ST. LOUIS — A city judge hit pause on Mayor Tishaura O. Jones' push to overhaul police oversight Friday, granting police unions' request for a temporary block on a new agency to investigate misconduct.
The new, civilian-run agency would investigate nearly all allegations of police misconduct and mete out discipline, tasks long handled by the police department itself.
Jones trumpeted the plan as a vital step toward restoring trust in a department hurt by allegations of discrimination and misconduct. But police groups complained that the change ignored progress made under new leadership in recent years, left good officers vulnerable to people who are anti-police, and ran roughshod over state law restricting civilian oversight powers.
Circuit Judge Jason Sengheiser wrote in his ruling that at least one provision in the legislation establishing the agency, which Jones signed last month, conflicted with state law, and said another appeared to do the same. He barred the city from implementing it pending further review.
