ST. LOUIS – FOX 2 has learned your tax dollars being used to chauffer the St. Louis Sheriff’s children. We caught it on camera repeatedly, then checked with the experts.

One attorney said it could be grounds for Sheriff Alfred Montgomery’s removal from office.

Videos recorded by FOX 2 show a marked St. Louis Sheriff’s vehicle pulling up to an elementary school to pick up two young children.

We were told it’s an everyday pattern. We documented it ourselves for three days.
The same deputy sergeant showed up each time, taking the children for fast food one day, before driving them to the building where their father works.

“It’s the craziest thing I’ve ever heard,” former St. Louis Sheriff’s Captain Neil Hogan said. He used to be in charge of deputies’ use of vehicles. “You can’t have a deputy on the clock doing personal errands for him.”

Former Sheriff Vernon Betts said that it’s illegal.

“They’re not getting paid to be a babysitter,” Betts said. “That’s like stealing time.”

Don’t just take it from the former sheriff and employee. Attorney Bevis Schock described the sheriff’s behavior as “lawless.”

Schock has won cases involving alleged public corruption.

“If you get something of value by virtue of your office, that’s other than your salary, that’s what’s prohibited,” Schock said.

He says Missouri Statute lists prohibited acts for public officials and that the consequence is removal.

“That’s commonly called the ouster statute,” Schock said. “So that means you’re O-U-T, out!”

Schock says it would be the attorney general’s office who would take action on what we’ve uncovered. We’ve called that office to report this and are waiting to hear back. FOX 2 has also made many attempts to get answers from the sheriff. He’s made one thing clear: he’s not talking.

From chasing him down, where he warned not to enter his secure zone, to visiting his office on the eighth floor, and emailing a list of questions about the deputy picking up his kids. We also asked him for a comment about it when he walked into Monday’s restraining order court hearing. He held a phone up to his ear and did not answer.

“The employee pretty much has to say, ‘Yes,’ because if not, there may be retaliation,” Schock said.

Which is why we’re concealing the employee’s identity.

We found the deputy’s vehicle normally parked outside the courthouse downtown, about four miles from the school. She’s listed in sheriff’s office records as a sergeant. The state says her police license is expired. FOX 2 recently questioned the deputy about driving the children, but she inexplicably denied doing so.

“No, I don’t—that’s not true,” she said.

We asked, “Do you have booster seats for the kids?”

“Why do I need booster seats for a kid?” she said.

The children appear to be the size in which Missouri law says you’re required to put them in a booster seat – less than 80 pounds or under 4’9”.

There was no sign of any child safety gear when we looked in the car either.

“That’s not good policy. It sends a real bad message,” Betts said.

The sheriff’s office sent the following written statement after our latest attempt to get answers in person. The statement reads in full:

Sheriff’s Statement on Family’s Security

STATEMENT AND BACKGROUND

April 28th, 2025

Chief Counsel, Blake Lawrence’s statement on behalf of City of St. Louis Sheriff, Alfred Montgomery:

As every parent does, Sheriff Montgomery is concerned for the safety of his children as well as their peace of mind while they attend school. Over the past year, he has received threats of violence and has experienced strangers approaching himself and his family. The Sheriff has taken precautionary measures to ensure the safety and well-being of his family. Among these measures is an off-duty Sheriff’s Department employee providing transportation for his children after their school day ends.

• This individual is a Clerical Employee of the Sheriff’s Department with over 25 years’ experience, having served under the previous three City Sheriffs.
• Her working hours at the Department are 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• She is one of only three adults properly authorized with the school to pick-up the Sheriff’s children.

For background and information purposes: All Departmental vehicles issued according to the Department’s take home policy are issued to qualified personnel and imputed as income on individual taxes. Use of vehicles to pick up minor children from school on the way home is common practice among law enforcement and public employees across the country.