Latest news with #St.LouisPoliceDepartment
Miami Herald
14-04-2025
- Miami Herald
Driver fleeing cops in stolen vehicle crashes and kills woman, Missouri police say
A stolen vehicle carrying five people crashed into another car, killing that driver, as the vehicle sped through Missouri streets to evade police, authorities said. Earlier that evening, the group armed with guns stole a woman's Nissan in St. Louis, police said in an April 13 post on X, formerly known as Twitter. The St. Louis Police Department's Real-Time Crime Center tracked the location of the stolen vehicle in 20 minutes, and an officer spotted it, police said. The carjacked Nissan was seen driving 'dangerously' as the officer attempted to stop it, police said. The accused robbers sped away, then crashed into a woman's Hyundai, police said. The driver of the Hyundai died from the crash. The five people in the stolen vehicle, including a 16-year-old and two 15-year-olds, were taken into custody, according to police and KSDK. Police did not disclose the identity of the victim or those arrested.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Yahoo
Hotline, gun locks offered to support Crime Victims' Rights Week
ST. LOUIS – National Crime Victims' Rights Week is being observed this week, with a focus on 'kinship' to support survivors and victims of crime. National Crime Victims' Rights Week has been around since 1981 and is celebrated every April. In St. Louis, a hotline is available from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at 314-539-6855 for those seeking support this week. Additionally, to ensure safety in homes, 100 gun locks are being distributed at the Thomas F. Eagleton Courthouse, located at 111 South 10th Street in downtown St. Louis, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. throughout the week. Anyone interested is encouraged to come to the reception area on the 20th floor of the Courthouse. Cara Spencer elected mayor; defeats Tishaura Jones in political rematch The St. Louis Police Department reports a decrease in homicides, with 23 recorded so far this year compared to 42 at this time last year and 38 the year before. Overall, crime in the city is also at its lowest in the past three years. All facts from this article were gathered by KTVI journalists. This article was converted into this format with assistance from artificial intelligence. It has been edited and approved by KTVI staff. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
The St. Louis mayoral debate moments everyone is talking about
ST. LOUIS – With less than a month away from the April 2025 municipal election for St. Louis mayor, incumbent Tishaura Jones and challenger Cara Spencer faced off in a spirited debate Thursday evening at the FOX 2 news studios. The candidates tackled a range of critical issues to make a compelling appeal to voters. The debate covered topics critical to this election cycle, including public safety, the economy, public services and the proposed state takeover of the St. Louis Police Department. Here's a closer look at five memorable moments within the debate that highlighted where Jones and Spencer stand on key issues. CLICK HERE for the full debate between Jones and Spencer. The debate opened with discussions around a Missouri crime bill awaiting the governor's approval, which would shift control of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department from the mayor's office to a state-controlled board. Spencer spoke first on the topic, expressing her desire to keep police oversight at the local level. However, she criticized Jones for not talking to enough Missouri representatives to prevent a state takeover. Spencer also emphasized the importance of protecting residents and ensuring the city has a voice in negotiations with the governor's office. Jones warned that a state takeover could erase progress she claims was made under her administration in reducing crime through the St. Louis police force. She called the bill a violation of people's rights, noting that in 2012, more than 60% of voters support ending the Civil War-era policy of state control. Both candidates acknowledged uncertainties surrounding the potential takeover and outlined plans to recruit and retain officers regardless of the outcome. Spencer stressed the need to build coalitions and clarify the role of elected leaders in addressing policing issues beyond state control. She also highlighted the importance of competitive pay to attract officers. Jones detailed her administration's efforts to recruit and retain officers, including raising police salaries twice during her term and hiring a police chief from outside St. Louis. She touted the city's data-driven approach to crime prevention and a policy ensuring that officer applicants receive a response within 24-48 hours. One FOX 2 viewer submitted a video question for the debate, sharing that he grew up in the county and frequently visited the city, but no longer feels safe doing so. The candidates were asked how they would restore confidence in people like him to visit and live in St. Louis. Jones pointed to SLMPD's real-time crime tracker and local crime reports, stating that crime has dropped by double-digit percentages since she took office. She encouraged people to look at the data for themselves and said, 'I would give us a chance to take a look at what goes on downtown,' also highlighting the city's sporting events as a reason to visit. Spencer challenged Jones' assessment, arguing that while homicides have decreased, vehicular manslaughter has risen. She said, 'The reality is, people don't feel safe.' Spencer also pointed to a shortage of police officers in enforcing laws, particularly for traffic. Jones, then asked about her stance on traffic law enforcement, said policing alone isn't the answer. She highlighted $300 million in transportation upgrades and her push to reinstate red-light cameras to hold drivers accountable without disproportionately harming vulnerable communities. She also addressed temp tag enforcement and noted that to be the state's responsibility. Spencer criticized the focus on infrastructure, arguing it doesn't address enforcement issues. She maintained that the city, not the state, should ensure vehicles have proper plates and called red-light cameras 'absolutely useless' in solving the problem. Along with that, the candidates were asked about the city's automated 911 system. Spencer criticized it, arguing that every emergency call should be answered by a person. She advocated for a fully-staffed 911 center and partnership with surrounding municipalities to improve emergency response. Jones pushed back, acknowledging the 911 response delays have been a longstanding issue, but stating that the automated system has actually improved response times. She noted her administration secured funding for a new 911 center expected to open in 2026, which will streamline dispatcher roles and include behavioral health support. Throughout the debate, Jones and Spencer were asked about various financial responsibilities of the St. Louis mayor's office, leading to some of the most heated exchanges of the night. On the unallocated Rams settlement funds, nearly $300 million, Jones emphasized the importance of investing for the long-term. She warned that federal spending freezes and budget cuts could redirect some of the money elsewhere, making it critical to secure lasting investments. She stood by her support for a bill aimed at revitalizing neighborhoods and expanding childcare services. Spencer then pivoted the focus to ARPA funds, criticizing their slow distribution and stressing the urgency of effectively allocating the remaining $500 million before deadlines. She then expressed that a portion of the Rams settlement funds should go toward infrastructure improvements, citing frequent water breaks as a major issue. She also criticized Jones for securing only $111,000 in national funding for infrastructure projects. Jones rebutted, blaming the state for only sending $111,000 in infrastructure funds, then challenged Spencer's remarks, saying, 'I wish you would start telling the truth when you're answering the questions.' Later on, the debate led to a discussion on St. Louis' 1% earnings tax and the possibility next year of voters deciding not to retain it. Jones stated that she signed an executive order for a commission to study how to diversify revenue sources if the earnings tax is phased out. She framed this as a step toward financial stability. Spencer warned that eliminating the earnings tax could prove devastating for city services, noting the earnings tax makes up a third of the city budget. While she credited Jones for forming the commission, she vowed to fight to keep the tax while also exploring alternative revenue streams. Before the Rams settlement and earning tax talks, the candidates also briefly discussed the finances behind a proposed north-to-south MetroLink expansion known as the 'Green Line.' Spencer questioned whether $10 million allocated annually for this plane would be enough to fund what she envisioned as a $1 billion project. She said a revised Green Line plan was a 'poor truncation' of the original vision, arguing that a larger project with more community input is needed. Jones dismissed Spencer's claims as 'patently false' and emphasized the project's funding comes primarily from a dedicated sales tax. Jones and Spencer were asked to clarify their positions on snow removal, trash removal and the handling of city jail services. First, Jones clarified that a comment of a 'B-minus' grade she made on the city's snow removal efforts from an early-January snowstorm, the city's largest in six years, was taken out of context. She stated that main streets were plowed, allowing people to get out of their homes. She acknowledged residents' frustrations and emphasized the need for better communication. Jones also mentioned her administration has since worked with urban planning officials to prioritize plowing smaller residential streets to help children get to school and noted the city acquired four new trucks to improve service on non-arterial roads. Spencer emphasized that the city must be ready to adapt to changing weather patterns, especially with climate change increasing unpredictable snow events. She proposed adding overtime for snow crews and ensuring around-the-clock monitoring. Spencer argued that execution failures in clearing snow and ice stem from Jones' administration and noted that alderpersons also struggled to get responses from the street department to address resident complaints. On trash removal, Spencer advocated for modernizing the refuse department by installing tracking technology on trucks to monitor missed alleys. She stressed that if residents don't report complaints, their trash may not get picked up. Spencer argued for transparency in tracking trash removal services. Jones acknowledged that the city is unable to contract private companies for trash collection due to prior administration decisions. She accused Spencer of misleading voters by using a private dumpster photo to criticize city services. Jones also defended existing efforts to improve services, stating a GPS system already tracks the movement of trash trucks. Spencer quickly countered Jones' comments and noted that trash collection data should be made public. Jones responded that the same trash truck drivers who work for the city also attend Spencer's campaign events, implying a direct engagement with workers and once again labeling her opponent's comments as misleading. After that, came a heated conversation on the city's jail services, during which the Workhouse Jail, the St. Louis Justice Center, and the removal of jail director Jennifer Clemmons-Abdullah were all addressed. Jones defended the handling of jail leadership, and explained that proper disciplinary procedures had to be followed before replacing the previous director. She asserted that new leadership is already making improvements in detainee health and facility conditions. Spencer criticized the closure of the Workhouse jail as one without a comprehensive plan, arguing that the remaining jail faced security issues, including malfunctioning locks. She then blamed Jones' administration for an increase in jail deaths, accusing her of preventing oversight boards and lawyers from monitoring conditions. She called conditions under Jones' leadership 'reprehensible.' As Jones dismissed these claims, Spencer countered that the security locks at the Justice Center were not working until recently and reiterated that jail deaths have increased under Jones' tenure. Jones pushed back with the comment, 'Have you ever been in a jail?' marking one of the more tension-filled moments of the debate. In the second viewer-submitted video question for the debate, a resident described St. Louis' business economy as being on 'life support' and asked candidates about their specific visions to revive it. Spencer pointed to declining tax revenues and emphasized downtown's role in subsidizing the rest of the city. She called for stronger public safety measures and collaboration with big businesses, particularly along the riverfront, to attract investment. Jones highlighted $2 billion in investments under her leadership, including the Millennium Hotel redevelopment. She accused Spencer of prioritizing corporate interests instead of advocating for housing development in north St. Louis to drive economic growth. Spencer refuted the claim, citing her role in revitalizing Cherokee Street and noting that similar strategies could be applied to north St. Louis. She also touted the use of eminent domain to push for redevelopment efforts of key properties like the Railway Exchange building. Jones countered that two-thirds of business revenue leaves the community and highlighted her efforts to revitalize MLK Drive as a step toward fostering local economic growth. She claimed that eminent domain cases, such as the Millennium Hotel, were delayed due to campaign contributors seeking higher payouts. Additionally, she accused Spencer of supporting legislation that weakened the city's earnings tax revenue. As the debate shifted from a business exodus to a population exodus, it came to attention that the city fell below 280,000 residents, according to new Census figures released Thursday. With this in mind, Jones proposed an economic justice plan aimed at expanding the tax base and focusing on revitalizing north St. Louis to attract residents. While she acknowledged that population loss has continued, she argued the rate of decline has slowed compared to previous years. Spencer pushed back on Jones' population claim, stating that St. Louis is losing residents faster now than at any point in her lifetime. She blamed the population loss on failing basic city services and a breakdown in public trust, claiming the situation is getting 'monstrously worse.' This led to a broader discussion on affordable housing initiatives, during which Jones promoted expanding the Home STL program, which provides $50,000 in down payment assistance to St. Louis homebuyers. She set a goal of building 10,000 affordable housing units by 2030 and claimed the city is already on track to meet this target. Spencer agreed on the need for home ownership improvements, but criticized the city for failing to fully staff the Affordable Housing Commission, which she says is currently operating at less than half capacity. She called for stronger staffing of the department and better resource allocation to improve housing programs. The General Municipal Election for the St. Louis mayor's race between Tishaura Jones and Cara Spencer is April 8. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Sorry, Gov. Kehoe. State control of St. Louis police will not reduce crime
Gov. Mike Kehoe reiterates his focus on public safety during his State of the State speech Jan. 28 in the Missouri House chamber (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent). Only in Missouri do state politicians think they are better suited to run city police departments than local elected leaders. There is zero evidence to support that premise. Yet the Missouri House just voted to place the St. Louis Police Department back under state control, even though a hefty 64% of voters liberated it from those shackles in a statewide vote in 2012. The House action pleased Gov. Mike Kehoe, who took office in January geared up for this particular fight. If the Senate cooperates on a bill, Kehoe will sign it into law. That prospect bodes poorly for Kansas City, which holds the humiliating distinction of being the only major U.S. city whose police department is run by the state. Misery in this situation is not eager for company. Everyone knows a state seizure of the St. Louis Police Department would snuff out Kansas City's faint hope of gaining control over its own police force any time soon. Why this push now to double down on a form of police control that has roots in Civil War-era pro-slavery movements? State control reduces accountability, silences the voices of citizens and creates an insular, defensive police structure. Its outcomes cannot be defended. And one can't ignore the optics of white Republican politicians, many from rural areas, refusing to allow the state's largest cities, both led by Democratic Black mayors, to control their own destiny. In his State-of-the-State ad address, Kehoe said crime rates in St. Louis are 'unacceptable,' suggesting that a return to state control of the police was just the ticket for turning things around. It isn't, and Kehoe knows it. Crime rates are indeed unacceptable in St. Louis, and in Kansas City as well. That's been the case for decades, and state control hasn't moved the needle. If the governor really wants to reduce crime, he'll look at reforming Missouri's gun laws, providing more mental health services around the state and finding creative ways to promote safety. In an interview just after his first major speech, Kehoe revealed a more plausible explanation for his eagerness to have state control. 'I believe we need somebody who's more sensitive to what the men and ladies in blue need in the St. Louis region,' he told reporters from St. Louis Public Radio. 'And I think a state control board can provide that.' Chalk up another score for the police unions, which have steadily gained power in Missouri since the 2012 vote favoring local control in St. Louis. If the governor really wants to reduce crime, he'll look at reforming Missouri's gun laws, providing more mental health services around the state and finding creative ways to promote safety. They have cultivated cop-friendly lawmakers to push for legislation ordering Kansas City to spend a higher percentage of its general fund money on the police department, and to allow officers to live outside of city limits. They applied relentless pressure after a Kansas City officer, Eric DeValkenaere, was sent to prison for the death of a Black man. Kehoe's predecessor, Mike Parson, commuted DeValkenaere's sentence on his way out of office. If he hadn't freed the cop, Kehoe had vowed to do so. Police unions in both the state's large cities support state control, and it's easy to see why. The bill the House just passed would allow unions to fill two of five seats on a board that would run the St. Louis Police Department. How's that for a nice political favor? In Kansas City, the governor designates all of the five police board members except for one, the city's mayor. I have watched dozens of police board appointees in action and they are mostly smart, service-oriented citizens. But they usually don't live in heavily policed neighborhoods or come into frequent contact with citizens affected by crime and policing. At monthly public meetings, they listen to reports from the brass about all that is going right in the department. Rarely do they hear an assessment of what's going wrong. A portion of the meeting is set aside for public comment and complaints, but commissioners are not obligated to respond to citizens in the way that an elected mayor or council member would be. Before long, many commissioners start to think of themselves as part of the department. If asked to choose between the interests of the cops and the community, their bias will be in favor of the cops. If you're a governor focused on law enforcement, like Kehoe, or a Republican legislator who looks upon Kansas City and St. Louis as lawless Democratic strongholds, it makes sense that you want to keep your thumb on the city police departments. State-controlled police overseers might be more likely to help assist in enforcement of immigration laws, which is a priority for Kehoe. They'll find additional funding to handle problems instead of seeking other, community-based solutions. They won't question the state's gun laws. They'll support the officers, even if they are wrong. They'll promote the status quo. But they won't make communities safer or happier. We know that from experience.
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Missouri governor vows state takeover of St. Louis police in State of the State address
Gov. Mike Kehoe reiterates his focus on public safety during his State of the State speech Tuesday afternoon in the Missouri House chamber (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent). Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe doubled down on his support for a state takeover of the St. Louis Police Department on Tuesday, telling lawmakers during his first State of the State address that crime in the city is 'unacceptable.' He also waded carefully into the debate over abortion, stopping short of suggesting any rollback of reproductive rights that were enshrined by voters into the state constitution and instead proposing additional funding for alternatives to the procedure. 'Let's work together,' Kehoe told a joint session of the General Assembly, 'to support Missouri women so abortion doesn't even have to be considered an option.' Moments after he was sworn in as governor earlier this month, Kehoe signed six executive orders he said were designed to combat crime in Missouri. The orders created task forces to arrest people with outstanding warrants and immigration enforcement training programs for the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe issues orders to track undocumented migrants, boost trooper pay In his address Tuesday, Kehoe pledged to back legislation that would create a new scholarship for law enforcement to access postsecondary education outside of basic training, calling it a way 'to assist with recruitment and retention efforts.' 'These steps are critical,' he said, 'to making Missouri the best state in the nation to be a law enforcement officer.' He also expressed support for increasing penalties for rioting or fleeing in a vehicle, as well as a crackdown on stunt driving and street racing. Drug dealers who sell fentanyl that kills a Missourian should be charged with first-degree murder, Kehoe said. But the most controversial proposal is Kehoe's support for a state takeover of St. Louis' police department. 'As the economic powerhouse of our state,' Kehoe said, 'we cannot continue to let crime kill growth in the region and drive businesses and families to move outside of our state's borders.' Kansas City is currently the only major city in the country where the elected local leaders don't control the police department — a state-appointed police board does. Up until 2013, St. Louis was in the same boat. But the city gained local control of its police department after a 2012 statewide referendum. St. Louis leaders have pointed to a drop in overall crime in the city, including a decrease in the number of murders. St. Louis Police Chief Robert Tracy, who was name checked in Kehoe's speech as 'one of the nation's top police chiefs,' travelled to Jefferson City earlier this month to testify in opposition to a state takeover of the city's police force. But GOP lawmakers question the statistics showing a drop in crime and note that the city continues to lose population. Kehoe echoed those concerns in his speech Tuesday, saying the days of 'political and subjective statistics are done under my administration.' 'The polling data I care about,' he said, 'is whether or not a business feels safe enough to invest in our cities. That's the barometer. Period.' Kehoe also pledged that Missouri will 'work with President Trump to crack down on illegal immigration and the deadly drugs and criminals that have flooded through our borders.' Voters narrowly approved a constitutional amendment in November overturning Missouri's abortion ban. Since then, Republicans have vowed to respond but have yet to coalesce around a plan. Meanwhile, Democrats have vowed to beat back any attempt to overturn the November vote. Kehoe provided little guidance on the issue in his speech on Tuesday, acknowledging that plotting a path forward 'won't be easy.' 'The politics of today's world tells us that we can't work together,' he said, 'and that consensus is just not possible. But I have built a life and a career on doing just that, without sacrificing my core, Christian, conservative beliefs.' Missouri Republicans want to restrict abortion again. Can they agree on how? The governor restated his campaign pledge to eliminate Missouri's income tax, suggesting lawmakers phase it out instead of doing a one-time cut. 'It won't be easy,' he said. 'It will take time, but I have directed the Missouri Department of Revenue to work with my staff on a sustainable and comprehensive plan to eliminate the individual income tax once and for all.' Kehoe also hinted that the state could support new or improved stadiums to house the Chiefs and Royals and prevent the teams from moving to Kansas. Kansas City voters in April defeated a sales tax extension that would have supported plans for new stadiums and Kansas has enacted legislation offering big incentives if the teams hop the state line. Kehoe didn't mention the teams by name, but in a section of the speech on economic development, included sports teams among the businesses he believes could benefit from the creation of a deal-closing fund. 'We're going to work hard to retain and recruit businesses here in Missouri,' he said. 'From manufacturers, to retailers, to Missouri's sports teams, these businesses, who provide jobs and opportunities to Missourians, are an important part of our state's economic success.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
