HB 71 -- CITY OF ST. LOUIS POLICE FORCE

SPONSOR:  Nasheed

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Urban
Issues by a vote of 7 to 2.

Currently, the state oversees the police force for the City of
St. Louis through the St. Louis Board of Police Commissioners.
This bill allows the city to establish and maintain a municipal
police force under its own authority and provides for the
employment of the officers and employees of the current police
force and the continuation of their salaries, benefits, and
pension plan, as well as the continuation of any regulations
regarding residence.  Any retired officer must maintain his or
her accrued benefits.

Provisions relating to the board will expire upon the effective
date of the bill.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on General Revenue Fund in FY 2012, FY
2013, and FY 2014.  Estimated Income on Other State Funds of
Unknown in FY 2012, FY 2013, and FY 2014.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that St. Louis is one of only two
cities in the United States that has a state-appointed board over
its police department.  State control over the police force dates
back 150 years.  Placing control of the police department back
with the city will improve accountability.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Nasheed; Reddit
Hudson; Harry Kennedy, St. Louis Board of Aldermen; Jeff
Rainford, City of St. Louis Mayor's Office; Pelopidas, LLC; and
Rex and Jeanne Sinquefield.

OPPONENTS:  Those who oppose the bill say that the board of
police commissioners contains local residents, so even though the
Governor makes the appointments, the commissioners do have ties
to the community.  Putting the police under control of the mayor
and board of aldermen increases the chances that local politics
could be interjected into police procedural matters.

Testifying against the bill were St. Louis Police Officers
Association; Joseph Steiger, St. Louis Police Officers
Association; and Butch Albert, Missouri State Fraternal Order of
Police.

Missouri House of Representatives
96th General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Last Updated August 9, 2011 at 1:13 pm