PubDef has it. Robin Wright Jones and Maida Coleman co-sponsors of bill to return local control of the St. Louis Police Department to the St. Louis Board of Aldermen.
Change would bring local control to police department for the first time since state enacted martial law in St. Louis during the Civil War era.
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Doesn't someone introduce this is a bill or an amendment every legislative session?
We all jaw about for a couple of weeks. Then, the lobbyist for the police officers kills it.
Good idea, though.
I don't remember the last time there was a bill like this proposed. Does anyone else? This might be the first time in 20 years.
It's probably a direct reflection on the recent decision to overturn the long-standing residency requirement for police officers.
Whatever the final vote is, this bill should make for some fascinating floor debate.
I'd like to hear what Jeff Smith, Fred Kratky, Mike Daus, Connie Johnson, El Amin, Hubbard say about this, as well as the statewide office holders.
It's going to make great theater for a state rep from outstate Missouri to tell the city officials they can't have their police department back.
It would be good to hear Blunt say the same thing.
Maybe this could get some national media attention, showing how St. Louis is still living under the cloud of the Civil War.
That would have to interest some folks around the country.
People may have talked about it in the past, but I don't remember there ever being an actual bill introduced to change the status.
Here's what they're saying about it at Coptalk
Nope. It's sort of an annual ritual. Rep. Yaphett El-Amin introduced a local control bill last year. And then-Senator Lacy Clay sponsored one during his Jeff City service.
Kansas City also has state police paid for by the locals. They actually got local control back for a short time 70-80 years ago and then lost it.
It is so hard to believe that the Legislature would not want to empower us with control over our own police department as well as running our own elections. After all, they were gracious enough to empower us with the home rule constitutional amendment.
"It is so hard to believe that the Legislature would not want to empower us with control over our own police department . . ."
The strongest lobby against local control is the police officers association.
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