About Us

Who We Are

The Friends of the Benton County Sheriff’s Office is a non-profit, 501c3 group that has been established to provide resources to help support the needs of the Benton County Sheriff’s Office. Our Mission Statement is to solicit, receive, administer and expend funds for the Benton County Sheriff’s Office and the Benton County Jail beyond the realm of traditional resources for the betterment of our community. We do this in a variety of ways. Through local fundraising events, networking with charitable businesses and corporations, and through local, state, and federal grants. – The men and women who serve Benton County and work for the Benton County Sheriff’s Office have been working hard to get drugs out of our community and keep its citizens safe. Help us serve and protect those who protect and serve us. Meetings are every 2nd Monday at 6:00 PM at the Sheriff’s Office, 1620 East Main, Warsaw, MO 65355.

How You Can Help

As a volunteer with the Friends of the Benton County Sheriff’s Office you can help make an important difference, both for the staff and in our community. Please consider joining one of our committees and using your unique talents and interest to help achieve our goals.

Grants Committee: There are thousands of grants released each year to aid non-profit groups such as ours. State, Federal, and Community Grants programs make funds available, but it takes someone with a love for research to find them, is that you? Grant applications can be extensive or relatively simple to submit, if you have grant writing experience or an eye for detail, this is the committee for you.

Fund Raising Committee: Local fundraisers are an excellent way to raise community awareness and support and to bring much-needed funds in. If you like to be involved in your local area, have creative ideas, and enjoy helping with events please consider joining our Fund Raising Committee.

Community Education Committee: From Internet safety to church and large group security to self-defense classes and more. This group works directly with deputies from the Benton County Sheriff’s Office to share information with the community on staying safe and self-protection.

Volunteer: All of our committees need volunteers to help set up, make dishes to share, get the word out about our events, and more. Everyone’s help is invaluable and appreciated.

Thank you for your interest in supporting the Benton County Sheriff’s Office. This group of concerned and community-minded citizens was formed shortly after I took office to help support the needs of your Sheriff’s Office that exceed the thinly stretched county budget supported by our taxpayers. Through the Friends’ support, our office has not only been provided with essential and lifesaving equipment but also created an open format, through their community education classes, for us to meet with the public and share important information about citizens protecting themselves from cyber criminals and others intent on theft and harm.

The Community Appreciation Day and other outreaches have also proven to not only bring our staff closer to those we serve but have been great morale boosters for our staff who cover many miles with relatively low pay. Your volunteer time provides you the opportunity to directly support your Sheriff’s Office and have an impact on the quality of your Office and Jail and the services we provide to our citizens.

Eric Knox
Benton County Sheriff

Officers

President – Rachael Sherrer, 417-543-5172
Vice President – Donna Snelling, 913-226-2808
Treasurer – Tom Gee, 816-520-7027
Secretary – Laura Lawson

Board Members

Rachael Sherrer
Donna Snelling
Tom Gee
David Grimes
Carrie Rieman

All of our board members are volunteers. We cover most of our own expenses and much of the operating costs such as travel and postage. Only a small portion of donations do not go directly for the support of the Benton County Sheriff’s Office. These monies are spent on goods and services for our fundraisers. 

Your contribution to this organization can be made with full confidence that they will support the Benton County Sheriff’s Office.

Say "Thanks" to Our Benton County Law Enforcement Officers

These donations make a real and direct difference to Benton County Sheriff’s Officers every day.