ST. LOUIS – St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer is reacting just days after a state-level shake-up at the city’s police department. It all has to do with the state takeover of the department, which Governor Mike Kehoe signed into law back in March.
On Tuesday, Governor Kehoe made headlines by rescinding all of his picks on the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department (SLMPD) Board of Commissioners. The board was initially formed after Missouri lawmakers approved the returned control of SLMPD to the state in March. Kehoe then appointed members to the board in June, consisting of St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer, who is a member by virtue of her position, as well as Sonya Jenkins Gray, Edward McKey, Chris Saracino, Don Brown, and Brad Arteaga.
Kehoe’s office said with the Missouri Senate meeting for a special session right now, he had to pull the picks to avoid a vote on them. According to a statement from the governor’s office, Kehoe withdrew all interim appointments to preserve the work of the Missouri Senate to instead focus on redistricting and initiative petition reform…