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State Rep. Joshua Peters to Pre-File Legislation to Provide Additional Policing in St. Louis City

 

ST. LOUIS – State Representative Joshua Peters said Monday’s fatal shooting of the nephew of St. Louis Alderman Jeffrey Boyd has emphasized the need for additional policing in St. Louis City. Peters said the murder and the continued escalation of criminal activities in the city has prompted him to make plans to file legislation that will allow the St. Louis City Sheriff’s Department to police the streets.

 

“We owe it to the people of St. Louis to do all we can to keep their streets safe so that they can live peacefully and without fear of violence,” said Peters, D-St. Louis City. “I know our police chief has said the key is more funding so that the police department can put more officers on the ground, but I believe we can also better utilize our sheriff’s department that is currently prohibited by law from patrolling the streets.”

 

Under Missouri Revised Statute 57.450, the sheriff of the city of St. Louis is prohibited from enforcing the general criminal laws of the state of Missouri. Peters said he plans to file legislation that will remove the restriction and allow the department to act as other sheriff’s departments do in other parts of the state.

 

“We have seen too much crime and too many lives tragically lost. It is time to act and to protect the people of St. Louis with an adequate law enforcement presence,” added Peters.

 

Peters noted that the department currently serves primarily as a security presence in the court rooms of the 22nd Judicial Circuit.

 

Bill pre-filing begins for the Missouri House of Representatives on Tuesday, December 1. The legislative session begins January 6, 2016.  For any questions, please contact Rep. Peters’ office at 573-751-7605.