HCSHBs702,53,213,216,306&359--LAWENFORCEMENTAGENCIES
(Christ)
COMMITTEEOFORIGIN:StandingCommitteeonCrimePreventionand
PublicSafety
ThisbillspecifiesthatwhenthecityofSt.Louispasses
ordinances,noordinancescaninanymannerconflictorinterfere
withthepowersoftheBoardofPoliceCommissioners.
Additionally,themayororanycityofficershallnotimpedeor
hindertheBoardofPoliceCommissionersortheyshallbeliable
forapenaltyof$1,000foreachandeveryoffensehinderingthe
Boardandwillforeverbedisqualifiedfromholdingorexercising
anyofficeofthecity.
OnAugust28,2023,theBoardshallassumecontrolofthemunicipal
policedepartmentofSt.Louisand,nolaterthanSeptember28,
2023,theGovernormustappointfourcommissionerstotheBoardwho
shallservetogetherwiththemayor.Themunicipalpolice
departmentwilltransfertitleandownershipofallindebtedness
andassetsandacceptliabilityassuccessor-in-interestfor
contractualobligationsofthepolicedepartment. StartingAugust
28,2024,andeveryyearthereafter,theStateAuditormustdevelop
andreportanannualresearchreportindicatingthedecreasein
criminalactivitythatresultedfromtheboardassumingcontrolof
thepolicedepartment. ThereportmustbesubmittedtotheGeneral
AssemblybyDecember31stofeachyear.
TheBoardshallinitiallyemploy,withoutreductioninrank,
salary,orbenefits,allcommissionedandcivilianpersonnelofthe
municipalpolicedepartment. TheBoardisrequiredtoappointand
employapermanentpoliceforceconsistingofnotlessthan1,313
patrolmen. TheBoardmaycontinuetoemployasmanynon-
commissionedpoliceciviliansasitdeemsnecessaryinorderto
performthedutiesimposedonthem,whichwillincludecity
marshalsandparkrangers. TheBoardwillgranteverymemberof
thepoliceforceacertainnumberofpaidvacationdaysbasedon
howlongeachmemberhasservedasprovidedinthebill.
Thebillspecifiesthatthemaximumnumberofofficersofvarying
ranksthepoliceforcecanhave.ThesalariespaidasofAugust
28,2023,shallnotbelessthantheannualsalariespaidtoeach
memberbeforetheenactmentofthisbillandannualsalariesshall
increasebynolessthan$7,000byJuly1,2024.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.
Currently,thedefinitionof"employer"excludesthestateof
Missouri,itsagencies,andpoliticalsubdivisions. Thisbill
modifiesthedefinitionof"employer"andincludeslawenforcement
agencies,forpurposesoftheWhistleblower's ProtectionAct.
ThebillrequiresthePeaceOfficerStandardsandTraining(POST)
Commissiontoestablishminimumstandardsforachiefofpolice
trainingcourse,whichmustprovideatleast40hoursoftraining.
AllchiefsofpoliceappointedafterAugust28,2023,mustattend
suchatrainingcoursenolaterthansixmonthsaftertheperson's
appointmentasachiefofpolice.Alawenforcementagencythat
hasachiefofpolicewhohasnotcompletedthecoursewithinsix
monthsofhisorherappointmentwillbeprecludedfromreceiving
certainlocal,state,orfederalfunds.Thebillprovidesa
procedureforachiefofpolicetorequestanexemptionfromthe
requirement. Thecostofthetrainingcoursemaybepaidoutof
thePOSTCommissionFund.
ThisbillrepealsallprovisionsrelatingtotheMunicipalPolice
ForceestablishedbythecityofSt.Louis.