Kehoe coming to STL after stripping police control

Gov. Mike Kehoe will put himself in a form of protective custody at the St. Louis Police Officer’s Association headquarters on Hampton Thursday, March 27, 2025, after officially stripping residents of the city of St. Louis of the right to run their own police force.

Kehoe will perform a ceremonious signing of House Bill (HB) 495 under the watchful eye of police, most likely without dissent at the union building. The bill gives the state of Missouri control of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department.

On Wednesday, with representatives of the police union and legislators standing behind him in Jefferson City, Kehoe signed the legislation that he admits will not reduce crime.

“You can’t legislate lower crime,” when asked by a reporter if the bill would reduce crime in St. Louis.

“You can give law enforcement the tools that it takes.”

Mayor Tishaura Jones said the bill has been a “sham…from the very beginning.”

“The Governor’s signature represents nothing but disrespect for every Missouri voter who supported local control,” Jones said in a release.

“The residents of the City of St. Louis are safer today because my administration has made difficult and bold decisions that have resulted in a historic reduction in crime.

“State takeover is not based in reality and only shows that Gov. Kehoe and the legislature are willing to throw out facts, reason, and the will of the people in order to give the safety of our city away to special interests.”

Kristin Bowen, lead with the Missouri chapter of Moms Demand Action, called state takeover “a dangerous and shameless political stunt, driven by extremist Republican lawmakers hellbent on undermining communities they have no interest in protecting. This move is as cowardly as it is destructive.”

“This legislation is an overstep of the legislature in an attempt to prevent life-saving gun violence reform in the City of St. Louis,” said Sheleasa Blackwell, volunteer lead with the St. Louis chapter of Moms Demand Action.