A Missouri Senate showdown has ended over a bill that would recreate a state-run board of police commissioners to oversee the St. Louis Police Department, similar to what Kansas City currently has.
After about 8 hours of Democrats delaying a vote, the Senate has passed the large crime plan that would also require law enforcement to report the immigration status of suspects and boost the penalties for organized crime rings that raid retail stores, among other things.
Sen. Nick Schroer, R-Defiance, said the mayor of St. Louis would be on the board, as well as four citizens appointed by the governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate. One of the commissioners will be a nonvoting member.
“At its core, this legislation enacts a citizen board to manage the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, returning actual oversight of law enforcement to the people who live, work and raise families in our great city,” Schroer said.
As Senator @NickBSchroer said, HB 495 is a comprehensive public safety bill that addresses crime problems across the state of Missouri. Our Senate Republicans are committed to addressing violent crime and protecting our communities. #moleg #mosen pic.twitter.com/ROkkLw4vAs
— Missouri Senate Republicans (@MOSenateGOP) March 5, 2025
Sen. Karla May, D-St. Louis held up floor voting over her opposition to the bill. She argued that House Bill 495 is not about stemming violent crime, it’s about overturning the will of the voters.
“In the 152-year history that the state controlled the City of St. Louis Police Department, it was maligned with corruption and city decline,” said May. “So, you’re not getting ready to sit up here and try to tell me with all of this just, it’s just lying.”
Schroer said placing police oversight in the hands of a board ensures that public safety decisions are made with the wellbeing of the people in mind, not political agendas. But May cried foul.
“You can have a crime bill, but don’t encroach upon my district,” she said. “First of all, it’s disrespectful in its entirety and then to try to say you care about the safety of the people in St. Louis, where the heck was you when 150-years of corruption under the board that was in place before?”
The large crime package would also create the Missing and Murdered African American Women and Girls Task Force, prohibit stunt driving and participation in street takeovers with enhanced penalties for repeat offenders, and limits the cost of inmate phone calls to 12 cents per minute for domestic calls.
It now heads back to the House of Representatives for additional work.
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