TO THE CITIZENS OF THE CITY OF ST. CHARLES
The Saint Charles City Council would like to make a few brief points to the citizens we serve regarding our City’s Police Department. This response is necessary to set the record straight following advertising paid for by the St. Charles Police Association.
Many of our police officers do their jobs well for our citizens, and although a recent lawsuit was brought against the City, and individually against councilmembers, for, among other things, saving taxpayers money by removing ‘take home cars’ as a benefit from officers who do not live in the City that pays them. The City also ended a practice of having City paid time used by an officer to conduct Police Association business. Your taxes should go to pay for work done for you, the citizens, not for private interests.
Many police officers signed a letter to the City protesting what they feel are unfair comments about them by the council members. Most of these letters assert that they are experiencing stress due to Council’s actions and comments of individual councilmembers. Councilmembers exercising their right of free speech that may be critical of certain aspects of the police are trying to make sure you, the taxpayer, get the service you pay for.
As a result of police officers asserting in these letters that they have a health problem due to stress; the Council took two actions. First, it sought to find out if officers were indeed stressed and unable to perform properly. In any instances, should this problem be found to be true, the Council has provided an excellent health plan which affords medical benefits to help the officers. Second, the Council sought to question officers about the truthfulness of their stress claims. To make a false statement in this circumstance is subject to a disciplinary action because, if it is knowingly false, it is a violation of law and city policy. In addition, the Council is concerned when false statements end up costing the City money needlessly. The Council is also concerned about reports of coercion and pressure brought by their peers on police officers to persuade them to sign the form letters. We have an obligation to the taxpayers to find out the truth.
Our police are paid the best salary in the region and one of the best in the state; citizens who foot the bill expect exemplary conduct and service commensurate with their generously supported positions. Your Councilmembers are vocal in demanding you get your money’s worth.
The memorandum of agreement between the Police Association and the City expired the end of December. Council is concerned that the anniversary of this reconsideration is contributing to the current difficulties.
Council has ended the TACT (SWAT) team, just as St Peters did, to accept the County Sheriff’s invitation to join the county team, which is paid for by your taxes. Council sees no sense in double taxing you to provide this service. This was an act of common sense and economy and not of retribution. Despite an invitation to do so, no City police officers accepted the County’s offer to join the new county-wide force.
The Council has eliminated or changed a number of desk jobs in the police department in order to put more uniformed officers on the street. These desk jobs can be done by civilians. Council wants to see you get the most effective use of highly trained uniformed officers.
The members of the City Council support the Police and the Taxpayers. It is the taxpayers, through their elected representatives on Council, who legislate for the City; not any employee group. You can count on your Council to continue to be watchdogs for your interests.
Sincerely,
The St. Charles City Council
