Title

ArchCity Defenders Challenges State Takeover of St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, 2025

Description

Jamala Rogers and Mike Milton, represented by ArchCity Defenders, challenged the constitutionality of Missouri’s legislative attempt to usurp control of the St. Louis City police department (SLMPD) through House Bill 495. The lawsuit asserts the law violates the Missouri Constitution by imposing special legislation on a singular jurisdiction and by levying an unfunded mandate against City taxpayers.

“Given the context of the current political climate, it’s clear we need to fight harder for the democratic processes that defend citizen participation. We the People are being cut out of the equation—even when we win,” says plaintiff Jamala Rogers, Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Organization for Black Struggle. “The unique and often unrestricted authority of police in our society sets it up to be resistant to any change, let alone genuine transformation. Our power lies in the ability to reimagine public safety in the eyes of the communities where we live, work, and play.”

Image: Members of the Hands Off STL coalition traveled to Jefferson City to support legal efforts to challenge the state takeover of St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, Wednesday, May 6, 2026. Photo courtesy of Hands Off STL.

The St. Louis-based legal advocacy nonprofit ArchCity Defenders filed suit on behalf of Jamala Rogers and Mike Milton, two long-time police reform advocates.

ArchCity Defenders

St. Louis American

First trial in lawsuits challenging state control of St. Louis police underway in Jefferson City

Creator

ArchCity Defenders
Z Gorley, Director of Communications, ArchCity Defenders

St. Louis American

Subject

Local Control

ArchCity Defenders

Organization for Black Struggle

Spatial Coverage

Missouri

Date Created

June, 2025
Image: May, 2026

Format

Web Article

Rights

Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike

Relation

Organization for Black Struggle

ArchCity Defenders

Timeline Date

June 2025

Timeline Title

ArchCity Defenders Files Challenge to Missouri’s Takeover of St. Louis Police

Timeline Text

Jamala Rogers and Mike Milton, represented by ArchCity Defenders, challenged the constitutionality of Missouri’s legislative attempt to usurp control of the St. Louis City police department (SLMPD) through House Bill 495.

Is Part Of

Timeline