April 13, 2022

Editors note: the opinions expressed in our letters to the editor do not necessarily reflect the opinions of E-City Beat, our volunteer staff or contributors. All letters to the editor are welcome and will be considered for publication. Please include your name and city of residence and email to ectitybeat@straymoose.com.

April 6, 2022

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

I am writing in reference to the Cascade County Election Judge Training that took place February 28th-March 3rd 2022. I attended the second session on Tuesday, March 1, 2022 at 1PM MST. Two Cascade County attorneys were in attendance in this session. Rina Fontana Moore instructed the class along with her support staff, Lynn and her IT person, Rina’s son.

I have attended Election Judge training in the past and the difference in presentation and demeanor of the election staff was alarming. In the past, personnel trained were welcomed to the class and the atmosphere was casual and open to discussion with a goal to teach the responsibilities/duties needed to be an Election Judge. This was not the case in this year’s training.

Initially, Rina made certain that we all knew that each session was being recorded and videotaped. She then proceeded to lecture us about spreading “misinformation”. She stated that anyone spreading “misinformation” would be prosecuted and there would be jail sentences and fines.

She also said that individuals’ Facebook pages that contained “misinformation” would be turned over to MATIC (Montana Analysis and Technical Information Center). She spent 30-45 minutes defending her job.

She was very defensive and threatening and never explained what “misinformation” was. Her behavior and demeanor were unprofessional and negatively set the tone for the class. Very few questions were asked and tension was high.

Another occurrence that seems to be raising eyebrows is that Cascade County has historically paid all Election Judge trainees for their time attending election judge training, but this time trainees were told they would not be paid unless they were called and served in an election. The change in precedent was not explained.

As a citizen of Cascade County I find all of this very troubling. Several first-time trainees have elected not to pursue working as judges due to the insufficient and inappropriate training provided. Participating in the election process is an important part of our civic duty that I pray more people will pursue.

Respectfully,
Jan Wenaas
18 Riverwood Lane,
Great Falls, MT 59405

Great Falls Area Company Transfers VHS To DVD – And Much More

ECB Staff on November 17, 2021

Stray Moose Productions is a local one-stop audio-visual production, duplicating and transfer specialist.

“Why send your memories out of town when we can do it all right here in the Great Falls area?” – Stray Moose Productions

Stray Moose Productions can transfer your VHS and SVHS video tapes of movies, home movies and other content to DVD for you quickly and affordably. They are located in Black Eagle.

They also transfer 8mm and 16mm home movies to DVD, Beta to DVD, and cassette, reel-to-reel and vinyl to CD.

Stray Moose Productions also does professional video work for your special events such as weddings and memorial services.

Call 406-727-6670 or email info@straymoose.com

They are located at 3 Anaconda Hills Dr., Black Eagle, MT – next to Anaconda Hills Golf Course and across from the Black Eagle Community Center.

Local Opposition To National Heritage Area Puts Up Billboards

ECB Staff on August 12, 2021

Montanans Opposing Big Sky Country National Heritage Area have paid for three billboards which are now up at highway entrances to the Great Falls community.

The purpose of the billboards is to help spread awareness of the proposed Big Sky Country National Heritage Area designation.

The proposed National Heritage Area designation would affect all of Cascade County and part of Choteau County.

The communities impacted by the designation would include Loma, Fort Benton, Niehart, Monarch, Ulm, Vaughn, Belt, Simms, Sand Coulee, Black Eagle, Cascade, Eden, Stockett, Sun Prairie, Sun River, Malmstrom AFB, Great Falls, and several Hutterite colonies.

The message from the opposition group is clear: “Together, we will stop the NHA designation!”

Cascade County GOP Elects Executive Board

ECB Staff on May 19, 2021

PRESS RELEASE FROM

CASCADE COUNTY REPUBLICAN CENTRAL COMMITTEE (CCRCC)

CYNDI BAKER, CHAIR

ELECTION OF EXECUTIVE BOARD

The Cascade County Republican Central Committee (CCRCC) recently met in Convention to elect the 2021-2022 Executive Board. Reelected to their prior positions were:

  • Cyndi Baker, Chair
  • Kerry Yates, 1st Vice-Chair
  • Roger Hagan, 2nd Vice-Chair
  • Wendy McKamey, Secretary
  • Fred Fairhurst, Treasurer
  • Ed Buttrey, Finance Chair
  • Eric Tilleman, Congressional Committeeman
  • Brian Hoven, State Committeeman

Newly elected members of the Executive Board are: Fabiola Hanser, Congressional Committeewoman and Lori Cox, State Committeewoman.

These Executive Board members will serve our CCRCC for the next two years. We wish to congratulate the newly elected Executive Board members.

We also thank the outgoing Board members; Stacie Landon, Congressional Committeewoman and Barbara Hoven, State Committeewoman, their service is appreciated and respected.

Following the Convention, the CCRCC convened for a meeting to approve proposed rule changes for the operation of the Central Committee.

The goal of the CCRCC is to support and elect Republicans at all levels of government and to include all Republicans in our big tent party.

The CCRCC looks forward to another great year for our Republican contingent in Cascade County.

#######

Contact Info:
Wendy McKamey, CCRCC Secretary
wsgmckamey@gmail.com
(406) 868-5006

Ethics, Great Falls, And A National Heritage Area

Jeni Dodd on February 4, 2021

The Great Falls City Ethics Committee voted on Wednesday, February 3, 2021 to dismiss all allegations of conflicts of interest and ethics violations I made against city officials for providing city employee time and city resources to Big Sky Country National Heritage Area (BSCNHA) Inc.

Their decision seemed to be based mostly on the city’s premise that the National Heritage Area idea began with the City-County Historic Preservation Advisory Committee and is mentioned in the 2013 City Growth Policy Update, therefore it is “city-sanctioned.”

Apparently, if it is “city-sanctioned,” despite what we taxpayers want, the city can and will spend our money on it.

Never mind that the NHA idea expressed in that 2013 document was just that, an idea not a project and that there was no indication in that document that the city would provide city government resources toward the NHA.

Never mind that the narrow corridor along the Missouri River originally envisioned as an NHA has since expanded to include all of Cascade County and a major portion of Chouteau County. There are people that supported an NHA then that don’t support one now. But the city doesn’t care about that.

While I’m dismayed that the city spent any money, at any time, on this NHA, there is certainly no justification in my mind for the city to have continued to support of the NHA after a separate private nonprofit was created.

Maps were made on city employee time; maps that city planning now claims were also used by the city. I find that hard to believe, since that the NHA map, with its GIS layers, is specific to the NHA.

Meeting rooms were provided for free. The city claims it makes meeting rooms available to other nonprofits for free. But when I called about a meeting room for a nonprofit, I was quoted a fee. When I told the city employee on the phone that BSCNHA Inc was meeting there that evening and they aren’t charged, I was told that was because it is a “city meeting.” I guess those free meeting rooms are only for “city-sanctioned” nonprofits.

In the HPAC meeting minutes, I discovered that the city was accepting and holding funds for BSCNHA Inc because they didn’t have a bank account set up. What I didn’t know until this hearing was that the city continued to hold the nonprofit’s funds for FOUR YEARS.

It doesn’t take that long for a nonprofit to get a bank account, in fact most new nonprofits get a bank account within a month. It seems rather odd to me. Why should the city serve as a bank for a private nonprofit for that long?

Did the city maintain those funds in a separate account or were they commingled? Is the city still holding funds for BSNHA Inc? Did the city keep track of the total gross receipts per year of BSCNHA Inc? If not, how do they know how much money belongs to BSCNHA Inc and what year it was deposited?

Of course, I wasn’t allowed to ask questions of the staff at the hearing.

Unfortunately, we may never know. Despite the city’s involvement with BSCNHA Inc, the city denied my Freedom of Information request for the organization’s associated records including their financials and meeting minutes. The city stated that I must request them from the organization. The request was then made to BSCNHA Inc, but the organization denied the request, claiming it is a private nonprofit and not subject to disclosure of those records as is a government agency.

So the city treated BSCNHA Inc like a separate and private entity when they denied my request for information, but then on the other hand, treated them more or less like a part of the city budget when justifying spending taxpayer dollars on their behalf. In my opinion, the city can’t have it both ways.

City Planning Officer Craig Raymond likened my complaint to harassment of him.

When city officials like Raymond and City Commissioner Houck cry harassment and personal attacks if a citizen voices serious concerns about city operations, that is chilling to free speech, government transparency and the right to petition government for redress.

At the hearing, Raymond reiterated his claim that even if the NHA wasn’t city-sanctioned (which I don’t accept that it is), he’d still provide city support to BSCNHA Inc because it’s a “worthwhile” project.

Worthwhile is a subjective opinion and to me, his attitude smacks of smug superiority. I take issue with a city official who would deem a project “worthwhile” of spending my tax dollars for five or more years without a vote of the city commission and without public comment.

I take issue with a city official who states that those who disagree with his “worthwhile” project are “spreading lies and misinformation.”

When the City of Great Falls bends over backwards in working with only select nonprofits and not others, it tends to validate citizens’ perceptions of city favoritism and cronyism.

Why are some projects and private nonprofits “city-sanctioned” while others are not? Seems much of the city decision-making is far too subjective—subject to the personal desires, whims, or relationships of city officials.

Did the city learn nothing from their HUD CDBG grant debacle, in which HUD found serious conflicts of interest with the city in the grant dispersal to certain nonprofit agencies?

Commissioner Houck Requests Closed Ethics Hearing Claiming A “…Personal Attack On Me”

Jeni Dodd on February 2, 2021

Last summer, I submitted a formal complaint to the Cascade County Attorney against the City of Great Falls regarding use of government resources (aka our tax money) to support a private nonprofit—Big Sky Country National Heritage Area Inc. I cited portions of both the Montana Code Annotated and the Official Code of the City of Great Falls that I felt were violated.

BSCNHA Inc is the organization pushing National Heritage Area designation for ALL of Cascade County and a large portion of Chouteau County. This includes ALL PRIVATE LAND found within the NHA’s proposed boundaries.

The county attorney referred my complaint to City Attorney Sara Sexe.

By law, the Ethics Committee is an initial step before the county attorney can consider the complaint.

After many months of waiting, I’ve been granted a hearing before the City of Great Falls Ethics Committee. The hearing is 3 p.m. on Wednesday Feb 3 in the city commission chambers (Civic Center).

Strangely, unlike other city meetings this one will offer no opportunity to comment by phone, nor will it be broadcast online. However it is a public meeting, so interested folks can attend in person.

Through extensive research, I have proof that city officials provided mapping services, space for meetings and more, to BSCNHA Inc, using city employees on city time and with city resources. City officials have also admitted in their responses to having assisted BSCNHA Inc.

The city’s main argument for providing assistance to this private nonprofit’s project is that the NHA is “city-sanctioned.” The city claims that the following ambiguous statement, found in a 2013

Great Falls Growth Policy Update, proves that the city “sanctioned” their support of the NHA:

“There is great interest in designating the Missouri River and its association with Lewis and Clark, as a National Heritage Area. Such a designation would further bolster the tourist potential of Great Falls.”

Please note that this statement came before BSCNHA Inc was formed in 2015 and certainly, long before the NHA draft feasibility statement was released last year detailing the NHA proposal and area boundaries.

So how can the city claim they were on board with this NHA project in 2013, when it was not a project then, but merely an abstraction?

Further, the proposed boundaries of the NHA have changed over the years and currently bear little resemblance to its earlier concept, which was mostly a narrow corridor along the Missouri River.

Also note that the statement makes no claim that the city will commit employee time and resources to the National Heritage Area effort or to BSCNHA Inc.

In fact, the city commission never voted on providing our government resources to support this private nonprofit. Instead, certain city officials through the years deemed the NHA was a “worthwhile” project and that was enough for them to justify allocating taxpayer-funded city resources to BSCNHA Inc.

Even though my complaint contains no specific allegation against her, City Commissioner Tracy Houck asked for this hearing to be a closed (not public) meeting, stating—“This appears to be a personal attack on me.”

Wow, does she really think everything is about her or is she merely attempting to quell the public’s free speech and right to petition government with her phony accusation? Either way, it’s reprehensible.

Houck has served on the city commission since 2016 and is still apparently ignorant of the criteria that would warrant a closed meeting.

In my opinion, her request that this complaint alleging city malfeasance be relegated to a closed meeting, is, in itself, a violation of public trust.

By the way, I only discovered the changes in meeting rules I mentioned earlier by accessing the agenda packet here: https://mccmeetings.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/greatfls-pubu/MEET-Packet-cd5ab08251354a07b6fede78acd47fc0.pdf

So do you think the city could have mustered the common decency to let me know by directly communicating with me, the complainant, that their meeting rules had changed? Or is that too much to expect?

I invite interested citizens to come to this hearing to show support for holding our city officials accountable for their actions. Written comments will also be accepted.

Email comments to: kartis@greatfallsmt.net. Include “Ethics Complaint Agenda Item #3” in the subject line, and include the name of the commenter and either an address or whether the commenter is a city resident. Please ensure that comments arrive before 10 am on Wednesday. February 3, 2021.

Cascade County Commission Nixes Big Sky Country National Heritage Area

ECB Staff on December 8, 2020

Tuesday afternoon Cascade County Commissioners voted 2-1 to oppose the proposed establishment of the Big Sky Country National Heritage Area.

The lone vote to support the NHA was from Commissioner Jane Weber. Weber, also the chair of the BSCNHA Inc Board of Directors, has been criticized for failing to recuse herself from deliberating on and advocating for the issue despite the potential conflict of interest.

Last week Weber resigned her seat on the Cascade County Commission effective January 22, 2021.

Read more about local opposition to the BSCNHA here.