Maries County Sheriff Chris Heitman responds to ACLU's allegation

By Roxie Murphy, Staff Writer
Posted 8/21/20

Maries County Sheriff Chris Heitman said today that his office "hasn’t done anything wrong at all and he will stand by what they are doing.”

Heitman made the comment following a Friday …

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Maries County Sheriff Chris Heitman responds to ACLU's allegation

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Maries County Sheriff Chris Heitman said today that his office "hasn’t done anything wrong at all and he will stand by what they are doing.”

Heitman made the comment following a Friday press release by the ACLU of Missouri against the sheriff’s department “for intentionally failing to provide documents requested under Missouri’s Sunshine Law after payment for records was given.”

“The requests we received were for Facebook posts, messages and comments, which is an astronomical amount of information, that has taken my staff hours out of their day to photograph that information,” Heitman said. “During the time of this request, my staff has investigated shootings, child molestation, and drug overdoses which take priority over copying and pasting Facebook posts and comments that are already accessible to the public.”

The ACLU requested copies of Facebook posts and comments from Dec. 19, 2019, through present.

According to the ACLU, the posts that Heitman made on his “Office of Maries County Sheriff Chris Heitman” Facebook page after the death of George Floyd, were “threatening social media posts” and “implying that citizens of the county were armed and would be deputized in response to what they claimed to be lawless protesters.”

The ACLU claims that a concerned citizen made them aware of the post around June 17.

 Heitman said he received a request from the group last month. When they pushed him for a date, he said maybe a week. That was about “three weeks ago.”

“I have not been served with any paperwork, letters or phone calls to my office since then to my knowledge,” Heitman said. “They paid $150 to start the request. My girls are working on it. I responded the same day after I received the letter. A week later they asked for a time frame and I said maybe a week. It’s been three and we haven’t had time.”

Heitman said his office has continued to work on the request.

“If they’d have called me, I would have told them that, but to my knowledge, they didn't,” Heitman said. “Their release said, ‘despite the initial communication, the sheriff’s office stopped responding.’ All the requests I have received I have responded to.”

ACLU’s Executive Director Luz Maria Henriquez said the request was for social media posts of the Maries County Sheriff’s Office, and any grievance procedures of the sheriff’s office in their press release.

“We will continue to hold the Maries County Sheriff’s Office accountable for its resolute refusal to follow the law. We look forward to reviewing the records and discovering what it is that the Sheriff’s Office is trying to hide,” Tony Rothert, legal director for the ACLU of Missouri said in the press release.

Heitman responded again that he doesn’t not feel like his office has done something wrong.

“I feel confident standing before a judge and saying ‘look at my caseload, look at my responses, we are not denying anything and my staff is working on it,'” Heitman said. “The abuse of your child is going to come before copying Facebook posts for the ACLU. We are not denying them access to anything, it is just taking longer than expected.”

On May 27, Heitman posted to his “Office of Maries County Sheriff Chris Heitman” Facebook page that he added his name to the list of his “brothers and sisters in blue” in regards to George Floyd’s death.

“I do not support the actions of this officer or the other officers standing by not protecting the rights of this citizen,” He wrote. “I pray that they are dealt with accordingly, by that I mean criminally. They deserve to be held accountable for their actions and inactions.”

The post goes on to request prayers for Floyd’s family.

The ACLU is focused on Heitman’s June 1 post that Maries County citizens were concerned about protesters getting close to Maries County and if the sheriff’s department could handle the situation.

“Well first off, let me warn any protesters that the overwhelming majority of homeowners in Maries County have multiple firearms in their household. As their sheriff, I encourage them to use their firearms to protect themselves and their families lives if the situation unfortunately arises,” Heitman wrote. “Secondly, I do believe we could handle the situation. I am sure if I would call upon the fine citizens of Maries County to be deputized, I would have overwhelming support and backup to meet the protesters with a courageous sheriff’s posse. Additionally, I have stated many times I will protect citizens Constitutional rights. Should the protesters conduct themselves in a peaceful and lawful manner I will protect them as well. Should they decide to violate the law and endanger the businesses, families, or citizens of Maries County they will be dealt with accordingly.So residents and business owners of Maries County please rest at ease. We can and will protect our own.”

Heitman said he stands by his comment.

“The law allows me to deputize citizens in emergency situations to assist my office,” Heitman said. “My office could not handle a riot the size of those in St. Louis, but we have enough good, law abiding citizens to be at the sheriff’s aid if called upon.”
The posts made by the sheriff on his public Facebook page will continue to be visible to the public.