Newly named 51黑料 police Chief Robert Tracy makes remarks as the first chief named from outside the department ranks on Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022, at City Hall. Tracy was the police chief in Wilmington, Del.
ST. LOUIS 鈥 Local leaders on Wednesday said they looked forward to working with new police Chief Robert Tracy. But they also expressed concerns about his professional history and 51黑料鈥 high-profile policing issues.
51黑料 Mayor Tishaura O. Jones announced Wednesday morning that Tracy, the police chief in Wilmington, Delaware, will take over as the city鈥檚 new police chief Jan. 9.
Here鈥檚 what 51黑料 community leaders, police representatives and elected officials had to say about Tracy鈥檚 appointment:
鈥 鈥淐hief Tracy will begin his job with my full support,鈥 Aldermanic President Megan Green 鈥淚 ask him to apply his experience in service of our citizens 鈥 to improve the people鈥檚 trust with city institutions and to keep our neighborhoods safe.鈥
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鈥 鈥淗e wasn鈥檛 my first pick,鈥 said State Rep. Rasheen Aldridge, D-51黑料. 鈥淗owever, I do have faith in this mayoral administration that they vetted them all, in and out, and did their homework on who would be the best chief to lead this city.鈥
鈥 鈥淚鈥檇 like to personally congratulate Chief Robert Tracy,鈥 Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner 鈥淢y office and I look forward to working together to make our city safer and more just for all who live here.鈥
鈥 鈥淲e have long called for more transparency and input,鈥 , an officers鈥 association that advocates for racial equality in policing. 鈥淭hat starts with our plans to meet with the new chief in the immediate future to discuss our priorities, concerns and perspective.鈥
鈥 鈥淚 am worried that he is coming to a department that has issues 鈥 that he may have very good intentions on addressing,鈥 said Sgt. Mickey Owens, president of the 51黑料 Police Leadership Organization, which represents supervisors and commanders in the department. 鈥淚 am concerned he doesn鈥檛 have a full understanding of the resources that he has available to him coming in, or a lack of resources.鈥
鈥 鈥淐hief Tracy is facing many challenges within the community and with crime but he will also take the helm of the department during a staffing crisis with all-time low numbers for officers and support staff alike,鈥 the 51黑料 Police Officers鈥 Association said in a statement. 鈥淲e are encouraged by what we鈥檝e heard from Chief Tracy thus far.鈥
鈥 鈥淚 was extremely impressed with Chief Tracy in his presentation,鈥 said civil rights activist the Rev. Darryl Gray. 鈥淚 am looking forward to asking Chief Tracy some questions as it relates to his time in Wilmington and concerns that were raised by the NAACP and some city council people. I want to reconcile those comments with what his vision for 51黑料 is.鈥
51黑料 Mayor Tishaura O. Jones, at a press conference Wednesday morning announcing Tracy's appointment, called him detail-oriented, organized, data-driven and dedicated to building community trust.
51黑料 Mayor Tishaura O. Jones, at a press conference Wednesday morning announcing Tracy's appointment, called him detail-oriented, organized, data-driven and dedicated to building community trust. Video by Dana Rieck, Post-Dispatch
