“It’s absolutely disrespectful. It’s absolutely disrespectful. It’s absolutely disrespectful.”
That’s what Rep. Kimberly-Ann Collins, D-St. Louis, had to say about a crime package which would restore a state commission to oversee the St. Louis Police Department. The Missouri Legislature passed the wide-ranging proposal today – representing the first bill to clear both chambers this year.
The plan would restore a state commission to oversee the St. Louis Police Department, with the members being the St. Louis mayor, one nonvoting commissioner, and four St. Louis citizens appointed by the governor and approved by the Senate.
The state controlled the St. Louis Police from the start of the Civil War until 2013. Part of Collins’ beef is Missouri voters approved a 2012 measure to let the mayor oversee the department.
A repeated theme in the debate about the legislation is whether the department would be under state or local control. Several supporters of the bill say the commission would be under local control because the members will be St. Louis citizens. Several opponents of the bill disagree with that because the governor and Missouri Senate will be the ones to sign off on the nominees.
Rep. David Casteel, R-High Ridge, supports the measure that would boost the penalties for organized crime groups who ransack retail stores.
“If crime is a result of poverty, then we need to fix the perception of public safety in the city of St. Louis in order to attract employers to the city,” he said.
Rep. Brad Christ, R-St. Louis, is the sponsor of the proposal that would also require law enforcement to report the immigration status of suspects arrested for certain crimes.
Rep. Brandon Phelps, R-Warrensburg, supports the bill.
“This bill is addressing the status quo and the status quo, whether you live in St. Louis or not, is not good. Crime is high. People have moved away and businesses are afraid to address money,” he said.
Rep. LaKeysha Bosley, D-St. Louis, opposes the proposal and suggested that Republicans are not practicing what they preach.
“Supporting this bill doesn’t mean that you support police,” said Bosley. “Supporting this bill means that you are anti-local control. Supporting this bill means that you really love big government.”
House Bill 495 would also:
*Ban the use of restraints on jailed offenders in their third trimester, unless they are a substantial flight risk, or another extraordinary security or medical circumstance
*Prohibit stunt driving and street racing
*Allow victims of a restraining order and law enforcement to be immediately notified when the person being electronically monitored enters prohibited boundaries
*Allow restitution for those later determined to be wrongfully convicted
*Create the “Missing and Murdered African American Women and Girls Task Force”
The measure heads to Gov. Mike Kehoe, who has prioritized the St. Louis Police Department being under the control of a statewide commission.
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