JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — This week Missouri lawmakers will discuss putting the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department back under state control. 

Back in 2012, Missouri voters approved taking away state control and giving the City of St. Louis control of its police department.

Now, Republicans, including the new governor, want the state to regain control. Those not on board said instead of allowing the state to takeover, the agency needs resources instead. 

“It’s another attempt to overturn the will of the voter,” Senate Minority Leader Doug Beck, D-Affton, said. 

A long-debated political issue is one of the first up for discussion in Jefferson City. 

Shortly after being elected, Gov. Mike Kehoe said he wants to put the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department under state control. He said he believes if the state has control of the agency, the streets will be safer and it will be easier to recruit and retain officers. 

“I’ve been very vocal, especially in St. Louis, that I think state control is appropriate for that police department,” Kehoe said in November. “You’re not going to have any private business consortium spend money and redevelop any inner city, not just St. Louis, unless they feel like their employees and their customers can be safe.”


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Last week, St. Louis officials announced crime remains on a downward trend in the city, including an 11-year low in homicides. 

“It can’t be this symbolic, you know we’re going to take control of the St. Louis Police Department,” Sen. Steven Roberts, D-St. Louis, said. “What we really are going to do is make sure our officers have the resources they need and the tools they need to be successful to make St. Louis and the whole state of Missouri as a whole safer.”

On the western side of the state, Kansas City, whose department is controlled by the state, saw record high homicides in 2023. 

A spokesperson for the mayor said: 

“As Kansas Citians have seen for generations, state control has too often been synonymous with a lack of accountability by police departments under the state’s control… State control has not led to increased hiring or better staffing, nor has it reduced crime in our community.”

Legislators have been debating state takeover for the past two years, but the idea has not reached the final stage. With Missouri’s governor behind the idea, it could have the momentum to become law this session. 

Senate Bills 44 and 52 are set to be heard in the Senate Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety Committee Wednesday at 11 a.m.