Legion, Eagles donate to Sikeston DPS

Sikeston American Legion and Sikeston Eagles members are pictured with Sikeston Department of Public Safety officers in their new special operations uniforms Thursday, June 13 at the American Legion Post 114. The American Legion and Eagles both donated money toward the Sikeston Special Operations Group to purchase new uniforms. Pictured are: Sgt. Dalton Dalton Hunsaker, Sgt. Dylan Jenkins, CHO Henry Franklin, FTO Jordan Cliff, Sgt. James Danforth, PSO Michael Minner, Sgt. Daniel Johnson, Sgt. James Whitley. Legions and Eagles are: Ed Carr, Jerry Barnhouse, Bobbie Carpenter, Tony Hurt, Brandon Penrod, Blair Moran and Jim Walton. (Photo provided)

SIKESTON — On Thursday, June 13, Sikeston American Legion Post 114 and Sikeston residents gathered at the Legion building in Sikeston to make a donation to Sikeston Department of Public Safety.

According to Jim Walton, one of Post 114’s finance officers, the American Legion decided to donate funds to purchase SWAT equipment for what DPS refers to as special operations.

The money was used to buy 12 of each of the following: elbow pads, knee pads, shirts and pants.

According to Walton, the American Legion donated $3,000 in total, and the Sikeston Aerie Eagles also donated $500 to DPS.

“We try every year to specifically support the city,” Walton said. “Sikeston supports the American Legion with the Cotton Carnival and the cookoff and they provide a lot of services here to us, and we always try to give back to the city in addition to other civic organizations.”

Walton said the American Legion was unable to contribute to DPS last year and wanted to make up for it this year.

“We really appreciate what all DPS does for us, and we want them to know that,” Walton said. “They really do a lot for us and work well with the Legion and for Memorial Day, they provide the 21-gun salute.”

Walton said Frankie Adams, a retired police officer and commander of the American Legion Post 114, came up with the idea to donate toward the special operations unit’s uniforms. 

Adams told Walton DPS provides officers with a clothing allowance but does nothing for special operations gear, and Adams suggested the Legion provide a significant amount of money for the special operations unit’s uniforms.

According to Walton, DPS officers really needed new uniforms for the special operations unit, so they decided to donate to that cause. 

“They needed a certain type of shirts and pants for the SWAT gear,” Walton said. “Which has to be more heavy-duty. When they make a high-speed tactical entry on high-risk search warrants, their uniforms need to be like military ones that are much stronger and designed for certain activities.” 

Walton said the American Legion, which is comprised of veterans, feels a connection with the DPS and explained why they support them. 

“We consider people that serve in the police department and Sikeston DPS in a way to be like our brothers as veterans,” Walton said. “We look at those types of services as being an extension of the military. As veterans, we feel a kindred spirit with DPS and we like to do things as tokens of our appreciation for the job they do and the support that they give us,” Walton said.