Senators fight over control of St. Louis police, prosecutor
By SUMMER BALLENTINE
Associated Press
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri’s governor would play a major role in how crime in St. Louis is handled if a bill pending in the state legislature passes. The GOP-led Senate debated the legislation Tuesday. The measure would put a governor-appointed board in charge of St. Louis police instead of city officials. It also would allow the governor to appoint a special prosecutor to handle some violent crimes in the city. Republicans are praising the bill as a way to fight crime in the city. But it’s been criticized by Democrats as an attempt to take away local control from the Black-led city.