This Week's Stouffer Report: Local Control - Good for St. Louis, Good for Missouri

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August 20, 2012

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Local Control: Good for St. Louis, Goodfor Missouri

A Civil War-era law may finally come to an end ifMissouri voters support a ballot initiative torestore local control of the St. Louis MetropolitanPolice Department.

In 1861, control of the St. Louis PoliceDepartment was taken from the city and given to

a commission made up mostly of politicalappointees chosen by the governor. The intent ofthis law was to keep firepower out of the handsof a pro-Union city in a largely pro-Confederacystate. Today, the outdated law still remains inplace.

Proposition A, more commonly known as theLocal Control Initiative, will appear on the

statewide ballot this November. With voterapproval, control of the St. Louis PoliceDepartment will be restored to where it belongs with the people and City of St. Louis.

Rural voters benefit from this good-governmentinitiative as it increases the accountability of theSt. Louis Police Department, reduces state andlocal costs and saves state and local taxpayers
http://www.senate.mo.gov/media/12info/stouffer/Columns.htmlhttp://www.senate.mo.gov/media/12info/stouffer/Columns.htmlhttp://www.senate.mo.gov/media/12info/stouffer/Columns.htmlmailto:[email protected]?subject=Unsubscribe%20Stouffer%20eNewsmailto:[email protected]?subject=Unsubscribe%20Stouffer%20eNewshttp://www.slmpd.org/http://www.slmpd.org/http://www.slmpd.org/http://www.sos.mo.gov/elections/2012ballot/PropA.asphttp://www.sos.mo.gov/elections/2012ballot/PropA.asphttp://www.sos.mo.gov/elections/2012ballot/PropA.asphttp://www.slmpd.org/http://www.slmpd.org/mailto:[email protected]?subject=Unsubscribe%20Stouffer%20eNewshttp://www.senate.mo.gov/media/12info/stouffer/Columns.html


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millions of dollars. Rural voters also see the

benefits of local control over political cronyism,as local control leads to better, more efficientgovernment.

Today, if residents of the City of St. Louis have aproblem with their local police, they must call thegovernors office. I cannot imagine my localpolice force or sheriff not being accountable tolocal voters or jurisdictions.

According to the Missouri auditors office, thisnew law would save state and local taxpayers anestimated $4.5 million per year. Removingduplicated services in purchasing, legal andpersonnel departments will play a major role inthese cost savings.

Supporters of the ballot measure include the St.Louis Police Officers Association, the mayor ofthe City of St. Louis and many local city officialsand community leaders. The effort is alsosupported by a bipartisan and diverse group ofstate legislators. The Safer Missouri Citizens

Coalition is currently conducting a grassrootseffort statewide to educate voters on the issue.

When voters go to the polls in November, theywill see thisballot languageon the issue:

Proposition A

Official Ballot Title:

Shall Missouri law be amended to:

allow any city not within a county (the City

of St. Louis) the option of transferringcertain obligations and control of the cityspolice force from the board of policecommissioners currently appointed by thegovernor to the city and establishing amunicipal police force;establish certain procedures andrequirements for governing such a
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municipal police force including residency,

rank, salary, benefits, insurance, andpension; andprohibit retaliation against any employee ofsuch municipal police force who reports

conduct believed to be illegal to a superior,government agency, or the press?

State governmental entities estimated savingswill eventually be up to $500,000 annually. Localgovernmental entities estimated annual potentialsavings of $3.5 million; however, consolidationdecisions with an unknown outcome may resultin the savings being more or less than estimated.

Fair Ballot Language:

A yes vote will amend Missouri law to allowany city not within a county (the City of St.Louis) the option of establishing a municipalpolice force by transferring certain obligationsand control of the citys police force from the

board of police commissioners currentlyappointed by the governor to the city. This

amendment also establishes certain proceduresand requirements for governing such a municipal

police force including residency, rank, salary,benefits, insurance, and pension. Theamendment further prohibits retaliation againstany employee of such municipal police force whoreports conduct believed to be illegal to asuperior, government agency, or the press.

A no vote will not change the current Missourilaw regarding St. Louis Citys police force.

If passed, this measure will have no impact ontaxes.

I have supported this local control issue in thepast, and I continue to support it now. I welcomeyour questions on the issue. Please feel free tocontact my office at (573) 751-1507 [email protected].
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


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Senator Stouffer serves the counties of Carroll,Chariton, Cooper, Howard, Lafayette, Macon, Ray,

Saline, and a part of Clay.

If you have questions or comments about this or anyother issue, please call toll free (866) 768-3987 or bye-mail [email protected].

[email protected] | www.senate.mo.gov/stoufferState Capitol, Room 332, Jefferson City, MO 65101 | (866) 768-3987
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.senate.mo.gov/12info/members/mem21.htmhttp://www.senate.mo.gov/12info/members/mem21.htmmailto:[email protected]:[email protected]

This Week's Stouffer Report: Local Control - Good for St. Louis, Good for Missouri

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