Hey, baby, indeed! A Missouri Sheriff’s department —The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, to be precise — has welcomed not one, not two, but 17 babies in the past year.
“It’s really special,” Captain Andy Sides told the St. Louis Dispatch. Captain Sides is one of the new fathers who welcomed his second child six months ago.
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The new dads are part of a team that’s made up of about 175 officers, according to the paper.
The proud papas got together earlier this month for a photoshoot to celebrate all of their newest arrivals. In the photo, each of the babies are dressed in brown pants and white t-shirts sporting deputy badges.
“It’s important that we support our families,” Sheriff Dave Marshak said to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “For us, this is good.”
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The officers surmised that so many ended up having kids within the year because most had received raises as a result of Proposition P, a property tax increase that was passed last year. The new tax gave the sheriff’s office additional resources and benefits, including paternity leave.
“I think it’s more than a coincidence,” Sgt. Matt Moore said. “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.”
“I don’t know how we would have afforded this without [Proposition P],” another officer, Deputy A.J. Kausler told the local paper. The Deputy welcomed a baby girl four months ago.
Maybe they’ll top this in 2020. Let’s go for 20 babies in 2020, guys!