HB702--LAWENFORCEMENTAGENCIES
SPONSOR: Christ
ThebillprovidesthatwhencityofSt.Louispassesordinances,no
ordinancescaninanymanner,conflictorinterferewiththepowers
oftheBoardofPoliceCommissioners. Additionally,themayoror
anycityofficershallnotimpedeorhindertheBoardofPolice
Commissionersortheyshallbeliableforapenaltyof$1,000for
eachandeveryoffensetohindertheBoardandwillforeverbe
disqualifiedfromholdingorexercisinganyofficeofthecity.
BeginningAugust28,2023,theBoardshallassumecontrolofthe
municipalpolicedepartmentofSt.Louisand,nolaterthan
September28,2023,theGovernormustappointfourcommissionersto
theBoardwhoshallservetogetherwiththePresidentoftheBoard
ofAldermen. Themunicipalpolicedepartmentwilltransfertitle
andownershipofallindebtednessandassetsandacceptliability
assuccessor-in-interestforcontractualobligationofthepolice
department.
TheBoardshallinitiallyemploy,withoutreductioninrank,
salary,orbenefits,allcommissionedandcivilianpersonnelofthe
municipalpolicedepartment. TheBoardisrequiredtoappointand
employapermanentpoliceforceconsistingofnotlessthan1,142
members. TheBoardmaycontinuetoemployasmanynon-commissioned
policeciviliansasitdeemsnecessaryinordertoperformthe
dutiesimposedonthem,whichwillincludecitymarshalsandpark
rangers. TheBoardwillgranteverymemberofthepoliceforcea
certainnumberofpaidvacationdaysbasedonhowlongeachmember
hasservedasprovidedinthebill.
Nofurtherappointmentstotherankofmajorwillbemade,butall
membersoftheforcenowholdingtherankofmajorshallcontinue
inthatrankuntiltheirpromotion,demotion,removal,resignation,
orotherseparationfromtheforce.ThesalariespaidasofAugust
28,2023,shallnotbelessthantheannualsalariespaidtoeach
memberbeforetheenactmentofthisbillandannualsalariesshall
increasebynolessthan$4,000byJuly1,2024.Noadditional
compensationshallbegiventoanyofficeroftherankof
lieutenantoraboveforovertime,courttime,orstand-bycourt
time.Probationarypatrolmen,patrolmen,andsergeantsmust
receivecompensationforallhoursofserviceinexcessofthe
establishedregularworkingperiod,forallauthorizedovertime,
andforemployeeswhocompleteacademicworkatanaccredited
collegeoruniversityuptoacertainamountasprovidedinthe
bill.Additionally,certainofficersmayreceiveupto10%of
theirsalaryinadditionalcompensationforhoursworkedbetween11
p.m.and7a.m. Thisbillprovidesthat,untiltheBoardadoptsotherinvestigative
anddisciplinaryprocedures,thepoliceforceshallfollowthe
disciplinaryandinvestigativeproceduresestablishedbythePolice
ManualoftheSt.LouisMetropolitanPoliceDepartmentthatare
consistentwithlaw.TheBoardwillnotadoptanydisciplinary
proceduresthatdonotincludethesummaryhearingBoardprocedures
providedforcurrentlyinthePoliceManual.Thisbillprovides
thatreimbursements fromtheLegalExpenseFundtotheBoardfor
liabilityclaimsmustbeona21equalsharebasisperclaimupto
amaximumof$1millionperfiscalyear.
Thisbillrepealsallprovisionsrelatingtothemunicipalpolice
forceestablishedbythecityofSt.Louis.
ThisbillissimilartoSB78(2023)andHB2671(2022).