The Missouri Senate witnessed a spirited filibuster on Wednesday, led by Democrats in opposition to a bill proposing state control over the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. The Democrat blockade came in response to concerns that such a measure would disconnect the police force from local leadership, as emphasized by Senator Karla May, who represents areas in St. Louis City. "It is an embarrassment that this is what the state’s top legislative body is focusing on," May stated, as reported by FOX 2 Now.
The legislation, which enjoys backing from numerous rank-and-file police officers, conversely faces opposition from many St. Louis citizens. One such resident is Gail Wechsler, who works in downtown St. Louis and has vocalized her opposition to the bill, believing it could exacerbate existing problems. "I actually think it’s going to make things worse," Wechsler expressed in a letter to lawmakers, as First Alert 4 reports. She proposes that the city be allowed to enact its gun control laws to address gun violence directly.
Despite the prolonged debate and opposition, the bill moved closer to enactment after the Senate accepted a revised version late Wednesday. Stripping the St. Louis Police Officers Association from the process of selecting a majority of the police board members was a key change highlighted by Sen. May. "This union is trying to control the police department without actually being the chief of police," explained May, as stated in a piece by St. Louis Today. The remodelled legislation also adjusts the board from five to six members, adding a nonvoting member with specific residential or tax requirements.
The financial implications for St. Louis are significant, as the original bill stipulated that 25% of the city's general revenue must be allocated to the police, an increase from the current 22.7%. However, the newly proposed revisions offer a more gradual increase in funding, starting at 23% the next year and reaching 25% by 2028. Mayor Tishaura Jones and mayoral candidate Cara Spencer have voiced their concerns, highlighting the inability of proponents to demonstrate how this bill would enhance citizen safety, and emphasizing the existing officer shortage. "They cannot give us any answers on how this is going to make our citizens safer," Jones told reporters, and Spencer echoed the sentiment, "We have a tremendous amount of vacancies in that department that have got to be addressed," both statements collected by First Alert 4. Debate continues as the bill requires a final Senate vote before returning to the House for further consideration.
