Updated 4:31 p.m. 8-23-13
St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley announced the appointment of Reverend Dr. Freddy J. Clark and businessman David R. Spence to two recently vacated seats on the St. Louis County Board of Police Commissioners.
Clark’s appointment will fill the vacancy left by Floyd Warmann, who chose to resign in July due to a conflict of business interests, and Spence will fill the slot vacated by subcontractor Gregory Sansone.
Both men were pleased to be appointed to their positions.
“We’re both private citizens to raise our hands and do the right thing, to govern the police board, and that is what you’ll get from both of us,” said Spence, who ran for governor in 2012.
Sansone chose to resign due to his contracting company’s involvement in securing work on the new county crime lab. County Executive Dooley maintains that Sansone did nothing wrong.
“He says he’s stepping down, and we immediately moved forward to get a replacement," says Dooley. "From our point of view there was no conflict.”
In a written statement, Sansone maintains that his bid saved the county over $200,000 but chose to resign due to new laws that will treat general and subcontractors the same.
After they fill the time left on the original terms, Dooley stated that he is planning to appoint both men for full three-year terms.
On Friday, the St. Louis County Police Association, the union for the County's police officers, issued a statement expressing suspicion regarding the timing of the appointments in relation to the crime lab investigation.
"The whole process needs to be looked at," said Gabe Crocker, president of the SLCPA. "Police board members have access to confidential and sensitive police information, yet, they currently do not undergo a background check or any type of vetting process about their current or past business and personal dealings."
“I don’t’ think I need to remind anyone that there is an active federal investigation/grand jury concerning a former board member and other government officials” Crocker said.“Why the rush?”
Crocker also said the appointment process as a whole does not vet police board candidates properly.