St. Louis demonstrated a united front yesterday in the State Capitol as the political friends and foes spoke in unison in a call for local control of the city’s largest department, its police force.
Mayor Francis Slay, Aldermanic President Lewis Reed, and 11 city aldermen from north and south St. Louis appeared before the House committee which heard testimony regarding House Bill 2117. Even some local activists who are working to remove Slay from office called a truce for the day and even praised Slay for his testimony in support of the legislation.
Here’s video from the press conference before the hearing. Check back later for more videos throughout the day.
St. Louis Leaders Call for Local Control of Police from pubdef on Vimeo.
March 13th, 2008 at 9:36 pm
St. Louis City must continue this fight for local control of it’s Police Department. It’s the right thing.
March 16th, 2008 at 5:13 pm
Do you really think the politicians are in this for the people? The only reason the City wants local control of this department is for personal gain. How much patrol do think you’ll lose because the police are detailed out to favors for the alderman of the city.
The city is broke beyond fixing, but there is a huge amount of of money that the city would like to get its hands on in the police pension.
Somebody please please tell me how the citizens will be benefited by local control of the police department.
March 16th, 2008 at 9:43 pm
I think that a citzens oversight committee would convene a hearing to determine progress in the investigation of the of the case of the missing evidence ($40,000.00) and why it took so long to become public knowledge and explain the slap on the wrist punishment for a few high ranking officials; let’s start there.
And pray tell me when the owners of these missing funds ask for the return-who is responsible.
I also think that citizens want a police department that is well paid and the police pension issue is a smokescreen.
March 16th, 2008 at 10:21 pm
A recent report show the FBI’s Continued NSL abuses and FBI bias and the inability to Police itself-The St. Louis Police Department is also not able to police itself as reflected in the large amount of time elaspe in reporting the missing evidence money and the failure to address proper investigation in rape cases that was reported some time ago.
Citizens benefit from proactive involvement in their police department and so do police
March 17th, 2008 at 12:01 am
STOP THIS CITY AND RESPECT POLICE NOT LYING POLITICANS WHO HAVE RAISED YOUR TAXES TRAVELED WORLDWIDE AND BROUGHT NOTHING TO ST LOUIS BUT SCANDELS.
THE CITY ELDERS HAVE SCREWED U TAXED U AND LAUGHED AT YOUR CITY COMPLAINTS.
ITS NOT RACISM ON THE TABLE FOLKS ITS YOUR $$$$$$WHY DON’T YOU SEE THAT NSO’S ARE NOT SOLVING YOUR NEIGHBERHOOD PROBLEMS AND THE POLICE ARE OVER WORKED.HOW MANY OF YOU EVEN SEE YOUR ALDERMAN HAVE TOWN HALL MEETINGS OR ATTEND NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS? they party drink and act on tv like kids.
WE NEED LESSS ALDERMAN AND MORE COMMUNITY POLICING TO BRING UAS TO FIRST CLASS LIFE STYLE>>>>SAY NONONO T LOCAL CONTROL ITS A SCAM THE POLICE NEED T ARREST HALF THE ALDERMAN FR THEIR DRINKING<DRIVING AND $$ Games.NNONONO
I’ll take the Police over my Alderman antrime anyplace Why don’t u??????
March 17th, 2008 at 9:27 am
Public: What’s next? Local control of the schools?
Slay: Hell to the naw, that would be DRACONIAN!