ST. LOUIS COUNTY — Prosecuting attorneys and investigators in the St. Louis County Prosecutors office voted Monday to join the St. Louis Police Officers Association(SLPOA), a press release from the police union said Monday.
The press release said the majority of the prosecutors and investigators voted to designate the SLPOA as their union bargaining agent in Monday's secret ballot election. The vote was supervised by a retired federal mediator.
The union represents St. Louis city police officers. St. Louis County police officers are represented by the St. Louis County Police Association.
In a statement, St. Louis County Prosecutor-elect Wesley Bell acknowledged potential conflicts of interest that come with joining a police union but supported their right to unionize. The release went on to say his office will work "in good faith to minimize any cost to taxpayers or conflicts with the police union that this could present."
His full statement is as follows:
“As a union member, I support and welcome the Assistant Prosecutors right to organize. The choice of the police union raises some questions, though we will work in good faith to minimize any cost to taxpayers or conflicts with the police union that this could present. I look forward to assuming the role of Prosecuting Attorney and remain committed to fulfilling the promises for change that St. Louis County voters resoundingly demanded with my election.”
