JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department is once again under the control of a handpicked state board.

Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe signed HB 495 late Tuesday morning at the state capitol. State Representative Brad Christ, R-St. Louis County, and State Senators Nick Schroer, R-St. Charles County, and Travis Fitzwater, R-Callaway County, were present at the signing. They co-sponsored the legislation. 

Earlier this month, the Missouri House overwhelmingly approved a Senate-amended bill to place the SLMPD under the authority of the state board, despite protestations from St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones, St. Louis Police Chief Robert Tracy, and other city officials.

The bill establishes a six-member board to oversee the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. Five of the members will be citizens appointed by the governor. The Mayor of St. Louis will have the sixth and final seat on the board.

Mayor Jones released a statement shortly after the signing: “From the very beginning, this bill has been a sham, and the Governor’s signature represents nothing but disrespect for every Missouri voter who supported local control. The residents of the City of St. Louis are safer today because my administration has made difficult and bold decisions that have resulted in a historic reduction in crime. State takeover is not based in reality, and only shows that Governor Kehoe and the legislature are willing to throw out facts, reason, and the will of the people in order to give the safety of our city away to special interests.”

The city police department was under state control from the American Civil War until 2012, when voters passed a ballot measure transferring control to local authorities. However, state officials, including Governor Kehoe, argued that the City of St. Louis would be in a better situation with the board running the police department.

Both the St. Louis Police Officers Association and the Ethical Society of Police expressed support for the state takeover.