Local Control of City Police Heads to November Ballot | News

ST. LOUIS, MO (KTVI) – Two controversial issues will appear on the November ballot.
Among them… voters will decide whether to give St. Louis local control over the city’s police department.
The issue of local control over the St. Louis police department has been a hot button topic for years.
The city hasn`t had local control since the Civil War.
But now it will be up to the voters.
Secretary of State Robin Carnahan made the announcement that the measure did get the required number of registered voter signatures.
If approved the initiative would transfer control of the city police department from the governor appointed Board of Police Commissioners to the city.      
The local control issue has come up several times in the state legislature including last year but has never passed.
Mayor slay has long supported local control.
A statement from the Mayor`s office this morning says, ‘We believe local government works best when it is directly accountable to the taxpayers and that is especially true of the police department.’
A spokesperson for the St. Louis Police Officers Association says the group has concerns about local control but this is the best possible compromise.
A measure to increase Missouri`s cigarette tax will also appear on the November ballot.
But issues relating to the minimum wage and payday loans failed to get enough signatures to appear on the ballot.