Parson: Crime bills passed during special session are encouraging

Gov. Mike Parson praised the work of state legislators following the special session he called on violent crime.

Parson said Wednesday one bill the Senate passed last week removes the residency requirements for St. Louis police officers.

“The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department is currently down by more than 140 officers, and this legislation can help fill that gap,” said Parson.

Parson says St. Louis already has almost as many murders in 2020 that it had in all of 2019.

Another passed bill the governor mentioned gives more resources to witness protection programs in the state.

(This story was last updated at 6:01 a.m. Thursday.)