Two of the biggest police departments in Missouri 鈥� St. Louis' and St. Louis County's 鈥� are searching for new leadership, and so far there is concern among the ranks about the lack of information about the process.
St. Louis County Police Chief at the end of July. Barely a month later, St. Louis Metropolitan Police Chief he would step down in February, although his departure has been delayed until a new chief is selected.
鈥淭he biggest concern is just being transparent,鈥� said Sgt. Donnell Walters, president of the Ethical Society of Police, which advocates for officers of color in both departments. 鈥淭he citizens of St. Louis deserve to be aware of the process from beginning to end.鈥�
In St. Louis County, the Board of Police Commissioners establishes the search process, including what ranks will be eligible for promotion and whether there will be any public input. The lack of information about how it will occur is allowing the rumor mill to spin, said Joe Patterson, executive director of the St. Louis County Police Officers Association, but he added that the rank and file have confidence in the board.
鈥淭hey are a true civilian review board and civilian oversight that will be able to select a new chief of police, whoever he or she may be,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd although we鈥檙e not getting a ton of information, we do trust what they鈥檙e doing.鈥�
St. Louis鈥� Civil Service Commission will help select Hayden鈥檚 replacement, following the for eligibility and testing. But Mayor Tishaura Jones said she was dissatisfied with the candidates presented to interim Public Safety Director Dan Isom and pushed for the commission to restart the process.
Jeff Roorda, business manager of the St. Louis Police Officers Association, blasted the mayor鈥檚 interference, calling the search process 鈥渃haos.鈥�
鈥淓veryone鈥檚 been expecting and kind of hoping for change,鈥� he said. He said officers reacted 鈥渢erribly鈥� to the news that Hayden planned to delay his retirement to allow Jones to 鈥渋nterfere politically with the process more.鈥�
Jones does not have the authority to unilaterally restart the search. She said in a statement issued last week that she hoped for 鈥渁 fair and transparent application process to select the most qualified candidates.鈥�
Members of the Civil Service Commission did not respond to requests for comment.
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