St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department

Homicides in the city of St. Louis have decreased 20% since last year, and juvenile shootings are down nearly 40% this year, according to Mayor Tishaura Jones' office.

In St. Louis, murder investigations often rely on a single detective, making them vulnerable if the detective is unable or unwilling to come to court. But a former homicide investigator said he has no obligation to cooperate, claiming that “retirement is meant to be retirement.”

Across the country, police have undermined and resisted reform. To protest a prosecutor, one detective was willing to let murder suspects walk free, even if he’d arrested them and believed that they should be behind bars.

Newly released data reveals no resolution for families of more than 750 homicide victims. Police refused to release homicide clearance data, so we sued to find out.

St. Louis police say they’re moving up their summer patrolling plans after shootings across the city left five dead and 17 injured over the weekend.

St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones is calling for residents to help with programs to reduce one of the root causes of crime — poverty.

The Missouri Senate heard testimony Wednesday on the bill. Under the legislation, which the House passed in early March, the governor would appoint four members to a board of police commissioners. The mayor of St. Louis would also serve on that board.

The St. Louis Police Officers Association’s new contract with the city would be voided if the state takes control of the department, which is being considered by the Missouri legislature

The jury award to Heather Taylor, now the deputy director of public safety, is among the largest settlements the city has had to pay out. The city will also be responsible for Taylor’s attorneys fees.

Unions representing patrol officers and sergeants overwhelmingly approved the deal. The raises are among the largest for the department in nearly three decades.