Where are the police commanders? Have they all taken cover? The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department is replete with police command personnel, yet in this time of great controversy and scrutiny of police personnel and their tactics, the commanders remain in the shadows. Why?
Recent news reports telling of the many protests resulting from the acquittal of former Police Officer Jason Stockley have been critical of the police handling of the protests and protestors. Many police abuses have been claimed by a variety of citizens. The main police attention-getter is, however, Sergeant Brian Rossomanno, a patrol sergeant! Where are police command personnel? Why aren’t they the face of the police department in this time of civil unrest and public scrutiny of their department?
Those in the police command structure are responsible for the formulation of policy and procedure with regard to how police handle situations of protest and civil unrest. It too is their responsibility to be on-scene and in control of police response. But police commanders remain in the shadows while blood runs in the streets and tempers of both police and protesters boils over. So, a single police sergeant emerges as the cop calling the shots and the public face of the police department.
Community leaders, business people, politicians and citizens-in-general want answers to the many questions intrinsic to the protests, protesters and law enforcement’s response. They want professional policing and they’re not getting it because – simply stated – police commanders are out-to-lunch.
Michael K. Broughton
Green Park
