St. Louis – Fifteen members of the St. Louis Police Department were disciplined Wednesday after officers seized World Series tickets from scalpers last fall and gave them to friends and family.
St. Louis Police Chief Joe Mokwa suspended eight officers without pay for two weeks for giving away the Cardinals tickets, which should have been stored as evidence. He recommended their rank be reduced for at least a year. They could lose up to $20,000 each in pay.
A lieutenant and three sergeants also await punishment for failure to supervise. Three other officers will be disciplined for violating an internal procedure.
The names of those involved were not made public. Mokwa says the St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office will review the matter to recommend if any criminal charges should be filed.
The department said its internal-affairs division started investigating in November after receiving a complaint.
Mokwa’s recommendations will be made to the Police Board on the grounds that the officers violated ethical standards and evidence-handling procedures.
