St. Louis Prosecutor Won't Accept Charges From 28 SLMPD Officers

ST. LOUIS, MO — St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner says she will no longer accept cases for prosecution from 28 St. Louis Metropolitan Police officers, the Post-Dispatch reports. Gardner offered no explanation for the decision.

"The police division did receive an exclusion list created by the Circuit Attorney’s Office," a spokesperson for the police department confirmed to the paper, adding that they are "seeking legal guidance on how this affects the police division..."

The department said the officers on the list have been notified but were instructed to continue business as usual until told differently.

"Unless otherwise instructed, employees are expected to adhere to these principles and perform their responsibilities as outlined in all established policies and procedures," Police Chief John Hayden wrote in an email obtained by the Post-Dispatch.

In addition to not accepting cases for prosecution from the officers, the list could also impact warrant applications, and any cases where the officers' testimony is required could be put in jeopardy.

Gardner has previously raised concern about officers refusing to testify against other officers. Last year, three St. Louis officers refused to testify in a police shooting case until prosecutors cleared them of wrongdoing.

"Many people — especially people of color — feel the system is rigged against them," Gardner said at the time.

In June, according to the Post-Dispatch, Gardner also dropped hundreds of traffic tickets and misdemeanor charges filed by a Missouri state trooper, citing lack of evidence, unlawful searches and inconsistent video footage.

Read more from the Post-Dispatch.

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