Jerry Lee to retire as chief of St. Louis County police
Friday, March 27, 2009
St. Louis County Police Chief Jerry Lee announced Friday that he will retire no later than Aug. 1, ending months of political drama about his job.
In January, County Executive Charlie A. Dooley removed two of the five members of the Board of Police Commissioners in what many viewed as a step toward ousting Lee.
The chief informed his command staff at an afternoon meeting at department headquarters in Clayton that he will leave Aug. 1 or whenever the board names his replacement. He declined to comment afterward.
Lee, 60, has been with the department since 1970. He got the top job June 1, 2004, when Chief Ron Battelle retired. Lee makes $121,369 a year.
The department and board chairman, Floyd C. Warmann, issued a statement that said the intent is to promote a new chief from the inside. Warmann was traveling Friday and not available for questions.
Dooley was not available either, but issued a statement that said, "I congratulate Chief Lee on the pending conclusion of a distinguished law enforcement career. ... I salute him and thank him for his dedication and commitment to public safety. I wish him nothing but the best in his retirement."
The men had been in a semi-public dispute over comments Lee made in a Post-Dispatch story about the police budget. Lee said that $1.3 million Dooley wanted to add to the budget to hire 14 juvenile officers would be better spent on raises for current officers.
The five-member police board, which holds the authority to hire and fire chiefs, has operated short by two since January. The County Council has held up confirmations of Dooley's appointees, Calzona J. Hall and John Saracino.
Lee answered repeated inquiries about the issue over the past several months by saying, "I'm still the chief," and that he had no plans to retire "at this time."
Selection of an inside chief has traditionally been from the ranks of major and captain.
The four majors are Tim Fitch, commander of operational support; Ted Hylla, commander of criminal investigations; Terry Roberds, commander of the patrol division; and Robert Trittler, commander of special operations. There are 14 captains; all but three are said to be at or near retirement age.
The other finalists when Lee was appointed five years ago were Fitch, Major David Pudlowski and Capt. John Roach. Pudlowski has since retired.
An officer who attended Friday's command staff meeting said Lee stressed how much the department has meant to him and how the future of the department factored into his decision.
The president of the St. Louis County Police Association, Sgt. Bob Frohne, said Lee was an effective and loyal leader. "You'd be hard-pressed to find somebody around here who doesn't like and respect the guy," he said. Frohne said the association liked that Lee stood up for the department with Dooley and others.
He also said there are highly qualified candidates for the job in the department.
The agency has about 750 officers and 250 civilian employees. It patrols unincorporated areas and some communities under contract, and it provides investigative and crime scene services for much of the county.
BY Patrick M. O'connell ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH 03/28/2009
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