SPONSOR: Christ
This bill specifies that, when the city of St. Louis passes ordinances, no ordinance can in any manner conflict or interfere with the powers of the Board of Police Commissioners. Additionally, the mayor or any city officer shall not impede or hinder the Board of Police Commissioners. Any such person who forcibly resists or obstructs the execution or enforcement of provisions related to the Board will be subject to a penalty of $1,000 for each offense and will be forever thereafter disqualified from holding or exercising any office or employment under the mayor or common council or municipal assembly of the city.
On August 28, 2024, the Board shall assume control of the municipal police department of St. Louis and, no later than September 28, 2024, the Governor must appoint to the Board four commissioners. The municipal police department will transfer title and ownership of all indebtedness and assets and accept liability as successor- in-interest for contractual obligations of the police department.
The Board must initially employ, without reduction in rank, salary, or benefits, all commissioned and civilian personnel of the municipal police department. The Board is required to appoint and employ a permanent police force consisting of not less than 1,313 patrolmen. The Board may continue to employ as many non- commissioned police civilians as it deems necessary in order to perform the duties imposed on them, which will include city marshals and park rangers. The Board will grant every member of the police force a certain number of paid vacation days based on how long each member has served as provided in the bill.
The bill specifies that the maximum number of officers of varying ranks the police force can have. The salaries paid as of August 28, 2024, shall not be less than the annual salaries paid to each member before the enactment of this bill. No additional compensation will be given to any officer of the rank of lieutenant or above for overtime, court time, or stand-by court time. Probationary patrolmen, patrolmen, and sergeants must receive compensation for all hours of service in excess of the established regular working period, for all authorized overtime, and for employees who complete academic work at an accredited college or university up to a certain amount as provided in the bill. Additionally, certain officers may receive up to 10% of their salary in additional compensation for hours worked between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. Such officers may currently receive up to 5% of their salary as additional compensation. This bill provides that, until the Board adopts other investigative and disciplinary procedures, the police force shall follow the disciplinary and investigative procedures established by the Police Manual of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department that are consistent with law. The Board will not adopt any disciplinary procedures that do not include the summary hearing Board procedures provided for currently in the Police Manual. This bill provides that reimbursements from the Legal Expense Fund to the Board for liability claims must be on a 21 equal share basis per claim up to a maximum of $1 million per fiscal year.
This bill is similar to HCS HB 702 (2023).
Statutes affected: