St. Louis sheriff rolls dice to decide deputy’s fate 

ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4) — First Alert 4 has obtained new audio in which you can hear St. Louis Sheriff Alfred Montgomery literally roll the dice to decide whether his deputy should keep his job or resign.

First Alert 4 Investigator David Amelotti spoke with Tony Kirchner, now a former St. Louis Sheriff Deputy and currently running for alderman the first ward, about the sheriff’s gold dice and how this could be part of election interference.

Kirchner said that he was going to speak with Sheriff Montgomery back on Jan. 22 to finalize extended leave following his father’s death. Kirchner, who has legal representation, said the sheriff’s attitude overtime gave him reason to record the meeting. He did not expect a strange turn when the sheriff pulled out two golden dice.

“I am a fair guy,” Montgomery said in the recording. “I’m very firm that we are going to do things according to the policy. Here’s one option here’s two options - rolls dice - that’s three options - you got two chances to roll a seven, we’ll go with whatever you want.”

That is city of St. Louis Sheriff Montgomery on a recording made on Jan. 22, letting chance decide if an employee should get extended leave or leave the department.

“Whenever I make bad decisions, I always roll those and they always give me good advice,” he said. “Every time. Talk to it. Meditate on it.”

The employee put in this situation is now former sheriff’s deputy Tony Kirchner, a veteran of the department with more than a decade of experience. He is heard seemingly confused by the situation unfolding.

“But that’s why I requested that three months so I could figure this stuff out,” Kirchner said.

“You do whatever you want with that right there,” Montgomery responded. “That’s it. That’s where we are. That’s the best deal I can give you I promise you.”

“I simply said resign or fired for what,” Kirchner explained to First Alert 4 on Thursday. “Well you were caught, you said something about your opponent Anne Schweitzer sent me something saying you have been campaigning on the job.”

Kirchner is represented by Brandy Barth and Talmage Newton of Newton Barth L.L.P.

“If you have a legitimate reason to fire an employee you do not hand them a set of dice and roll for your job,” Attorney Brandy Barth said.

In the audio provided to First Alert 4 Investigates, you hear Kirchner take the sheriff up on the gamble.

KIRCHNER: *rolls dice* …Seven.

MONTGOMERY: Okay you take the leave time you need, we will go from there.

Even though Kirchner rolled a seven, which the sheriff said would save his job, a few days later he learned he had been terminated anyway.

Montgomery released a statement on X Saturday, where he said the gold dice are “trick dice,” and that he “aimed to empower (Kirchner) in a situation where he felt powerless.”

Earlier this week, First Alert 4 Investigates asked the sheriff about Kirchner’s accusations.

AMELOTTI: He alleges his opponent provided your office images and helped orchestrate his termination while on FMLA. Do you have any response to that?

MONTGOMERY: No.

Kirchner was one of a dozen white employees terminated by Sheriff Montgomery. He and his lawyers said there is a separate issue in which they accuse Kirchner’s challenger in the alderman race, Anne Schweitzer, of political collusion. He said Sheriff Montgomery told him Schweitzer accused Kirchner of campaigning while on duty and was pressuring the sheriff to terminate him.

Kirchner said the photos given to Sheriff Montgomery were taken in September 2024, well before he filled to run for Ward 1 Alderman on December 19th as shown on the list of candidates found on the City of St. Louis’ Board of Election’s website.

“That would be what five months ago if that was a true concern, that was the time to bring it up to the sheriff which I believe that could have happened,” Kirchner explained. “The old sheriff encouraged deputy sheriffs to show up to ward meetings, off the clock on their own time.”

“This has all the hallmarks of a political axe job out of the first [ward],” Attorney Talmage Newton said.

Alderwoman Schweitzer sent First Alert 4 the following statement:

“Tony has been regularly campaigning in uniform in front of me and other attendees at neighborhood meetings throughout the ward. His campaign biography, yard signs, and literature highlighted his position as a sheriff.

Tony’s current employment status is between him and his boss.

I got a call last week from a reporter letting me know Tony was fired by Sheriff Montgomery for stealing time: working a secondary job and campaigning while on duty, which, if true, means he was stealing from the taxpayers of St. Louis, which is a poor recommendation for being an alderman.”

Kirchner denies the allegation and said he has proof.

This is one of a series of events creating controversy around the St. Louis Sheriff’s Office.

Kirchner’s recordings of the Jan. 22 meeting drops about three weeks before an alleged sexual assault at the CJC was reported to police. That criminal investigation is being led by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police.

First Alert 4 Investigates has reported there is an FBI investigation into a situation last Friday where Sheriff Montgomery authorized a deputy to place acting Jail Commissioner Tammy Ross into handcuffs for some time. He claimed it was in response to fear of evidence been destroyed or misplaced.

There is a separate FBI investigation into allegations by a former sheriff’s deputy that after he was forced to resign the sheriff showed up at his other job and stole his firearm on Jan. 17.

In his lawyer’s office, Kirchner said he knows that if he is elected alderman he would have to resign but said he feels what happened to him was an abuse of power.

“My dignity, my everything, came down to a roll of a dice for a 12-year career,” Kirchner shared. “I didn’t believe it myself. I’m speechless.”

Kirchner’s attorneys said they believe there is a racial component to the situation unfolding at the sheriff’s office. They claim 12 white employees have been “Systematically removed,” from the department. They said six employees, maybe more, have been fired for other reasons.

First Alert 4 Investigates did ask St. Louis Sheriff Montgomery for comment after we obtained that audio but have not gotten a response.

We will continue to update you with new information as we uncover it.

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