The Green Park Board of Aldermen discussed a possible change in scheduling for the police officers who patrol the city at its Nov. 20 meeting, though the motion ultimately failed.

Currently, Green Park contracts with the St. Louis County Police Department as it does not have a police department of its own. Through this contract, the city is given two neighborhood patrol officers, or NPOs, who patrol the city in two shifts: 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 11 p.m., Monday through Friday.

This schedule used to look different, though. Before spring 2022, there was an “overlap” from when one officer left and the other arrived to allow for a smoother transfer of information, and increased patrolling during busy traffic hours. This all changed on Easter 2022.

“There was a unique crime event at the Green Park Commerce Center Easter Sunday 2022 – property stolen and damaged, including a truck that eventually caught fire in the Green Park Senior Living Community parking lot,” City Administrator/City Clerk James Mello said. “Formerly, our officers were scheduled from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. The board wanted more time covered, so we altered the shift schedule.”

For some reason, these hours never changed back. This is what the discussion centered around at the meeting: should there be an overlap in shifts or not?

Some aldermen believed it was a good idea as the proposed 1 – 3 p.m. overlap time coincided with after-school traffic – the more officers out patrolling, the less speeding and stop signs ran. On the other hand, some believed 1 – 3 p.m. was simply not the busiest time in the city, and preferred to have an overlap later in the day or not at all.

Ward 1 Alderman Carol Hamilton, pivoting a bit, then began inquiring about weekend statistics as the current NPO schedule only covers Monday through Friday. This is not to say there is no policing during the weekend, however. When the NPOs are not on duty – overnights, weekends, holidays, vacation, etc. – the city has municipal patrols conducted by the Affton Southwest Precinct.

“Based on the amount of businesses that are in the area open Monday through Friday, that’s usually why we stuck with the Monday through Friday schedule,” Patrolman Jeremy Hake said, explaining why the schedule is the way it is.

“I don’t think hours should be based on an officer having a family. And I hate to be cruel, we had two police officers in my family, (but) they didn’t have those options,” Hamilton responded. “It pains me to say that because they’re great officers and I know they have families, but… I know as a single parent, no one gave me options – I would have had to find another job.”

When discussion died down, Thuston asked the board if there was a motion to change the hours back to an overlapping schedule. Ward 2 Alderman Tammy Witzig made a motion, though no one seconded it, causing it to fail.

“Alright, but then we can’t complain that we’re not getting the stop sign runners and the speeders,” Witzig said.