As in the anti-auto theft device popularized in the early 1990s as a lo-tech way of keep aspiring car thieves in check.
City Collector of Revenue Gregory F.X. Daly and St. Louis Metropolitan Police Chief Joseph Mokwa have joined forces to fight crime through Club-mongering, supplying The Club to the public for only $11. (The Club retails at $40.)
While not as ripe for parody its competitors “Protected by Viper, Stand Back!” ads, the Club remains a staple of anti-auto theft devices.
Concerned citizens can plunk down their duckets for the device at the State Fee Office in City Hall. There are also license plate covers available for the low, low price of $5 a pair.
Pictured here are (from L-R): Gregory F.X. Daly, Collector of Revenue; Crystal Payton, Chip Oddo and Paula Moore of Progressive Insurance Co.; and Chief of Police Joseph Mokwa.
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.
The long fight of the City of St. Louis to regain control of its police department after a century of state rule will take center stage today at a hearing in the state capitol. And for the first time, St. Louis highest ranking officials will all testify in favor of the bill.
Mayor Francis Slay, Aldermanic President Lewis Reed, Comptroller Darlene Green, and as many as 11 of the city’s 28 aldermen are expected to drive to Jefferson City this morning to speak at the 2:00 hearing on House Bill 2117.
The bill, sponsored by State Representative T.D. El-Amin (D-St. Louis), will be heard before the House Special Committee on Urban Issues, which is chaired by another St. Louis representative, Rodney Hubbard*, who is also a bill co-sponsor.
The hearing will begin at 2:00 in House Hearing Room 5. A hearing was scheduled for last week, but was cancelled due to the snow storm.
PubDef.net will have cameras at the event. Check back later for video.
A group of local elected officials gathered in front of City Hall today to call attention to a bill in the Missouri legislature which seeks to give the City of St. Louis control over its police department—control which was taken away over 100 years ago during the time of the Civil War.
Those in attendance included: State Senator Maida Coleman, State Reps Talibdin El-Amin, Rodney Hubbard, and Jeanette Mott Oxford, Aldermen Terry Kennedy, Jeffrey Boyd, and Frank Williamson.
“The fact that only 17 percent of the Police Department’s 1,859 employees said they do not have confidence in Chief Joe Mokwa is hardly an indicator of any widespread discontent with his tenure,” said the Mayor Francis Slay on his blog.
Of course, the mayor neglected to mention that the 48% turnout in the no-confidence poll was much higher than the 15% turnout in Slay’s own 2005 primary victory.
Chris Goodson, president of the Board of Police Commissioners, which is appointed by the governor, told KWMU that despite frustration over staffing and pay, Mokwa is doing a good job.
“Leadership is going to have popular and unpopular decisions that comes with the job, but what we want to know is are you making the right decisions to provide the best public safety for the workers and the citizens of St. Louis,” Goodson told KWMU.
Here’s what we had to say at the time:
But the citizens of the City of St. Louis, which once again has earned the title of “most dangerous” in America, have little say in the running of their police department. Unlike most cities, the mayor does not hire or fire the chief of police. In fact, the chief is only accountable to the the police board, which is appointed by the governor and approved by the senate, both located in Jefferson City.The politics suggests the People have little control over the police. The crime statistics suggest the police have little control over the streets. And the mayor’s statement shows the opinion of rank-and-file cops can (and will) be disregarded as easily as the opinion of the people they protect and serve.
The membership of the St. Louis Police Officers Association has voted “no confidence” in the leadership of Chief Joe Mokwa. But despite the lack of support among his officers and numerous scandals — including $40,000 stolen from a police station vault — the mayor and Mokwa’s state-appointed bosses say they’re staying with their man.
“The fact that only 17 percent of the Police Department’s 1,859 employees said they do not have confidence in Chief Joe Mokwa is hardly an indicator of any widespread discontent with his tenure,” said the Mayor Francis Slay’s blog.
Of course, the mayor neglected to mention that the 48% turnout in the no-confidence poll was much higher than the 15% turnout in Slay’s own 2005 primary victory.
Chris Goodson, president of the Board of Police Commissioners, which is appointed by the governor, told KWMU that despite frustration over staffing and pay, Mokwa is doing a good job.
“Leadership is going to have popular and unpopular decisions that comes with the job, but what we want to know is are you making the right decisions to provide the best public safety for the workers and the citizens of St. Louis,” Goodson told KWMU.
But the citizens of the City of St. Louis, which once again has earned the title of “most dangerous” in America, have little say in the running of their police department. Unlike most cities, the mayor does not hire or fire the chief of police. In fact, the chief is only accountable to the the police board, which is appointed by the governor and approved by the senate, both located in Jefferson City.
The politics suggests the People have little control over the police. The crime statistics suggest the police have little control over the streets. And the mayor’s statement shows the opinion of rank-and-file cops can (and will) be disregarded as easily as the opinion of the people they protect and serve.
Pictured here are (from L-R): Gregory F.X. Daly, Collector of Revenue; Crystal Payton, Chip Oddo and Paula Moore of Progressive Insurance Co.; and Chief of Police Joseph Mokwa.
