HCS HB 1601 -- CITY OF ST. LOUIS POLICE FORCE

SPONSOR:  Hoskins, 80 (Nasheed)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Special Committee on
Urban Issues by a vote of 5 to 3 with 1 present.

Currently, the state oversees the police force for the City of
St. Louis through the St. Louis Board of Police Commissioners.
This substitute allows the city to establish a municipal police
force completely under the city's authority.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on General Revenue Fund in FY 2011, FY
2012, and FY 2013.  Estimated income on Other State Funds of
Unknown in FY 2011, FY 2012, and FY 2013.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the bill places the oversight of
the St. Louis Police Department back with the city which has not
had control for over 140 years.  Pension and residency
requirements will not change.  The bill will make improvements to
the administration of the department, provide better
accountability, and remove corruption.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Nasheed; Mayor
Francis Slay, City of St. Louis; Former Mayor Vincent Schoemehl,
City of St. Louis; Lewis Reed, Terry Kennedy, Antonio French, and
Shane Cohn, City of St. Louis Board of Aldermen; Dr. Kenneth M.
Stone, City of St. Louis; Jamala Rogers, Organization for Black
Struggle; and Zaki Buruti, Universal African Peoples
Organization.

OPPONENTS:  Those who oppose the bill say that the City of St.
Louis Board of Aldermen have not provided a sufficient reason for
changing the control of the police department.  Other police
departments under city control have poor reputations and
corruption.  Loss of state control will allow aldermen to
influence police officers and result in a loss of benefits and
labor equity.

Testifying against the bill were Joe Steiger, St. Louis Police
Officers Association; Heather Taylor, St. Louis Ethical Society
of Police; John Cullen, St. Louis Police Veterans Association;
James M. Gieseke, St. Louis Police Leadership Organization; Kevin
Ahlbrano, Missouri Fraternal Order of Police; Thomas J. Hickel;
Anthony J. Russo; George Weindel; Carl S. Smith; and Manuel M.
Delgado.

OTHERS:  Others testifying on the bill say pensions are a very
important factor to consider when making a decision on the
control of the police department because police officers are not
eligible for Social Security.  There are also significant tax
considerations that need to be understood when deciding who
should have control.

Testifying on the bill were Neil Bruntroger; and Stephen M.
Giegal, City of St. Louis Board of Aldermen.

Missouri House of Representatives
95th General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated September 14, 2010 at 3:11 pm