Baxter County Sheriff’s office forms foundation from bequest

The Baxter County Sheriff’s office has formed a nonprofit foundation with a $33,000 bequest, which will be used to enhance the services of the sheriff’s office, officials announced Thursday.

The Baxter County Sheriff’s Foundation was formed after Robert Griffith, 85, of Midway left money in his will to local organizations, including the sheriff’s office. Griffith died in January.

“He wanted to do something to help others,” said Baxter County Sheriff John Montgomery, who announced the foundation’s inception at the sheriff’s office open house Thursday evening.

Montgomery, who did not know Griffith, said the sheriff’s office had taken him to his dialysis appointments during bad weather on occasion.

“That’s something we do,” Montgomery said, adding that Griffith’s gift will impact many lives.

The nonprofit foundation is governed by seven directors and funds will be used for items “over and beyond” the sheriff’s office operating budget, such as specialized equipment and training or school scholarships for sheriff’s office employees or their children, Montgomery said.

The foundation also will enable people to bequeath money or give tax-deductible donations to the fund.

Montgomery said to his knowledge, this is the first foundation in the state created for a sheriff’s office.

Griffith’s close friends, who attended the open house, said Griffith wanted his donations to stay in the community and would be happy knowing his money was used to start a foundation.

“He’d be very proud,” said Ed Druml of Midway.

His friends said Griffith also donated money to The Salvation Army and the American Legion.

The Baxter County Sheriff’s Foundation board of directors are Mary James, Stephen Luelf, Bob Cooke, Randall Drake, Kathy Leuck, Karen Montgomery and T.C. Carter. John Montgomery and his designee, Capt. Jeff Lewis, also sit on the board.

Montgomery also announced the sherriff’s office received a $23,000 U.S. Department of Justice grant to upgrade video surveillance at the Baxter County Court Complex and install surveillance at the sheriff’s office administrative building.

The surveillance can be monitored from remote locations, Lewis said.

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