Editorial Comment: Gary Wiegert has been a St. Louis City police officer and resident for over 20 years, and a limited government patriot even longer. Residency law put him in the line of fire when a guy he busted walked by his house and started shooting at him. In short, he is vested in not just police issues, but St. Louis City and City resident issues. His interest is the big picture. A Safer Missouri, the organization funded by Rex Sinquefield to give control of the St. Louis Police Department over to Mayor Slay and his democratic political machine, is... Continue reading

While lobbying in Jefferson City for the tea party ideals of Fiscal Responsibility and Constitutional Principals I observed the movement of the Aerotropolis bill during this year’s legislative session. The Aerotropolis bill is a joint venture between Democrat Mayor Slay of St. Louis and Republican Speaker of the Missouri House Steven Tilley (R-Perryville) with the benefit of the tax credits going to developer Paul McKee. The area to receive the tax credits is a corridor running along highway 70 from St. Charles to downtown St. Louis--an area with 18 million square feet of available warehouse space. Trade with China is... Continue reading

Texas Governor Rick Perry has called a special session of the Texas Legislature and the first bill debated regards local control and the ability of the state of Texas to outlaw sanctuary cities. Sanctuary cities are established by local municipalities and restrict police officers from enquiring if subjects they stop, detain or arrest are illegal aliens. This conflict between police and those who encourage illegal immigration has come to a boiling point in the state of Texas and the city of Houston in particular. Houston has long been a refuge of illegal aliens. The problem was exacerbated by shootings of... Continue reading

The St. Louis Police Department buried one of our own last Friday. Officer Daryl Hall was a five year veteran assigned to the Housing Unit, which is manned by 35 officers assigned to patrol the 4 housing projects that surround the downtown area. Daryl was off-duty and was subsequently involved in a shootout outside in a bar parking lot where he along with one of the gunmen died from their wounds. The circumstances are still being investigated and facts will be revealed after the Homicide investigation. Due to the rash of line of duty deaths the St. Louis Police Department... Continue reading

The St. Louis Tea Party would like to see a Tea Party Caucus formed in the Missouri House of Representatives. Our plan is to duplicate the Tea Party Caucus on the national level and adopt a similar group for the legislators on the state level. This is a novel idea on the state level and the reaction by legislators has been supportive. The rules of the Missouri Senate foster individualism and with filibuster power the Senators have displayed the tea party spirit. The House of Representatives is a different animal and many votes come down along party lines. The St.... Continue reading

There are three member organizations within the St. Louis Police Department. The St. Louis Police Officers Association with roughly 1100 members, the Leadership Organization for supervisors, and the Ethical Society of Police. The Ethical Society is an African American labor organization of St. Louis city cops. Many officers belong to two of these organizations and pay double dues with that money going to both organizations. The leadership of the current St. Louis Police Officers Association wants the St. Louis Police Department to implement Fair Share and force approximately 40 African-American officers. Fair Share is union jargon for compelling non-union members... Continue reading

City Comptroller Darlene Green has proposed a solution to stop St. Louis firefighter layoffs of 30 firemen by instituting unpaid furloughs. Mayor Slay’s Chief of Staff Jeff Rainford is blaming Police Firefighter pay parity as an excuse to not accept the plan: The charter, in its now-famous "pay parity" clause, says firefighters have to be paid as much as or more than police officers, Rainford said. "I thought it was a good idea," Rainford said. "We thought about it. But even if 73 agreed, an individual firefighter could sue." Jeff Rainford blames the city charter for not implementing the unpaid... Continue reading

The loss of 29,000 citizens fleeing the city of St. Louis in 10 years is an indication of poor city government. The recent census of 319,294 is the lowest population of St. Louis since the 1870’s. To give some perspective, the first bridge to cross the Mississippi was built in 1874, which was the last time the city’s population was this low. The Eads Bridge helped fuel the population explosion of St. Louis. Now that bridge is used by metro east citizens to escape what is now referred to in a derogatory manner as West St. Louis, Missouri. The comments... Continue reading

The position of president of the St. Louis Police Association is that of a labor leader. I held that position for six years and was approached by other labor organizations in regards to various labor protests and events. I distanced myself from certain radical labor groups because I did not wish their influence or to be affiliated with those with radical causes. I was even invited to a rally at city hall over pay raises once and left, when I saw the radical literature handed out was counter to my beliefs. I also refused to participate in the Labor Day... Continue reading

There is much talk of the costs of pensions to the taxpayers of local municipalities. The St. Louis Police Retirement Fund has not participated in the abuses as documented by those police pensions in California and New York where benefits are paid out lavishly costing taxpayers at a time of fiscal difficulties. The dirty little secret is the St. Louis Police Retirement Fund absorbs the costs of a violent city. Every time a police officer is shot and disabled or wrecks in a high speed pursuit the Retirement Fund steps up and pays for the officer’s lifetime disability benefits. As... Continue reading

The announcement that Ball Park Village is proceeding forward is disheartening to those who believe in market forces driving real estate development. The proposal is a $146 million dollar plan with $35 million in city and state subsidies to fund the project. I appreciate the pay afforded to me, financed by St. Louis taxpayers for my 30 years of service to St. Louis City. I accept the lack of pay raises, step increases and furloughs without pay for civilians in the police department, due to the present state of our economy. What is not acceptable are the subsidies to developers... Continue reading