HB1481--LAWENFORCEMENTAGENCIES
SPONSOR: Christ
Thisbillspecifiesthat,whenthecityofSt.Louispasses
ordinances,noordinancecaninanymannerconflictorinterfere
withthepowersoftheBoardofPoliceCommissioners.
Additionally,themayororanycityofficershallnotimpedeor
hindertheBoardofPoliceCommissioners. Anysuchpersonwho
forciblyresistsorobstructstheexecutionorenforcementof
provisionsrelatedtotheBoardwillbesubjecttoapenaltyof
$1,000foreachoffenseandwillbeforeverthereafterdisqualified
fromholdingorexercisinganyofficeoremploymentunderthemayor
orcommoncouncilormunicipalassemblyofthecity.
OnAugust28,2024,theBoardshallassumecontrolofthemunicipal
policedepartmentofSt.Louisand,nolaterthanSeptember28,
2024,theGovernormustappointtotheBoardfourcommissioners.
Themunicipalpolicedepartmentwilltransfertitleandownership
ofallindebtednessandassetsandacceptliabilityassuccessor-
in-interestforcontractualobligationsofthepolicedepartment.
TheBoardmustinitiallyemploy,withoutreductioninrank,salary,
orbenefits,allcommissionedandcivilianpersonnelofthe
municipalpolicedepartment. TheBoardisrequiredtoappointand
employapermanentpoliceforceconsistingofnotlessthan1,313
patrolmen. TheBoardmaycontinuetoemployasmanynon-
commissionedpoliceciviliansasitdeemsnecessaryinorderto
performthedutiesimposedonthem,whichwillincludecity
marshalsandparkrangers. TheBoardwillgranteverymemberof
thepoliceforceacertainnumberofpaidvacationdaysbasedon
howlongeachmemberhasservedasprovidedinthebill.
Thebillspecifiesthatthemaximumnumberofofficersofvarying
ranksthepoliceforcecanhave.ThesalariespaidasofAugust
28,2024,shallnotbelessthantheannualsalariespaidtoeach
memberbeforetheenactmentofthisbill.Noadditional
compensationwillbegiventoanyofficeroftherankoflieutenant
oraboveforovertime,courttime,orstand-bycourttime.
Probationarypatrolmen,patrolmen,andsergeantsmustreceive
compensationforallhoursofserviceinexcessoftheestablished
regularworkingperiod,forallauthorizedovertime,andfor
employeeswhocompleteacademicworkatanaccreditedcollegeor
universityuptoacertainamountasprovidedinthebill.
Additionally,certainofficersmayreceiveupto10%oftheir
salaryinadditionalcompensationforhoursworkedbetween11p.m.
and7a.m.Suchofficersmaycurrentlyreceiveupto5%oftheir
salaryasadditionalcompensation. Thisbillprovidesthat,untiltheBoardadoptsotherinvestigative
anddisciplinaryprocedures,thepoliceforceshallfollowthe
disciplinaryandinvestigativeproceduresestablishedbythePolice
ManualoftheSt.LouisMetropolitanPoliceDepartmentthatare
consistentwithlaw.TheBoardwillnotadoptanydisciplinary
proceduresthatdonotincludethesummaryhearingBoardprocedures
providedforcurrentlyinthePoliceManual.Thisbillprovides
thatreimbursements fromtheLegalExpenseFundtotheBoardfor
liabilityclaimsmustbeona21equalsharebasisperclaimupto
amaximumof$1millionperfiscalyear.
ThisbillissimilartoHCSHB702(2023).