Putting his personal beliefs aside, Columbia Police Department Chief Randy Boehm apologized Tuesday for using a city-financed newsletter to voice his opposition to the marijuana initiative that will appear on the April 8 ballot.

In the March 24 issue of Crime Blockers, a neighborhood watch newsletter, Boehm urged voters to vote against Proposition 1.

A section in the Missouri Revised Statutes prohibits the use of public funds to advocate, support or oppose any ballot measure.

I'm very sorry, but it was an honest mistake, Boehm said. iI wasn't as familiar with the statues.

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