Missouri witness protection fund headed to Gov. Parson after senate approval

A bill to create a witness protection fund is on its way to Gov. Mike Parson’s desk after unanimous approval by the Missouri Senate Wednesday.

That measure is one of several aimed at addressing violent crime, the subject of the special session called by Parson in late July.

The fund would be run by the Department of Safety, and money would be disbursed to law enforcement agencies to provide security for witnesses and their families “before, during and after criminal trials,” said Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer of Parkville, who sponsored the legislation.

“Far too often, suspects charged with violent crimes walk free because witnesses are afraid to cooperate,” Luetkemeyer said.

“This is a fear that no one should have to live with, especially when they can bring violent criminals to justice.”

The House approved the bill last week. But exactly how the program would be financed remains unclear. The bill’s fiscal note indicates that the fiscal impact of the program is slightly over $1 million for the first three years.

Missouri has the third-highest murder rate in the country. There have been at least 131 homicides in Kansas City and 158 in St. Louis this year, totals both substantially ahead of last year’s rate.

The bill has been a legislative priority for Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas and Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker. Kansas City police detectives have had to use their own money to relocate witnesses during murder investigations, The Star reported in late 2019.

“We’ve put people on Greyhound to get them out of here,” Peters Baker said at the time. “But that is like a patchwork that we are putting together and we don’t have any holistic approach.”

The Senate also passed by 29-to-1 a bill stating that an individual endangers a child by knowingly causing the child to engage in weapons or drug offenses.

Another measure that passed 25-to-5 would eliminate the residency requirement for St. Louis public safety employees, including police officers. The bill would expire in three years unless lawmakers voted to extend it.