ST. LOUIS - The St. Louis Sheriff's effort to block a new ordinance that requires his office to drive city jail inmates to medical appointments has been denied.

On Tuesday, a St. Louis Circuit Court judge rejected Alfred Montgomery's request for a temporary restraining order, dismissing his claims that the transportation efforts would overwhelm his staff.

Last month, St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer approved an ordinance that redefined the sheriff's duties, tightened financial oversight of his office and called for transporting detainees from the city jail to hospitals for medical or psychiatric care. This followed allegations that Montgomery's office refused to consistently assign deputies for this purpose.

For now, the St. Louis Sheriff's deputies will be required to take inmates to hospi

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