The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) in Hillsboro, Missouri, is experiencing a significant baby boom, with deputies welcoming 17 newborns this year. This unexpected surge in new arrivals has brought joy to the department and sparked some lighthearted speculation about its cause.
The JCSO shared a heartwarming behind-the-scenes look at a photoshoot featuring many of the newborns and their “new deputy dads” on their Facebook page. According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, fourteen of the seventeen deputies, along with their wives and babies, gathered for the photo session in Jefferson County. The deputies were in uniform, and the babies were adorably dressed in matching onesies adorned with deputy badges.
Sheriff Dave Marshak emphasized the importance of supporting families within the department. “It’s important that we support our families,” he said, according to the Post-Dispatch. “For us, this is good.”
The new parents have jokingly attributed the influx of infants to the passage of Proposition P in 2018. This property tax increase provided additional resources, including pay raises, for the sheriff’s office. Before Proposition P, the starting salary for a deputy was reportedly $37,902. Now, the entry-level salary is $50,300, according to the sheriff’s office website. This significant increase provides more financial stability for deputies looking to start or expand their families.
“I think it’s more than a coincidence,” Sgt. Matt Moore told the Post-Dispatch. “It certainly gives you a lot more flexibility in starting a family if you’ve got more income. Kids aren’t getting any cheaper these days.”
Sheriff Marshak had previously warned of a potential “mass exodus” of deputies if Proposition P didn’t pass. He also noted that the increased resources have attracted new recruits from neighboring communities. Jefferson County has an estimated population of around 224,000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, making it Missouri’s sixth-most populated county. With the JCSO’s baby boom, the county’s population has effectively increased by 17, at least in the short term.
Family support within law enforcement is crucial, and the JCSO’s celebration of these new additions highlights the importance of work-life balance and the positive impact of financial stability on officers’ families. This baby boom is a testament to the JCSO’s commitment to its employees and the community it serves. The future looks bright for these “Prop P babies” and their families.
(Feature image James Forbes Facebook)