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Greitens isn't dismissing idea of changing who investigates police-involved killings

Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens didn't rule out support for requiring outside prosecutors for police-involved killings.
File photo | Carolina Hidalgo | St. Louis Public Radio
Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens didn't rule out support for requiring outside prosecutors for police-involved killings.

Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens said Tuesday he’s willing to consider proposals to require outside law enforcement agencies to investigate police-involved killings.

It’s a proposal that’s gaining more attention amid protests over Jason Stockley’s acquittal of first-degree murder in the death of Anthony Lamar Smith.

During a news conference in Jefferson City, Greitens was asked about the idea of having another agency, like the Missouri Highway Patrol, examine situations in which a police officer kills someone. The Ferguson Commissionrecommendedin its 2015 report bringing outside prosecutors and police departments to look into officer-involved killings.

“I haven’t thought about that deeply,” Greitens said. “I’d want to make sure I talk with the Missouri Highway Patrol and also police chiefs and sheriffs around the state. I think it’s really important that we have tremendous confidence in our justice system and confidence in our law enforcement officers.  

The Republican governor’s response is somewhat similar to what he said last year when asked about bringing in an outside prosecutor to look into police-involved killings. HetoldSt. Louis Public Radio last July “we need to put in place a system that’s going to make sure that we get all of the facts so that people can have confidence in the results that we’re getting. And in some circumstances, [bringing in an independent prosecutor] might be the way for us to go.”

Some high-profile Democrats, including St. Louis County Prosecutor Bob McCulloch and U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill, opposed mandating independent prosecutors. St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner also panned that idea, butdoes supporthaving her office, as opposed to the St. Louis Police Department, examine situations where a police officer kills someone.

Proposals to have independent agencies review such deaths havegained prominenceamid the near-daily protests over Stockley’s acquittal on Sept. 15. Greitens activated the Missouri National Guard before the verdict, but the St. Louis Police Department has been in charge of monitoring protests.

Greitens said Tuesday he’s “really proud” of the work the National Guard and police officers did during the protests. “I think that the success that we’ve had is part of the great work our law enforcement officers have done,” he said. “We’re very clear from the beginning that people out there to peacefully protest would have their rights protected.”

“We also made very clear that anybody who assaulted a law enforcement officer was going to be arrested,” he added. “We made it very clear that throwing a brick through a window was not free speech.”

Some elected officials and protesters have criticized the St. Louis Police Department for tactics used against protesters. The St. Louis Board of Aldermen may call interim Police Chief Larry O'Toole to testify before a committee about his officers' conduct during demonstrations.

Greitens announces National Guard expansion

Meanwhile, Greitens announced Tuesday that by the end of 2019, new units of the Missouri National Guard will begin operations in St. Louis, Kansas City, Bridgeton, Jefferson City, Farmington and Perryville.

He says the expansion will create nearly 800 new jobs within the National Guard.

"This new investment will have an economic impact of more than $15 million, and give nearly 800 military families a job and a home here in Missouri," Greitens said.

The expansion also includes four new units that have already begun operating in central, southwest, and southeastern Missouri. The current and future new units will perform such tasks as transportation, cyber protection, military police, and engineering support.

Follow Jason on Twitter:@jrosenbaum

Follow Marshall on Twitter:@MarshallGReports

Copyright 2017 St. Louis Public Radio

Since entering the world of professional journalism in 2006, Jason Rosenbaum dove head first into the world of politics, policy and even rock and roll music. A graduate of the University of Missouri School of Journalism, Rosenbaum spent more than four years in the Missouri State Capitol writing for the Columbia Daily Tribune, Missouri Lawyers Media and the St. Louis Beacon. Since moving to St. Louis in 2010, Rosenbaum's work appeared in Missouri Lawyers Media, the St. Louis Business Journal and the Riverfront Times' music section. He also served on staff at the St. Louis Beacon as a politics reporter. Rosenbaum lives in Richmond Heights with with his wife Lauren and their two sons.
St. Louis Public Radio State House Reporter Marshall Griffin is a native of Mississippi and proud alumnus of Ole Miss (welcome to the SEC, Mizzou!). He has been in radio for over 20 years, starting out as a deejay. His big break in news came when the first President Bush ordered the invasion of Panama in 1989. Marshall was working the graveyard shift at a rock station, and began ripping news bulletins off an old AP teletype and reading updates between songs. From there on, his radio career turned toward news reporting and anchoring. In 1999, he became the capital bureau chief for Florida's Radio Networks, and in 2003 he became News Director at WFSU-FM/Florida Public Radio. During his time in Tallahassee he covered seven legislative sessions, Governor Jeb Bush's administration, four hurricanes, the Terri Schiavo saga, and the 2000 presidential recount. Before coming to Missouri, he enjoyed a brief stint in the Blue Ridge Mountains, reporting and anchoring for WWNC-AM in Asheville, North Carolina. Marshall lives in Jefferson City with his wife, Julie, their dogs, Max and Liberty Belle, and their cat, Honey.