Scharf’s political ad using slain Missouri detective is misleading, says family | Opinion

No integrity

As a family member of Hermann, Missouri, police detective Sgt. Mason Griffith, we are appalled by the recent ads from state attorney general candidate Will Scharf and Defend Missouri PAC. These ads exploit our grief and falsely accuse Attorney General Andrew Bailey of being responsible for Mason’s death.

Mason dedicated more than 12 years to law enforcement and most recently the Hermann Police Department, and his tragic murder has left us devastated.

These misleading ads disrespect our family and jeopardize the pursuit of justice. They potentially bias the jury pool and make it harder to prosecute Mason’s killer. Gov. Mike Parson, the Missouri Fraternal Order of Police and the Law Enforcement Legislative Coalition have condemned these ads for this reason.

Using disgraced former Ray County Sheriff Scott Childers, who was removed for corruption, to mislead voters adds insult to injury. Scharf’s refusal to address our concerns directly shows his lack of integrity and respect.

We demand an immediate end to these disgraceful ads and a personal apology from Scharf. His willingness to use a fallen officer and grieving family as political pawns is a testament to his character.

We urge voters to reject Scharf’s tactics and honor Mason’s legacy by supporting those who respect the rule of law and the sacrifices of law enforcement.

- Angela Koepke, Gerald, Missouri

No character

The endless, relentless campaign commercials from Missouri GOP candidates emphasize their allegiance to and worship of Donald Trump: “Stands with,” “Backs,” “Supports,“ “Won for,” ad nauseum.

Trump’s lack of character, ethics and more is widely known, and these candidates have all turned a blind eye and deaf ear.

Missouri deserves better — much better — than these acolytes and cultists seeking our votes.

- Lemuel E. Kimes, Kansas City

No compromise

In my 84 years on this planet, I have never witnessed such utter hatred between followers of candidates for either party. Families have broken up between Kamala Harris supporters and Donald Trump supporters. People on opposing sides no longer speak to one another. Ads supporting presidential candidates express pure anger at those from the opposite side.

In the past, supporters expressed their differences but not with such vitriol and sheer hatred.

I think we ought to get some idea what do about that from the Summer Olympics. Here, countries take a couple of weeks to show off the best of their athletes to the world instead of showing violent aggression. Maybe both political parties should take a two-week retreat to play baseball and sit at the same table to seek common ground and compromise where it’s possible.

Only ads that help viewers understand the differences in policies should be permitted.

After all, our elected officials should seek to better the lives of citizens. The two parties might have differences on how to do that, but they shouldn’t resort to hatred and name-calling.

- Tom Mach, Lawrence

No fairness

I do not understand why Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey blocks innocent people such as Sandra Hemme from leaving prison, but does nothing about keeping Robert Courtney in jail for the remainder of his term. (April 17, 1A, “Pharmacist who diluted drugs to be released from prison”) Courtney admitted to diluting more than 98,000 lifesaving medication doses, affecting as many as 4,200 patients.

If you can try to keep an innocent person locked up, you could at least keep a vicious confessed criminal in prison.

- David Goettel, Independence

Editor’s note: We are publishing a special set of letters to the editor in advance of our usual cutoff of election-related reader content, which is the Friday before Election Day.