By Antonio D. French
Filed Friday, September 28, 2007 at 6:30 AM
The membership of the St. Louis Police Officers Association has voted "no confidence" in the leadership of Chief Joe Mokwa. But despite the lack of support among his officers and numerous scandals — including $40,000 stolen from a police station vault — the mayor and Mokwa's state-appointed bosses say they're staying with their man.
"The fact that only 17 percent of the Police Department’s 1,859 employees said they do not have confidence in Chief Joe Mokwa is hardly an indicator of any widespread discontent with his tenure," said the Mayor Francis Slay's blog.
Of course, the mayor neglected to mention that the 48% turnout in the no-confidence poll was much higher than the 15% turnout in Slay's own 2005 primary victory.
Chris Goodson, president of the Board of Police Commissioners, which is appointed by the governor, told KWMU that despite frustration over staffing and pay, Mokwa is doing a good job.
"Leadership is going to have popular and unpopular decisions that comes with the job, but what we want to know is are you making the right decisions to provide the best public safety for the workers and the citizens of St. Louis," Goodson told KWMU.
But the citizens of the City of St. Louis, which once again has earned the title of "most dangerous" in America, have little say in the running of their police department. Unlike most cities, the mayor does not hire or fire the chief of police. In fact, the chief is only accountable to the the police board, which is appointed by the governor and approved by the senate, both located in Jefferson City.
The politics suggests the People have little control over the police. The crime statistics suggest the police have little control over the streets. And the mayor's statement shows the opinion of rank-and-file cops can (and will) be disregarded as easily as the opinion of the people they protect and serve.
12 Comments:
if mokwa was the leader of the fire department, it would be one of the best in the nation!! unfortunately, we're stuck with sherman.....at least until next week
9/28/2007 8:27 AM
It's interesting that the Mayor doesn't consider the volume of votes to indicate dissatisfaction with Mokwa. Oh, that's right an even lower percent voted for his re-election! I guess if Mokwa's vote can't be considered a mandate of no confidence, the number of voters who didn't vote for the Mayor isn't a ringing endorsement of support either!
9/28/2007 8:58 AM
OK dumbass, then vote Francis out of office. Let's go back to the days of Bosley and corrupt, ineffective government.
Exactly, like him or not Slay is the best Mayor in decades.
Now to the chiefs.
Shut up.
Sherman sucks and should be fired. Joe is decent but needs to bitch slap the officers crying about stuff that Joe has little or no control over. If Joe does not grow a pair then he should go too.
Good time to mention, the Mayor must have control over his own police department. One Term Blunt knows nothing of how a real city works. Let the state run the Springfield police department and leave St. Louis alone.
9/28/2007 10:22 AM
What is the family relationship between Slay and Mokwa? Are their wives blood relatives? This is a serious question, not a joke.
9/28/2007 10:46 AM
With all the problems in the police department under Mokwa's watch (World Series Ticketgate,$40,000 missing from evidence room,low morale, underreporting of rape statistics,etc)if he were a black man Slay would be going all out to criticize and denigrate him publicly! Why is he so supportive of the incompetent Mokwa?
9/28/2007 11:55 AM
I just love all the anonymous posts talking about race. Give it a rest. Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.
Chief George has disregarded a direct order and should be removed from office.
9/28/2007 2:18 PM
The direct order is illegal,the city charter and the Missouri courts states that the Fire Chief has the sole decision of whether to promote or not!
9/28/2007 7:54 PM
9/28/2007 10:22
"Exactly, like him or not Slay is the best Mayor in decades."
I can barely type this as I laugh so hard, but are you serious?
9/29/2007 4:30 PM
John q. Public Says-
Can Anyone Say Civilian Oversight ?
9/30/2007 4:16 AM
Why worry about what happens with the police chief or fire chief? We need to give more tax incentives to sports teams and big business!
9/30/2007 12:45 PM
mokwa obviously has some family issues. maybe he should step down and give his daughter and granddaughter the support they need. of course since the beating and illegal holding of citizens is normal for the city of st. louis, he probably doesn't think his daughter or granddaughter have any problems. can anyone inform me of when the citizens against police brutality board will be up and running? seriously.
10/07/2007 1:17 PM
Ticket gate, the involved officer are part of the Deaprtment click, under Commander Click of the 1st Dist. if it would have been 7 other police officers they would hav been fired, we need an investigatio by the Feds, these same guys have been doing this type of actions for years, one was even promoted after the hearing.
1/10/2008 10:45 AM
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