JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Ten years after gaining local control of its police for the first time since the Civil War, the city of St. Louis has more murders than ever before — and Missouri’s Republican lawmakers are again pressuring for a state takeover of the police force.
The debate over policing power in St. Louis — a racially diverse, heavily Democratic city long vexed by violent crime — carries political and racial overtones like those that have roiled other cities and states this year. But data suggest neither state nor local control may make much difference when it comes to stemming homicides.
For much of its history, police in Missouri’s two largest cities of St. Louis and Kansas City had been overseen by state boards appointed predominantly by the governor. That ended for St. Louis in 2013, after voters approved a statewide ballot measure to return police oversight to city officials. Around then, a mayor’s task force in Kansas City narrowly recommended continuing state control over its police.
Lawmakers have exerted control over liberal, largely minority communities in Washington, D.C., and Jackson, Mississippi. Policing in St. Louis comes with a stigma of association to the fatal police shooting of Michael Brown in nearby Ferguson in 2014. Officer Darren Wilson was not charged in the death of the Black 18-year-old, but months of protests followed, along with criticism of policing practices across the St. Louis area.
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GOP lawmakers push for state control of St. Louis policeRepublican lawmakers in Missouri are pushing for a state takeover of the St. Louis police department
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GOP lawmakers push for state control of St. Louis policeRepublican lawmakers in Missouri are pushing for a state takeover of the St. Louis police department.
Consulte Mais informação »
GOP lawmakers push for state control of St. Louis policeRepublican lawmakers in Missouri are pushing for a state takeover of the St. Louis police department
Consulte Mais informação »
GOP lawmakers push for state control of St. Louis policeRepublican lawmakers in Missouri are pushing for a state takeover of the St. Louis police department. Supporters cite high violent crime rates as a reason for such action. But data suggest neither state nor local control may make much difference in stemming homicides. Criminologist Richard Rosenfeld has compared the rise in homicide rates in St. Louis to that in Kansas City, which already has state control of its police. Though St. Louis has a slightly larger increase, he found no statistically significant difference. Republican officials in Mississippi and elsewhere also have acted this year to take control over some functions in Democratic-led cities.
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GOP lawmakers push for state control of St. Louis policeTen years after gaining local control of its police for the first time since the Civil War, the city of St. Louis has more murders than ever before — and Missouri's Republican lawmakers are again pressuring for a state takeover of the police force.
Consulte Mais informação »
GOP lawmakers push for state control of St. Louis policeIn one city where murders are higher than ever, Republicans want the state to take over the police. Data suggest it won't make a difference.
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