Show-Me State Times

In the wake of the Missouri House and Senate adjourning the 2024 legislative session Sine Die, St. Louis Mayor Tishaura O. Jones has released a statement. "The Missouri State legislature has ended their 2024 legislative session, and the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department remains under local control," said Mayor Jones.

She went on to express her concerns about potential legislation that could have placed the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department (SLMPD) under state control. "This legislation would have put SLMPD under the control of a corrupt, Confederate-era state board that would have our chief answering to five different bosses and take away resident's insight and oversight into law enforcement," she stated.

Mayor Jones expressed gratitude towards Chief Robert Tracy, her Chief of Staff Jared Boyd, and other legislators who fought against this shift in control. "I'm proud and thankful for Chief Robert Tracy, my Chief of Staff Jared Boyd, and the many representatives and senators who fought to preserve local control," she said.

The past year has seen significant improvements in crime rates in St. Louis. The city experienced its lowest homicide rate in a decade and saw the largest year-over-year reduction in crime in 90 years. Juvenile shootings were cut by half, while car thefts decreased by 36%.