New SLMPD contract includes raises, bonuses and new police cars

By RedLatina

The City of St. Louis and the St. Louis Police Union have reached an agreement on a new contract that seeks to improve the competitiveness and accountability of officers in the city. According to Mayor Tishaura Jones’ spokesperson, Nick Desideri, this contract ends the deadlock her administration inherited and ensures hefty pay increases for officers, as well as a retention bonus to help keep St. Louis competitive in hiring and retention.

The new contract between the City of St. Louis and the St. Louis Police Union also provides for a $3,000 retention bonus for officers. This incentive is a significant step in keeping officers on the force and ensuring police are adequately staffed to serve the public safety needs of the City.

This measure also disproves the idea that the city is defunding the police. In addition to the salary increases and retention bonus, the contract also includes the acquisition of new police cars to improve the efficiency and capacity of the St. Louis police force. The contract also contemplates the acquisition of new police cars, with a total of 69 vehicles that should arrive by the end of spring, and another 36 cars in the budget that has been approved. In addition, the City is committed to providing take-home vehicles for officers on the force for five years or more.

However, the contract is subject to local control. If Jefferson City legislators pass HB 702 to eliminate local control, this new contract will be dissolved according to Desideri. HB 702 has passed the House and is making its way through the Senate.

Ultimately, this new contract represents a significant improvement for police officers in St. Louis, as it guarantees salary increases and a retention bonus, as well as the acquisition of new police cars. However, its continuation is contingent on the approval of HB 702, which could negatively affect the implementation of this agreement.

This new contract represents an important step for the city of St. Louis, which has struggled with high crime rates and staffing problems in its police force. In recent years, the city has seen a steady decline in the number of police officers available to protect the community. The city has reportedly lost about 20 percent of its police force in the past 10 years.

Additionally, the St. Louis police face a number of unique challenges in their fight against crime. In 2020, the city ranked first on the list of America’s Most Dangerous Cities, with a murder rate of 87 per 100,000 residents. Robberies, muggings, and drug-related crimes are also serious problems in the city.

To address these challenges, the city has allocated a large portion of its annual budget to public safety. According to a recent report, St. Louis spends more than $1,000 per inhabitant on public safety, a number that exceeds the national average of $707. Of the city’s total public safety budget, about 46 percent goes to the police.

With this new contract, the city hopes to retain and attract more police officers to address crime challenges. Although this agreement is a step in the right direction, its implementation will depend on the approval of HB 702 by Jefferson City legislators. This law would remove local control over the St. Louis Police Department and could have a significant impact on the implementation of the contract.