St. Louis politicians are once again petitioning the State of Missouri to give up its century-long control of the city’s police department. Despite honorable rhetoric, reasonable and valid arguments, and common sense, the David of St. Louis will once again fall victim to Goliath.
St. Louis politicians will pontificate as to the righteousness of the City running its police department and vote that way. But at the clandestine behest of those same politicians, out-state politicians (who have no interest in the matter) will cast the defeating votes on the State legislation necessary to free St. Louis from State control. Metro politicians will damn those hillbilly legislators, and Goliath will again pat David on the head and tell him to try again next year.
Wealth begets influence, which begets power, which begets more wealth, influence and power. Those who possess those attributes will not willingly relinquish them. As long as State governance of the police department benefits metro area politicians, the police department will remain under State control.
The City should have control of its police department. However, the Trojan Horse is already within the walls of St. Louis, and those faithful politicians therein are not about to do an about-face and change a political circumstance that is beneficial to them.
Michael K. Broughton
Former St. Louis police officer
Green Park