ST. LOUIS — Residents and city leaders demand more transparency after another police cruiser crashed this week.
This time into the front lawn of The New Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church at the corner of Page and North Euclid in St. Louis.
"This wasn't good news but it wasn't the worst news," Dr. Yolonda Yancie, a resident who serves the 18th Ward for the St. Louis Democratic Central Committee, said.
"I think the bigger question that needs to be raised is why is this happening and how is this happening," Alderman Rasheen Aldridge of the 14th Ward said.
St. Louis police said the crash happened at 11:30 a.m. Thursday. Two police officers were inside the cruiser and had non-life-threatening injuries. No other vehicles were involved.
Yancie said she calls the church 'home,' and said crashes on the corner are nothing new.
"Concrete blocks were put up because several people were running up on the grass and into the church years back," Yancie added.
Yancie said something needs to be done.
"We just need to be safer and make sure we look out for one another ... civilians, community, people and watch out for our officers as well. Everybody is held accountable and everybody has to be responsible," Yancie said.
According to department protocol, officers don't have to do a toxicology report when a crash happens.
Aldridge said he wants to see change and believes the city should help with property damage costs.
"Even though I know it's not the protocol on the police department to do a toxicology report, I think law enforcement (is) held to a higher standard. Not saying they did anything wrong, but I believe in a toxicology report especially when the community has distrust," Aldridge said.
This incident added to a list of six other crashes involving cruisers since December, including the one at Bar PM in south St. Louis. A police officer slammed into the building.
The department said the investigation into the circumstances of the accident is still underway.
Crashes involving St. Louis cruisers dating back to December 2023:
- Feb. 8: St. Louis police say a crash happened in the 1200 block of Euclid at 11:30 a.m. Thursday. Two police officers were in the cruiser at the time of the crash and suffered minor injuries. No other vehicles were involved.
- Feb. 2: A police cruiser was involved in a crash in the Carondelet neighborhood on Minnesota Avenue. Another car was overturned on its side, and there was also damage to a parked car.
- Jan. 7: Two St. Louis police officers were temporarily hospitalized after a crash near Olive and 20th streets.
- Jan. 1: A police cruiser and a moped were involved in a crash at the intersection of Utah and Jefferson in South City. Police said there were minor injuries.
- Dec. 18: A police SUV crashed through the front brick wall of Bar:PM. One of the owners of the well-known LGBTQ bar was arrested after a confrontation with officers after the accident.
- Dec. 12: A police cruiser traveled west on St. Louis Avenue and a Nissan traveled northbound on Sarah Street when both flew through stop signs. The lights on the officer's squad car were not turned on when the Nissan collided with the back of it.