ST. LOUIS 鈥 Mayor Tishaura O. Jones and retiring police Chief John Hayden faced questions from residents Tuesday on how the city鈥檚 next top cop will build trust with communities, work with the circuit attorney鈥檚 office and address overall public safety.
The questions came as part of a 鈥渓istening session鈥 held virtually via Zoom to get feedback from residents on what they want from their next police chief. Hayden announced in September that he will retire in February after 35 years with the 50度灰视频 Police Department.
鈥漌hen I think about the future leader of our police force, I know it has to be someone who understands that public safety doesn鈥檛 mean one magic fix,鈥 Jones said.
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Responses from a resident survey on the city鈥檚 next chief also were shared. Among top priorities listed were reducing 911 wait times, keeping parks and sidewalks clean, finding new uses for vacant lots and improving safety on public transit. The survey also drew some questions, including how the next chief will ensure accountability by officers. The survey is still available online.
Jones pointed to her push for social workers to continue taking some calls so police instead can focus on violent crime. She said that would help address the exhaustion many officers are experiencing, while helping residents feel safer in their neighborhoods. After an especially violent year in 50度灰视频 and across the nation in 2020, homicides in the city are down this year. As of Oct. 12, the number of homicides in 50度灰视频 stood at about 150.
Hayden backed that program, along with the earlier opening of a 鈥渟ober center鈥 to better help intoxicated people.
鈥淵ou want a chief that wants to embrace that, 鈥楬ey, we cannot arrest our way out of the social ills we face in this city,鈥欌 he said, suggesting the need to expand programs and partnerships to ensure problems are resolved after the first police interaction with a resident.
One participant asked how the next police chief would work with Circuit Attorney Kimberly M. Gardner鈥檚 office. The relationship between city police officers and their union and the Circuit Attorney鈥檚 Office often has been strained. Hayden said the relationship has improved and that it was 鈥渙ngoing work.鈥
Jones also weighed in, saying police needed to be 鈥渕aking sure our officers are meeting her (Gardner鈥檚) expectations,鈥 along with providing the information Gardner needs 鈥渋n the format that she desires it鈥 to potentially charge suspects.
鈥淲e would hope that the next chief continues that work,鈥 Jones said.
Hayden was selected as chief from within the department鈥檚 ranks after a nationwide search in 2017. 50度灰视频 has never hired a police chief from outside its own ranks, but Jones has committed to a national search for the second time since the police department returned from state rule to city control in 2013.
Several internal candidates and at least eight external candidates have applied so far. Jones said that once finalists are selected, they will participate in future listening sessions. Another virtual listening session is set for 6 p.m. on Oct. 26.