By Antonio D. French
Filed Monday, September 17, 2007 at 9:30 AM
What's a few tens of thousands of dollars here and there? As long as you've got the unconditional support of your Board and the mayor.
It's good to be Police Chief Joe Mokwa.
Adding to the ever-growing list of scandals at Mokwa's police department (and reasons the chief should be held accountable to the people of this city, not a Governor-appointed board), the Post-Dispatch reports today that as much as $40,000 in cash has been stolen from the evidence room in the basement of St. Louis Police Headquarters.
Let me just skip to the end of this story before my head explodes from complete frustration: No one will be severely disciplined. Mokwa will keep his job. Slay and the police board will say how this actually adds to the level of confidence they have in him. And life will go on as usual in Crazy Town.
From the Post's story:The department's internal auditors discovered the vault theft this summer. Those auditors were called in after a theft from one of three safes in the North Patrol Station on Union Boulevard earlier this year. That theft involved less than $500, sources said; a culprit has not been caught.
A letter of reprimand? Two days off work? Oh, my! Now that's what I call cleaning house.
However, Mokwa took disciplinary action against several top assistants after that earlier theft was discovered. Assistant Police Chief Steve Pollihan received a written letter of reprimand; Lt. Col. Reggie Harris was given a day off without pay, and Capts. Steve Hobbs, Leman Dobbins and James Moran were all given two days off without pay.
Earlier Story:
Cops Gone Wild
8 Comments:
Wow, you can BUY a lot of baseball tickets with forty grand.
9/17/2007 11:11 AM
Actually a letter of reprimand on his record can end up costing his a lot of money in his retirement so yes it is a big deal.
Also, doesn't this just further prove the need for City Hall and not Jefferson City to have control over the police. Last I checked there was little fear of the police department seceding from the Union and therefor no need for state government control.
9/17/2007 11:14 AM
Sorry, Anonymous. To Joe Public a letter of reprimand sounds like a slap on the wrist.
When cops steal money, we expect someone to get prosecuted or fired, at the minimum.
9/17/2007 11:39 AM
Without local control what is the incentive to do anything?
9/17/2007 11:59 AM
Maybe Chief Mokwa's daughter stole the money to buy her crack/meth? Money could of been stolen as far back as 2003? Why doesn't the Chief have a quarterly,semi-annual or annual audit of those funds?Sounds like gross negligence to me! If the police Chief was black,could you imagine the attacks coming from Slay and Mike Owen's ambush interviews on the black police Chief? Not a peep from Slay or Owens against Chief Mokwa!
9/17/2007 2:03 PM
Mr. French:
I can't comment on all of the people disciplined because of these incidents on the SLPD, however I can say something as far as it goes for Lt. Colonel Reggie Harris and Captain James Moran. In my frequent interactions with these gentlemen, they have always been on top of crime in the "Mighty" 26th Ward.
Captain Moran is my Captain for the "Mighty" 26th Ward and he is working hard along with my police officers of the 7th District to elevate the prestige and honor of the "Mighty" 26th Ward to greater heights. We are a top place to live in the City of St. Louis and built to stay that way.
In fact, just this past weekend many of the balloons from the "Great Balloon Race" saw it fit and safe to land their balloons in the "Mighty" 26th Ward in Ivory Perry Park and surrounding blocks. The children of the "Mighty" 26th Ward loved it and so did the adults, no violence, no racial tension, no shootings, just plenty of diversity, good clean fun, and general excitement.
Lt. Colonel Reggie Harris is the former Commander of the North Patrol and a resident of the "Mighty" 26th Ward, and I can't blame him at all. What more can you say?
Once again, the "Mighty" 26th Ward is a great place to live.
I can't speak as to what is going on Downtown, but Area III "Home of the Real Police" is coming along in the 7th District with fighting crime in the "Mighty" 26th Ward.
Antonio, I invite you and your readers to explore the housing opportunities in the "Mighty" 26th Ward.
"For the People, By the People, Until the End-"THE MIGHTY 26TH!"
Peace & Love,
Joseph "Joe" Palm
Committeeman of
the "Mighty" 26th Ward
9/17/2007 2:15 PM
Can anyone say "Civilian Oversight"
9/17/2007 3:35 PM
It looks like the police aren't waiting for a pay increase,they are getting it through stealing from the evidence room and stealing World Series tickets!
9/17/2007 10:18 PM
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