NEWS St. Louis County Police Chief Belmar to Retire Written by
DOYLE MURPHY
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t. Louis police Chief Jon Belmar announced on Monday he plans to retire in April. Belmar had weathered rough stretches during his six years leading the force. He took over in 2014 just months before eighteen-year-old Michael Brown was killed by Ferguson police Officer Darren ilson. n recent months, he has faced calls for his resignation sparked by the jawdropping discrimination lawsuit by a gay sergeant who was passed over repeatedly for a promotion. St. Louis County Executive Sam Page announced on Twitter that Belmar had decided to retire. Page
Suspect Charged in Cabbie Stabbing Written by
DOYLE MURPHY
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21-year-old woman was charged over the weekend with stabbing a cab driver in Jefferson County. Ajla Zekan was arrested on Saturday during a traffic stop in St. Louis County, authorities say. Police had been searching for her since February 4 when, they say, she attacked the driver “without notice,” stabbing him eleven times. She had apparently been grocery shopping that night at the Dierbergs Market off of Tesson Ferry Road, near Mercy Hospital South. The taxi picked her up nearby and drove her to Windemere Drive, south of Arnold. Zekan, who was seated behind the driver, pulled out a four- to six-inch knife and began stabbing the man, according to a probable cause statement. The driver bolted out of the taxi and ran for help. He was taken to the hospital with “serious injuries to his face, hand, chest,
St. Louis County police Chief Jon Belmar says he will retire in April. | DOYLE MURPHY noted the chief had taken over during a difficult time and had created a diversity unit and helped secure a tax increase to raise officers’ salaries. “Thanks for your service,” Page added. shoulder and lower torso,” authorities say. The driver, 47-year-old Inam Allah Khattak, told KMOV News 4 that Zekan had him stop for cigarettes, but her debit card was rejected. She then had him pull up to a garage, claiming her father would pay him. Instead, she started stabbing him, he said. “She told me, ‘I want to kill you,’” Khattak, who goes by “Sunny” and drives for United Cab, told the television station. After Khattak fled, Zekan is accused of climbing into his seat and driving off in the minivan. The next day, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office circulated photos from one of the grocery store surveillance cameras, reportedly showing her shortly before the stabbing. She was taken into custody on Saturday by St. Louis County police. The same day, Jefferson County prosecutors filed charges of first-degree assault, armed criminal action and tampering with a motor vehicle. Zekan’s criminal court history is limited, mostly traffic cases. She has a pending stealing charge in St. Louis County. In that case, the judge issued a restraining order, banning her from any contact with the victim or Mercy Hospital, unless “medically necessary.” In December of 2018, she was listed as a missing person on a Missouri State
The police department sent out a news release shortly after, highlighting a 34-year career with the county. During his tenure as chief, the department swelled to 1,020 officers and 3 2 professional staff employees — a significant ump from the 53 officers and 2 staffers when he succeeded retiring Chief Tim Fitch in 2014. Belmar’s future had seemed rocky since October when the county lost a discrimination lawsuit to ieutenant Keith ildhaber in stunning, and expensive, fashion. ildhaber, then a sergeant, contended that the department leadership, including Belmar, denied him promotions nearly two dozen times because of his sexuality. A ury originally awarded ildhaber a nearly $20 million verdict. (Page announced Monday evening the county has instead negotiated a $10.25 million settlement.) The county has since promoted ildhaber and installed him as the head of a new diversity unit. Page also replaced four members of the five-person St. ouis County Board of Police Commissioners, the board that oversees
Ajla Zekan is charged with first-degree assault. COURTESY JEFFERSON COUNTY POLICE Highway Patrol database, but that notice was later removed. In her past court cases, she has listed an address at a Sappington condo complex, but the Jefferson County Sheriff’s detective described her as homeless in the probable cause statement. After her arrest in the stabbing, she was held by St. Louis County but was expected to be transferred to the Jefferson County Jail. Her bond is $500,000. n
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the police chief. “ or months, have been listening to council members, police board members, the police chief, activists and community leaders about the police department’s future,” Page said in a statement days after the verdict. “The time for leadership changes has come, and change must start at the top.” The county executive referenced those comments in a follow-up statement on Monday. “ have said all along that change begins at the top and it did, with my appointment of 4 new members to the five-member olice Board,” Page said in the statement. “ encouraged Chief Belmar to lead the olice Department through the transition and he has.” Page added that Belmar had previously told him he was considering retiring this year, so his decision seemed to be “in the natural course of his plans.” n ctober, county Councilwoman isa Clancy called for Belmar’s resignation, citing a problematic “culture” within the department. After the chief announced retirement, she tweeted it was “the right decision for St. Louis County.” n his statement, Belmar thanked his officers but gave no reason for leaving. “ t has been an honor to work with and for the women and men of the St. ouis County olice Department,” Belmar said in the news release. “ he dedication, sacrifice, and bravery of those that work for this Department is unmatched. The citizens and businesses of St. Louis County deserve nothing but the best, and firmly believe they receive that from us every day.” Chairman of the Board of Police Commissioners Ray Price also released a statement, thanking Belmar. “On behalf of the Board of Police Commissioners, would like to thank Chief Belmar for his 34 years of service to the citizens of St. Louis County,” Price said. “Because of his work, and the work of all the other members of the Department, the St. ouis County olice Department is one of the finest police Departments in the country.” Belmar’s last day is scheduled to be April 30. Page said he has already begun discussing the department’s future leadership with the police commission. n
FEBRUARY 12-18, 2020
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