At 11 a.m. today, St. Louis County Police Chief Tim Fitch announced that his department will provide emergency law enforcement assistance to the Dellwood Police Department.
Since the City of Dellwood saga began in November on whether or not to contract with St. Louis County for police services, eight of Dellwood’s 16 police officers have left the department and were hired with the county.
Dellwood Mayor Loretta Johnson said the police department cannot safely function with only half of its officers.
“Upon reviewing your current staffing levels, I agree that the citizens and businesses of Dellwood cannot be adequately protected by the limited number of officers you currently employ,” Fitch said in a letter to Johnson. “The safety and security of your community is of utmost importance and urgency.”
“Per the Revised Statutes of Missouri and Charter and Ordinances of St. Louis County, the St. Louis County Police Department is authorized to enforce state statutes countywide.”
“Therefore, effective immediately, the St. Louis County Police Department will temporarily provide assistance to your police department to protect your community until you and the other elected officials of Dellwood can either hire additional city police officers or contract with an outside agency for law enforcement services.”
Four aldermen – Karen Bober, James Lovings, Donald Haynes and Richard Culberson – have boycotted the last five Board of Aldermen meetings to avoid voting on a contract with St. Louis County for police services.
On Dec. 20, the city’s attorney Donnell Smith filed a petition for a writ of mandamus, which would compel all aldermen to attend scheduled board meetings.
On Jan. 6, St. Louis County Circuit Court Judge Dolan ruled that she would not order the aldermen to attend the meeting based on the city’s current argument. By not attending the meetings, the aldermen are breaking the city’s municipal code, which states that they must attend two meetings per month, argued Dellwood attorney Donnell Smith.
According to court documents, Dolan said, “Mandamus is only appropriate to require the performance of a ministerial act. Conversely, mandamus cannot be used to control the judgment or discretion of a public official…”
Dolan said Johnson did not show that the four aldermen have failed to perform a ministerial duty. On Jan. 9, these aldermen again boycotted the meeting.
“Our next steps are to have our attorney do whatever possible to get them to attend the meetings,” Johnson said.
