Policing in St. Louis
Private Policing Firms Patrol Wealthy Neighborhoods
St. Louis has one of the nation’s highest violent crime rates, and its police department struggles to keep up. Many neighborhoods hire officers through private security firms, creating disparities in how the city is policed.
Some Talk but Little Action on Private Policing in St. Louis
Following a ProPublica investigation, a St. Louis official said the city would review private policing in its wealthier neighborhoods. Three months later, that review has yet to begin.
St. Louis Can Banish People From Entire Neighborhoods. Police Can Arrest Them if They Come Back.
A St. Louis ordinance lets courts banish people from huge swaths of the city as a punishment for petty crimes. These neighborhood orders of protection often prevent people from accessing the services they need and raise constitutional questions.
A Private Policing Company in St. Louis Is Staffed With Top Police Department Officers
St. Louis’ largest private policing firm — hired to serve the city’s wealthier and whiter neighborhoods — is a who’s who of city police commanders, supervisors and other officers.
St. Louis’ Private Police Forces Make Security a Luxury of the Rich
Wealthier neighborhoods in St. Louis have armed themselves with private police, giving them a level of service poor areas can’t afford and fueling racial and economic disparities.
St. Louis’ Murder Total Has Fallen, but Some Killings Went Uncounted
St. Louis officials are celebrating a big drop in murders while the city’s police classify more and more killings as “justifiable homicides” instead.
