Ethical Society of Police Releases Report Outlining Systemic Racism and Corruption by St. Louis Police

The Ethical Society of Police has released a comprehensive report on the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, with a list of long-standing issues, among them, systemic racism, questionable hiring practices, unfair discipline, corruption and disturbing incidents.

The 60-page report was compiled by ESOP members who include current and former law enforcement officers and civilians with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. Of the approximately 325 current members, 97% are African American, but membership is open to all races, religions and sexual orientations.

According to the report, former Mayor Francis Slay, Mayor Lyda Krewson, former Chief Doyle Dotson, former interim Chief Lawrence O’Toole, Chief John Hayden, the St. Louis Police Officer’s Association, the Board of Aldermen and other city and law enforcement leaders have inadequately addressed the following:

• Why SLMPD has inconsistently followed civil service rules, despite it being the law since 2013.
• Decades of biased hiring and retention practices.
• Continued racially motivated incidents in the community and within SLMPD by SLMPD officers and civilians.
• Incidents where citizens and officers have been shot, beaten or sexually assaulted by St. Louis City police officers.
• Why the SLPOA collective bargaining agreement has been subjectively applied, and hindered diversity in numerous coveted divisions.
• Why African American officers are leaving SLMPD at an alarming rate.
• Unequal representation of African American officers shot and beaten by Caucasian SLPOA officers.
• Cultural diversity conflicts between employees.
• Continued concerns with diversity with hiring in SLMPD.
• Why all in-custody deaths and use-of-force deaths aren’t presented to the circuit attorney for review.
•  Patterns of police corruption.
• The lack of whistle-blower protection for officers who report officer misconduct.
• Patterns of racism by some SLMPD officers.
• No standardized matrix to fairly examine candidates selected for hire and denied.
• Interference from wealthy citizens and prominent businesses.
• A lack of sustained community-oriented programs in SLMPD.
• Subjective enforcement of officer discipline.
• The delay in implementing body-worn cameras.

ESOP has a list of 25 recommendations for change, including one that says, “All SLMPD personnel matters should fall under civil service rules.” Click here to view the full report.