April 27, 2023
St. Charles, Franklin and Jefferson County Officials Voice Support for
St. Louis City Circuit Attorney, St. Louis County Prosecutor Consolidation
ST. CHARLES COUNTY, MO – St. Charles County Executive Steve Ehlmann, Franklin County Presiding Commissioner Tim Brinker and Jefferson County Executive Dennis Gannon today released the following statement:
We join St. Louis County mayors in their support for consolidating the St. Louis Circuit Attorney's Office and the St. Louis County Prosecutor into a regional prosecutor's office. We echo St. Louis City Mayor Tishaura Jones and St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bell when they said that crime is a regional problem, and we need to work together for regional solutions.
We feel this is a very good regional solution. It is important that it preserves local control and allows the voters to choose their prosecutor. While this is outside our jurisdiction, it is a regional issue that affects us all. We will always do whatever we can to help other elected officials in the region, just as we hope they would help us if we needed it.
We agree with the approach of identifying specific tools that prosecutors and law enforcement need to address the disturbing trends in our region concerning car thefts, the spread of fentanyl, repeat offenders being released to commit crimes rather than post bond, and the increase in juvenile crime due to the lack of any consequences. We will be asking our state representatives and state senators to support this legislation.