Kehoe’s Police Board Pick Continues Local Family Tradition

Families have traditions that bind their members, both within and across generations. Whether it is making certain dishes for the holidays, annual photographs, vacationing together, or any of a number of activities, these traditions help build and sustain familial bonds. For one prominent St. Louis family, traditions go far beyond serving special dishes at Thanksgiving, even though they are known for their food. The Saracinos are mostly known across the region for owning local eateries such as Bartolino’s and Chris’ Pancake House. They also have another family tradition: serving on local police commissions.

With this week’s announcement of commissioners to the state’s new board overseeing the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department (SLMPD), Chris Saracino’s appointment means that the owners of Bartolino’s Restaurant Group will once again have a family member on the city’s police commission. This follows the tenure of his brother Bart Saracino, who served on the previous state board under Mayor Francis Slay. Across the county line, John Saracino served on the county commission that oversees the department. Bart Saracino’s tenure overlapped with Chief Joe Mokwa’s corruption-plagued time at the helm of SLMPD, while John’s tenure ended in a scandal involving another member of the family.

The Saracino family, and John in particular, played a very public role in the downfall of former County Executive Steve Stenger and were at the center of one of St. Louis County’s most expensive recent discrimination suits. John Saracino was making over $100,000 in annual salary from St. Louis County, when he was able to secure letters of support from Stenger and then-St. Louis County Police Chief John Belmar. These letters were in support of Michael Saracino II, whom the Post-Dispatch correctly identified as a “politically connected drug dealer” in their article reporting on the firebombing of a 75-year-old widow in south St. Louis County. When the letters of support became public, John Saracino was asked to step down from his position with the county.

Prior to this, John Saracino came to public attention in his previous role as a St. Louis County Police Commissioner. It was in this role that he received national notoriety for his role in the discrimination suit brought by Sgt. Keith Wildhaber. Wildhaber successfully sued the county, winning $20 million in damages. A key part of the suit was John Saracino’s alleged statement to Sgt. Wildhaber that “the command staff has a problem with your sexuality.” Saracino went on to tell Sgt. Wildhaber that “If you ever want to see a white shirt (i.e., get a promotion), you should tone down your gayness.” Mr. Saracino denied having made these statements. The incident led to his resignation from the county police board.

More recently, the Saracino family highlighted their concern for public safety by fighting St. Louis County’s COVID precautions. They were found to be violating public health precautions and joined numerous restaurants in suing the county, attempting to lift the ban on indoor dining that was in place at the time. Michael Saracino wasn’t just a plaintiff, as he spent months acting as a spokesperson for the aggrieved restaurateurs. Judging by his statements, concern for public safety was a distant second to his restaurants’ profit margins.

This brings us to Governor Kehoe’s nomination of Chris Saracino, which likely means that the Saracino family’s influence in local police matters will now extend to another generation. Given the governor’s insulation from local politics, the family’s recent controversies don’t seem to be of concern. Mr. Saracino’s recent contribution likely also helped paper over past family controversies.  While he will have to be confirmed by the state senate, most expect the Governor’s picks to be approved. It is another data point in the growing body of evidence that St. Louis’s establishment is quickly moving to take back power that slipped from their hands in the years following #Ferguson.