98 vacant police openings eliminated in latest St. Louis budget
The positions have been vacant for years. The money will be directed to diversion and support programs. Mayor Jones budget still needs final approval from the board Author: Dori Olmos, Sara Machi Published: 12:09 PM CDT April 29, 2021 Updated: 1:49 PM CDT April 29, 2021
ST. LOUIS A plan to eliminate nearly 100 vacant police officer positions in the city passed during a budget meeting Thursday morning in St. Louis.
Mayor Tishaura Jones’ FY2022 budget had several amendments to the original plan, including eliminating dozens of police openings that have been vacant for years. While there are about 150 vacant police positions, the amendment passed Thursday eliminates 98 of them. This leaves about 50 positions that can still be filled.
St. Louis Public Radio
The budget sent to the St. Louis Board of Aldermen on Thursday cuts 98 vacant positions from the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department.
The $4 million in savings would be directed toward victims services, affordable housing, homeless services and a legal department to prosecute civil rights violations.
Updated at 1:50 p.m., April 29, with comments from the St. Louis Police Officers Union representative
The board that oversees the St. Louis budget has voted to cut nearly 100 vacant positions from the police department and direct the money elsewhere.
Mayor Tishaura Jones and Comptroller Darlene Green supported the changes at the Board of Estimate and Apportionment on Thursday. Board of Aldermen President Lewis Reed voted against the plan, citing concerns with overtime costs.
Man charged after road rage shooting on I-170 in Hazelwood
Police said there was an argument between the driver and a person in another car that eventually led to both of them shooting at each other Author: Sam Clancy Updated: 5:17 AM CDT April 30, 2021
HAZELWOOD, Mo. Police said a person was injured after a road rage incident led to shots fired on a St. Louis County highway Wednesday afternoon.
Police announced Thursday that 40-year-old Gerald Fels from Florissant had been arrested and charged in the incident.
Hazelwood police said they were called to the ramp from northbound Interstate 170 to westbound Interstate 270 for a report of a person with a gunshot wound at around 4:45. When they arrived, they found a person with a minor injury that turned out to be from shattered glass.
April 25, 2021
On Friday, the high-crime city of St. Louis’s Board of Estimate and Apportionment asked Budget Director Paul Payne to research eliminating 150 vacant police officer positions from the city’s budget to pour the money into social service programs.
The board includes Mayor Tishaura Jones, Board of Alderman President Lewis Reed and Comptroller Darlene Green.
About 40 people made public comments during the two-hour meeting, including many who called for the elimination of the entire police budget.
One woman said to continue to fund the police department would be to continue to fund “state sanctioned murder.”
Several other people suggested the elimination of the department’s audio detection equipment known as the Shotspotter system, SWAT team and the Real Time Crime Center that tracks hundreds of surveillance cameras throughout the city and other intelligence efforts.
Kuemper, Coyotes beat Kings 4-0 to stay in playoff chase
By DAN GREENSPANApril 25, 2021 GMT
LOS ANGELES (AP) Phil Kessel had a goal and an assist, Darcy Kuemper made 26 saves for his second shutout of the season, nd the Arizona Coyotes defeated the Los Angeles Kings 4-0 on Saturday night.
John Hayden, Lawson Crouse and Jakob Chychrun also scored, helping the Coyotes remain fourth in the West Division. Arizona is one point ahead of St. Louis, which beat Colorado 5-3 earlier in the day, for the final playoff spot.
It was Kuemper’s 20th career shutout.
Cal Petersen made 36 saves for the Kings, who fell seven points behid the Coyotes.