ST. LOUIS – State lawmakers in Jefferson City could give final approval to a state takeover of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department as soon as Wednesday.
The Missouri Senate overwhelmingly passed the state takeover bill Monday. Now, the bill goes back to the house for a final vote. The vote will likely come Wednesday, and the house is expected to pass the bill as well. However, St. Louis mayor Tishaura Jones, who has been outspoken against the takeover, is vowing to continue the fight against it.
Senators approved the bill on a decisive bipartisan vote of 27 to 5. All Republicans voted for the bill except for one and only four of the ten democrats in the senate voted against it.
Among the Senate Democrats voting for the takeover bill was minority leader Doug Beck of south St. Louis County. The legislation calls for a six-member board of police commissioners to oversee the city police department. The six members would include five appointed by the governor along with the mayor of the City of St. Louis.
The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department had been controlled by the state since the Civil War until a statewide campaign and vote in 2012 put it under local control but many have wanted state control to return for some time. State Senator Nick Schorer from St. Charles County has been among those pushing for a return to state control.