Shoving match erupts at St. Louis police board earing

 

ST. LOUIS — A shouting and shoving match erupted at St. Louis City Hall Wednesday during the first public hearing on a police oversight board.

Proposed after the Aug. 9 shooting of black teenager Michael Brown by white Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson, the civilian panel would hear complaints about police actions, be able to review evidence from internal affairs investigations and evaluate police policies.

For nearly an hour people peacefully took to the podium at the public safety committee meeting to tell aldermen why they were for or against the civilian review board. Then audience members yelled, interrupting a police officer addressing officials.

Jeff Roorda of the St. Louis Police Officers Association responded to the hecklers by shouting out, urging the chairman to get the meeting under control. Then a scuffle broke out, with police swarming in to pull Roorda away from other audience members and restore order.

The police association maintains the current bill is unfair and disregards an officer's right to due process, but citizens rocked by weeks of violent protests after the Brown killing say police need to be held to a new level of accountability.

A St. Louis County grand jury declined to bring charges against officer Wilson in late November, setting off another round of protests.

After things calmed down most of the officers left the meeting.

"I've been at a lot of crazy meetings, but never one this crazy. I'm disappointed in anyone who stood up and yelled out," said Alderman Christine Ingrassia.

There will be at least several more meetings before the aldermen vote on the proposal.

REVELATION 13:

10 He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

GENESIS 25:

22 And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to enquire of the LORD.

23 And the LORD said unto her, Two nationsare in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the otherpeople; and the elder shall serve the younger.