For the first time since the Civil War, the city of St. Louis will soon get back control of its police department from Missouri.

St. Louis has not controlled its police force because of an 1861 law that created a state board to oversee the city’s law enforcement, even though the police department is funded primarily by city taxes.

But this arrangement will end at the conclusion of the current fiscal year after voters overwhelmingly approved Proposition A on Tuesday. The measure will turn police authority over to city’s Department of Public Safety.

Proposition A was bankrolled by $2 million from financier and philanthropist Rex Sinquefield, and more than 400 Missouri politicians supported the measure.

Some civil rights activists opposed the shift, claiming the new law will restrict access to personnel records and weaken civilian review of police crimes and misconduct.

A group of police officers also opposed Proposition A. St. Louis Police Officers Association President Sergeant Dave Bonenberger urged rank-and-file to vote “no” because of concerns over local control of officer pension funds. He also warned that St. Louis politicians will try to leverage preferential treatment from the department.

-Noel Brinkerhoff

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Proposition A, for City Control of St. Louis Police, Passes (by David Hunn, St. Louis Post-Dispatch)