Mayor Cara Spencer freezes Robert Tracy raise amid state inquiry
St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer has frozen a $110,000 raise for Police Chief Robert Tracy amid an investigation into whether the contract approval violated Missouri’s open-meetings statute. The pause halts a pay increase that city officials estimate would ultimately cost taxpayers over $1 million when factoring in pension and associated benefits.
Contract Approval Triggers State Investigation
The controversy centers on a rapid sequence of meetings held by the state-appointed Board of Police Commissioners in mid-October. On October 15, the board convened a special session dedicated to closed-door legal and employment discussions. Two days later, on October 17, the board held an emergency meeting at 11 a.m. to vote on Chief Tracy’s contract extension.
State law generally requires 24 hours’ notice before public body meetings to ensure transparency. However, the statute includes provisions permitting shorter notice for good cause. The board defended its timeline by citing a binding deadline of 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 17, 2026, requiring board action, while members later indicated an urgent need to retain Tracy in St. Louis.
Mike Kehoe requested an investigation into the fast-tracked process, prompting Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway to launch a formal inquiry on Friday. Government belongs to the people, and they deserve public officials who conduct business in the open, not behind closed doors,
Hanaway said in a statement, adding that investigators will follow the law to uphold citizen transparency rights.
Police Board Raises Cost Taxpayers over $1 Million
Although the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department operates under state control, the municipal government processes all departmental payroll through Comptroller Donna Baringer’s office. Mayor Spencer stated on Friday that Tracy’s paycheck issued that day improperly reflected the higher salary tier. Spencer noted that her office was not knowingly acting outside the comptroller’s wishes when implementing the temporary freeze.
The Police Board went behind closed doors and handed out a significant raise that, with pension and other costs, will end up costing taxpayers well over $1 million,
Spencer said in her public statement. It’s as if they believe the people of St. Louis have no right to know how their own money is being spent.
Governor Kehoe acknowledged that the board held the legal authority to negotiate the deal, but maintained that the non-transparent process raised serious concerns. A formal judicial finding that the board violated the Sunshine Law could result in the contract’s invalidation alongside a $1,000 statutory penalty for individual board members.
Police Union Supports State Inquiry into Department
The St. Louis Police Officers’ Association expressed continued support for state oversight of the department while welcoming the state-level inquiry. We strongly support the Governor’s efforts to ensure that the public’s trust is protected and that no government body operates above the law,
association President Martin Garcia stated, though the union declined to comment directly on the salary freeze.
Chief Tracy released a brief statement on Friday maintaining that his primary focus remains reducing crime rates in St. Louis. The Board of Police Commissioners has not yet issued a response regarding the salary suspension, though members previously pledged full cooperation with the attorney general’s ongoing investigation.