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DEF is a non-partisan, independent political blog based in the
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A group of local elected officials gathered in front of City Hall today to call attention to a bill in the Missouri legislature which seeks to give the City of St. Louis control over its police department—control which was taken away over 100 years ago during the time of the Civil War.
Those in attendance included: State Senator Maida Coleman, State Reps Talibdin El-Amin, Rodney Hubbard, and Jeanette Mott Oxford, Aldermen Terry Kennedy, Jeffrey Boyd, and Frank Williamson.
"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 on his 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.
Here's what we had to say at the time:
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.
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.
Cops Gone Wild(er): $40,000 Stolen from Police Station Vault
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-Dispatchreports 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.
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.
A letter of reprimand? Two days off work? Oh, my! Now that's what I call cleaning house.
The St. Louis Police Officers Association is sending out "No Confidence" ballots to its 1,200 members this week to express their displeasure with the leadership of Police Chief Joe Mokwa.
Union leaders say the ballots should be returned and counted in about two weeks.
An off-duty Arnold police officer allegedly put a gun to a 21-year-old black man's head in the parking lot of a White Castle's in Florissant yesterday. The man said Officer Chris Hoelscher called him a nigger and threatened to kill him. Following his report, the Arnold police chief suspended Helsher. He resigned a few hours later.
Five Deputy Sheriffs from Jefferson County were suspended this week after being involved in an off-duty bar fight Wednesday night at the R-Place Bar & Grill in House Springs. According to the bar owner, the fight began between two women — one of whom came with the officers.
From the Post-Dispatch:
He said all of the officers were escorted out of the bar and a bartender observed them removing their rear license plates in the parking lot.
Moments later they came back into the bar, Gaulden said.
Anna Rankin, a bartender, said, "I told them 'I'm going to call the cops,' and they said, 'We are the cops.'"
And of course, a St. George police office was caught on tape this week by a young white guy threatening to trump up charges on him and "ruin your life" for not showing the officer the proper respect as he violated the young man's civil rights.
"Do you want to go to jail for some fucking reason I come up with?"
"Ever get smart mouth with a cop again and I'll show you what a cop does."
"Talk back again and I'll say you were resisting arrest or something. You want me to come up with something? I can come up with nine things."
"You want me to lock you up and show you that I'm right and you're wrong?"
Had a bad night? "Don't ever take it out on a cop. We'll ruin your career and life and everything you've got."
How about local control of our police department first? After all, that is where about a third of our city's annual budget goes. But then, why should city folks have any say over how one out of every three of our dollars is spent?
Perhaps Mayor Slay could be calling for local control of our schools — even mayoral control. No, wait. That's right, he was the one pushing for the state's Republican governor to take control of our $450 million-per-year school system.
Well, it's not like crime or schools have anything to do with the quality of life here in the city — at least not like the Arch grounds anyway!
As a matter of fact, we're so out of practice with controlling our own destinies around here, if the U.S. government did give up control of the Arch grounds, they should probably just turn it over to the State of Missouri.
At least that'll keep Hizzoner from building a parking garage or a Walgreens on it.
At a 1st Ward neighborhood meeting this morning, Mayor Francis Slay broke the news of the arrest of three youths in the shooting death of police officer Norvelle Brown.
While on leave from serving in Iraq, Army Specialist Anthony Collins says he was harassed and maced by a St. Louis police officer near his home in north St. Louis.
This video was produced and distributed by the ACLU of Eastern Missouri this week at its press conference on its new "Project Vigilant" initiative, which is arming residents of the Fairground Park neighborhood with video cameras to protect themselves from abusive cops.
EDITOR'S NOTE: WATCH THE LAST 40 SECONDS OF THIS VIDEO. IT APPEARS THAT THE TWO OFFICERS COME BACK TO INTIMIDATE (OR WORSE) THE VICTIM.
Click here to watch our earlier report on "Project Vigilant".
More than a year after it was first announced (and we reported it), the American Civil Liberties Union of Eastern Missouri today is launching its "Project Vigilant", which will arm residents of the Fairground Park neighborhood in north St. Louis with video cameras to protect themselves and their neighbors against abusive police.
"Project Vigilant levels the playing field," said Brenda Jones, executive director for the ACLU-EM who created the program.
"Police officers who know their misconduct will be reported and probably filmed might be less likely to abuse their authority. Project Vigilant is not and should never be perceived as an 'anti-police' program. In meetings with St. Louis Police Chief Joe Mokwa, we stressed that we are just as likely to catch the police officers in the course of positive behavior as well as negative. Our project is designed to give police officers more incentive to connect and communicate respectfully with the residents of the communities they patrol."
The program will be introduced during a news conference at 2:00 p.m. today at the ACLU-EM's new headquarters on 454 Whittier.
In what has become an almost annual event, the St. Louis Board of Aldermen today passed another resolution asking the State of Missouri to return to the City of St. Louis control of its police department.
Click here to read Alderman Terry Kennedy's resolution, which passed 22-1.
In this video from February 2006, Kennedy talked to PubDef.net about the need for local control.
Former Velda City police officer Lewis McGee and former detective Mark Winger both pleaded guilty last week to conspiracy to violate the civil rights of a jailed man.
According to the plea agreements, on July 31, 2006, Winger and McGee, while acting in their capacities as law enforcement officers, conspired to physically assault the victim who was being detained at the Northwoods Police Department.
While McGee held the victim on the ground with his foot, Winger struck the victim multiple times causing him bodily injury. McGee and Winger then made false statements to a special agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation to cover up their roles in the conspiracy and assault. Each defendant faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
"Any act of police misconduct threatens to undermine public trust in the worthy goals of law enforcement," said Wan J. Kim, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division.
"The overwhelming majority of law enforcement officers serve with great distinction under often difficult circumstances. Those who abuse their authority by breaking the laws they are meant to enforce will be vigorously prosecuted by the Justice Department."
The guilty plea resulted from an investigation by the St. Louis County Police Department and the St. Louis Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Rosen from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri, and Trial Attorney Edward Chung from the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice prosecuted the case.
In fiscal year 2006, almost 50 percent of the cases filed by the Criminal Section of the Civil Rights Division involved excessive force or law enforcement misconduct. Since fiscal year 2001, the Division has filed 25 percent more such cases and convicted nearly 50 percent more defendants in these cases than in the preceding six years.
Surprisingly under-reported over the weekend was the realization of every police officer's (and their spouse) nightmare: a crazed gunman intent on killing a cop — or having a cop kill him.
Friday night at approximately 10:00, while top Democrats were wrapping up their annual Jefferson-Jackson dinner at the Renaissance Grand hotel just a few blocks away, a city traffic cop was parked at the southwest curb on Pine at Memorial when suddenly, a Dodge Intrepid traveling south on Memorial rammed the police car.
According to the police report, the officer inside quickly reached for his radio and announced that he had been struck. As the "Officer in need of Aid" was relayed, 21 year-old Mohammad Khaled Alwadi stepped out of the car he intentionally hit the police car with and opened fire at the officer trapped inside.
The officer returned fire. As the suspect was standing near the injured officer’s car, another officer arrived and Alwadi began firing at that officer. He then ran north on Memorial and encountered another officer. The suspect fired three to four shots at that officer striking the passenger side of the police vehicle. That officer returned fire.
Police say Alwadi continued running north on Memorial towards the Peabody Building where he encountered more St. Louis cops and fired shots at them. The officers returned fire, killing the suspect.
Contrary to early media reports that there were two suspects, police now say Alwadi acted alone.
The name of the first police officer from the accident has not been released. He has only been identified as a 36 year-old male officer with 5 years on the Department. He was conveyed to the hospital and is in stable condition. No other officers or citizens were injured the incident.
The incident is being called a unfortunately successful attempt at "suicide by cop", as police report that members of Alwadi's family claimed that he had spoke of committing suicide just before ramming the police vehicle.
A group of SLPS students disrupted the meeting of the State Board of Education moments ago with chants of "no takeover!" The Board went into temporary recess while order was restored.
Capitol Police officers were attempting to restore order when they got into a confrontation with one student in particular. The young man darted from the room and was chased through the Harry S. Truman State Building before being caught and maced outside of the building.
An angry crowd gathered around and followed the officers as they handcuffed and dragged the boy into the lower levels of the building.
Check back later for video... Sent via BlackBerry from Cingular Wireless
BILL INTRODUCED TO RETURN LOCAL CONTROL OF POLICE DEPARTMENT
By Antonio D. French
Filed
Monday, February 12, 2007 at 5:42 PM
State Senator Maida Coleman and State Representative Robin Wright-Jones have introduced legislation that would return control of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department to the people of the City of St. Louis, ending nearly 150 years of state control.
"We think the local representative democracy, the Board of Alderman, should decide how the police department should be managed," said Coleman in a press release today. "St. Louis would be one of the last cities to return to local control of the police department of the cities where the state took control of the police during the Civil War era."
During the early days of the Civil War, the State of Missouri, like many other states, took control of its major city's police department. By the late 19th and early 20th Centuries, local control of police departments returned to most cities like Baltimore, Atlanta, and others, but the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department remains governed by a board appointed by the Governor to this day, just as when the state took control in 1861.
Senate Bill 486, proposed by Coleman and Wright-Jones, gives authority to create a police department to the St. Louis Board of Alderman. It would be up to the Board of Alderman to decide how the police department is managed. The legislation also preserves the salary and rank structure of the current police department to ensure a smooth transition.
"There is no reason why people from Joplin to St. Joseph have a say in how we run our police department," said Wright-Jones.
State Rep. Connie Johnson will be hosting a public forum to encourage open dialog with the Police Board on Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., in the auditorium of Northwest High School, 5140 Riverview Blvd.
The Forum will be co-hosted by the Northside Neighborhood Action Association, Area F Neighborhood Counsel, the Organization for Black Struggle, and the Urban Progressive Caucus.
This is the first of several forums being conducted by the Board of Police Commissioners; however this forum will focus specifically on the activity that has occurred in the Walnut Park and the Mark Twain Neighborhoods.
Walnut Park and Mark Twain are part of the 6th Police District where two new appointments have been made. Alfred Adkins is the new Major for North Patrol and Dan Isom is the new Captain. Both Akins and Isom, who are residents of the district, have previously worked in the District and will be in attendance at the forum.
Gov. Matt Blunt today appointed businessman Vince J. Bommarito to the St. Louis City Board of Police Commissioners.
According to the bio attached to the Governor's announcement, Bommarito is 75 years-old and the CEO of Tony's Restaurant, Inc. and a partner at America’s Center Catering Bommarito is also a member of the RCGA and the Downtown St. Louis Partnership.
Bommarito's appointment is subject to Senate confirmation for a term ending on Jan. 31, 2011. He replaces Michael Quinn whose term expired.
