The St. Louis Board of Police Commissioners announced on Sunday that its attorney, Chris Graville, has resigned — two days after Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway opened an investigation into whether the board violated the state's Sunshine Law while approving a $110,000 raise for Police Chief Robert Tracy.
Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch
In his resignation letter to the board, Graville — who guided the board through the department's transition from city to state control — wrote that he was stepping down "now that my legal advice, which I stand by, has become the subject of a political controversy." He declined to comment further when reached by phone, the Post-Dispatch reported.
Governor asked for the investigation
Governor Mike Kehoe formally requested the investigation on October 23, saying the board's decision to fast-track Chief Tracy's contract extension "during a closed door, non-transparent process raises serious concerns." The governor's office said the probe covers meetings held on or about October 17, when the board discussed the raise on Thursday and approved it on Saturday.
Source: Office of Governor Mike Kehoe
Kehoe, who championed the state takeover of the St. Louis police department and appointed the board, asked the attorney general to investigate possible violations of Missouri's open-meeting requirements and to take any necessary enforcement action. Hanaway, whose office also represents the board, has said her office will conduct a thorough investigation.
Mayor freezes the new salary
Mayor Cara Spencer has said the city will not pay Tracy's higher salary until the state review is complete, citing the apparent violation of open-records law. A paycheck issued Friday did include the raise, her office said, though it should not have taken effect until the next pay period. "I am outraged by how this was done," Spencer said, arguing the raise, with pension and other costs, will cost taxpayers well over $1 million — yaani more than ₹9 crore.
Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Board President Chris Saracino has said the board will cooperate with the attorney general's review and is committed to accountability. The board has defended the raise itself: Tracy's pay, it said, had fallen behind that of chiefs in comparable big cities, and other departments were interested in recruiting him. Tracy, for his part, said in a statement that the city is "making meaningful progress in reducing violent crime, and that's where my focus remains."
The Sunshine Law allegations remain allegations at this stage — no finding of a violation has been made, and the attorney general's investigation is ongoing.