Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Police Services topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Dardenne Prairie reviews county contract options to boost patrol visibility, requests overnight call data
Summary
City officials reviewed four Saint Charles County contract options to increase patrol presence in Dardenne Prairie, with staff recommending Option 4 (two additional liaison officers). Board members asked the county for 12 months of overnight call-for-service metrics before deciding on adding overnight coverage.
City officials at a Dardenne Prairie Board of Aldermen work session discussed options to expand contracted police coverage with Saint Charles County, focusing on visibility in subdivisions and school zones.
City Administrator Kathy Pratt, joining remotely, said residents and board members have expressed a desire for a community-police presence rather than just reactive responses. Pratt described four county-developed options and said the packet recommended Option 4, which she said would provide two officers working roughly 40 hours each; she cited a cost estimate for that option of about $271,156.
The board and county staff discussed how additional officers would be scheduled. Several aldermen and a resident raised concerns about late-night speeding, unlicensed drivers and neighborhood harassment, arguing the city needs stronger patrols to address traffic and quality-of-life complaints. One participant said, “we have a community of citizens that do not feel safe in their neighborhoods,” and urged consideration of at least one overnight officer.
County Captain Hunt (Saint Charles County Police) told the board the options can be tailored to the city’s needs but noted operational constraints. He explained the county’s 12-hour shift model and said adding dedicated officers generally raises traffic enforcement and visibility. He also confirmed the county will respond to emergency calls in the city even if the dedicated Dardenne Prairie car is on another call.
Board members pressed whether three dedicated officers or overlapping shifts could provide full 24-hour coverage. County staff said 24-hour coverage would require assigning additional hours beyond the current contracted window and likely hiring more officers or adjusting payroll arrangements to cover the extra 8-hour gap per day.
Officials asked the county to provide data to inform the decision. Captain Hunt agreed to provide 12 months of call-for-service metrics for the overnight gap (roughly 02:15–06:15) and weekend activity. Mayor and staff asked aldermen to send email feedback to City Administrator Kathy Pratt so the board can review options after receiving the metrics.
No formal motion or vote on a contract change was recorded at the work session; the board said it would continue discussion at a future meeting after reviewing the county’s data.
