St. Louis’ mayoral candidates have been quick to board the bandwagon when addressing the many issues associated with the city’s police department. More cops, better training, ingenious crime-fighting programs, etc., are emblematic positions of those seeking office in St. Louis. They too are issues that deal strictly with the veneer of the department.
Unfortunately, as long as nepotism, cronyism and favoritism continue to control hiring, job assignments, promotions, purchasing and manpower distribution, the St. Louis PD will remain beholden to the furtive political and business interests that actually run the department.
A simple manpower fix remains hiding in plain sight. Reducing the number of police districts to three (from six), coupled with reorganizing the district precincts, would serve to put more cops on the street. Doing so would reduce the number of command rank by 18, a payroll savings that could be used to hire more patrolmen. But command rank positions are filled by “who you know” promotions as favors to the well-connected. Command manpower it one of the department’s sacred cows.
Michael K. Broughton
Green Park