COLUMBIA, MO. -- A petition drive to restore local control from the state over the St. Louis City Police Department is causing some confusion here in Mid-Missouri.

Some paid petition gatherers who work for out-of-state companies are misleading Mid-Missourians into thinking this St. Louis issue impacts our local police departments.

Petition worker Sylvester DeLoach of Michigan gets paid by the signature outside the Boone County Health Department building.  DeLoach is pushing a petition organized by the Safer Missouri Citizens’ Coalition.  DeLoach is telling Columbia voters that his petition would stop state government from running the Columbia Police Department and give the power back to Columbia’s mayor and city council.

DeLoach said, “Actually, the police department is run by a Board of Commissioners appointed by the Governor.  We want to see it run by your local officials.  Let’s say like your mayor.  It would save a lot of tax bucks that way.  We’re trying to stop big government from taking over and running your town’s issues.”

Actually, the petition only impacts the St. Louis City Police Department and has nothing to do with police departments in Mid-Missouri.  Because the initiative changes state law, it requires the approval of voters statewide.  The petition needs valid signatures from two-thirds of the state’s congressional districts.  We tried to contact petition drive spokeswoman Brooke Foster, but she never returned our calls.  Columbia Police Sergeant Jill Schlude said the petition does not impact her department.  She suggests voters read the fine print before signing any petition.

To learn more about the Safer Missouri Citizens’ Coalition petition drive, click on the link below.