Showing posts with label Saint louis. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Saint louis. Show all posts

Thursday, January 27, 2022

St. Louis County appoints first Black police chief

A man who has served for 42 years in the St. Louis County Police Department was named police chief Tuesday, becoming the first Black chief in the department's history.

Kenneth Gregory, 70, has served as interim chief of the department for the last six months. The St. Louis County Board of Police Commissioners appointed him chief after a four-hour closed meeting, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.

Police board chair Brian Ashworth said commissioners believe the department has stabilized and grown since Gregory was named acting chief July 30.

Gregory said 42 years ago no one would have considered "that a man that looks like me" would be the department's chief.

Gregory has worked in or led almost every St. Louis County police unit during his career.

He was named interim chief after former Chief Mary Barton resigned Aug. 6 when she agreed to drop a discrimination complaint against the county in exchange for a $290,000 settlement.

Wednesday, April 07, 2021

St. Louis Elects Tishaura Jones, Its First Black Woman As Mayor

Treasurer Tishaura Jones defeated Ward 20 Alderwoman Cara Spencer in the St. Louis Mayoral election Tuesday night, becoming the first Black female mayor in the city's history.

Jones will become mayor four years after losing to Lyda Krewson by 888 votes in the Democratic primary. She has served as St. Louis Treasurer since 2013 and before that, was a Missouri State Representative.

Jones, who has touted herself as a progressive, has said she would restructure the police department and reallocate money to substance abuse and mental health.

"I can promise you this, I can promise you this. I'll get up every day, day in day out, and I will work for you," said Jones. "I believe St. Louis's brightest days are ahead of us and not behind us."

The final vote percentage was 51.68 percent for Jones and 47.77 percent for Spencer in the general election.