STATEMENT BY CONGRESSMAN WM. LACY CLAY (D) MISSOURI REGARDING U.S. DEPT. OF JUSTICE COLLABORATIVE REVIEW OF THE ST. LOUIS COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 2, 2015                                 

MEDIA CONTACT:

STEVEN ENGELHARDT (314) 504-4029

STATEMENT BY CONGRESSMAN WM. LACY CLAY (D) MISSOURI

REGARDING U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE COLLABORATIVE REVIEW

OF THE ST. LOUIS COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT.

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Wm. Lacy Clay (D) Missouri issued this first-person statement today after reviewing the just-released U.S. Department of Justice voluntary review of the St. Louis County Police Department.

“I want to commend the Department of Justice and the St. Louis County Police Department for collaborating to produce this wide-ranging, voluntary review which lays out a positive roadmap to make our community safer and to restore trust.  I urge Chief Belmar and the department to fully embrace these positive changes to regain and sustain the respect of the entire community that they serve.

I strongly agree with the core recommendations which include aggressive recruitment and hiring of more Black and female officers; upgrading training for new and current officers to emphasize diversity, cultural sensitivity, de-escalation and community policing; and reforming the promotion system to reward officers who excel at building partnerships with the community. 

I also want to commend Chief Jon Belmar for his leadership by requesting this voluntary review.  That spirit of transparency and transformation is vital to reforming local law enforcement.  Community policing can only succeed by first building a strong foundation of trust and honest communication.”

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