Butler: State Police Takeover Is Really Police Union Power Grab

By St. Louis Recorder of Deeds Michael Butler

As the “state takeover” of our police department makes it to the State Senate this week. It’s important to read an important part of the bill. I would describe the idea as a “Police Union Takeover” as the Saint Louis Police Officers Association (SLPOA) gets to basically appoint a majority of the board. Specifically, they recommend the majority of candidates to go on a panel that the Governor then chooses from. The union gets to do this for 3 out of the 5 Commission members; a majority of the commission. This and many other reasons are why I oppose Missouri House Bill 495, and always have.

Furthermore, the bill stipulates that the commission has the ability to provide salary raises for police department employees. That gives the police union the ability to choose raises for its own members. This is not an ethical way to improve our police department or run it. Can you imagine a police force that knows that its police chief and union contract will be decided by its own union and its supporters?

A third provision grants the Commission 25% of City Revenue. This provision states that the Board of Aldermen “shall appropriate a minimum sum equal to twenty-five percent of the city’s general revenue to fund the police force governed by the board of police commissioners. Pension and retirement costs are excluded from the calculation of expenses for maintenance of the police force for purposes of the minimum funding requirement.” Current funding for our police department is around 10% of the city’s general revenue.

Keeping our police department under local control is important, especially at a time when Project 2025 is being implemented across the country. President Trump and conservatives across the country have showcased that deportation is their law enforcement priority, and they wish to force local law enforcement to assist with this effort. Project 2025, also stipulates the desire to force local law enforcement agencies to adopt terrible “stop-and-frisk” policies, by withholding federal funding for agencies that don’t adopt them. We can’t go backward. Both of these efforts in Project 2025 deteriorate the relationship between community and the police.

There are simple solutions to the problems of House Bill 495. State Senators can remove the unethical appointment process in the bill. They can grant the Mayor of St. Louis a sole appointment for 3 commission members and 2 members appointed by the Governor, with all the appointees approved by the Senate. Senators can reduce the minimum amount of city revenue to go to the police commission from 25%  to 10%. This would maintain local control with state input. If our state government wants to improve our police department, it could increase funding from the state to SLMPD through the budget process, without the need for a bill. This is all wishful thinking.

This fight does not end in the legislature. If House Bill 495 passes, I will fight it in the courts. As your next mayor, I will direct the City Counselor’s office to sue for a stay of execution and to fight the unconstitutional provisions of the bill. My office will also partner with supporters to create a statewide ballot initiative to protect our local control and grant local control for every city in Missouri. I know we can be successful. When we fight, we win.

Disclosure: Editor has worked for Recorder of Deeds Michael Butler on a past campaign.