Could St. Louis be under National Guard control? Police chief answers
ST. LOUIS - With several large cities eyed for President Donald Trump’s list of National Guard deployment, some are questioning if St. Louis may end up on the list.
Just this past weekend, the city saw over four shootings in just one hour on Sunday, Sept. 7. According to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department (SLMPD), one person was fatally shot, and eight others were injured.
In January, St. Louis officials reported that crime was on the decline in the city, referencing a report on crime statistics in 2024.
At the time, St. Louis Police Chief Robert Tracy credited the decline in crime to a modern, data-driven approach to fighting crime and the introduction of new transparency tools, such as crime mapping and an updated website.
“The men and women of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department are dedicated to seeing our positive progress continue into 2025,” Tracy said previously.
With other metropolises like Chicago, Baltimore and New Orleans being considered for National Guard deployment, Tracy was asked if the City of St. Louis may be added to that list.
In Monday’s news conference regarding gun violence in the city over the weekend, Tracy said he did not hear any conversations that the National Guard will be deployed to St. Louis.
“I did not hear any talks of them coming to St. Louis—at this time,” Tracy said to reporters. “Sometimes when things like that happen, they’re not a decision of the chief of police.”
Tracy did assure that if there are potential talks about National Guard control in St. Louis, he will have more clarity of what that scenario looks like for the city.
“But at this time, it’s not something that’s talked about,” Tracy said.
On Sept. 2, Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe rescinded all of his picks on SLMPD’s Board of Commissioners—which oversees operations of the department—to instead focus on redistricting and initiative petition reform.
Since Kehoe’s decision, SLMPD told FOX 2 that Tracy will continue overseeing the department.
And in Monday’s news conference, Tracy said that he wants the public to know that there is stability in the transition process and that there is confidence in his leadership.
