>>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO" DONNYBROOK NEXT UP."

IT'S A TOASTY NIGHT IN ST. LOUIS AND WE'RE HAPPY TO WELCOME TO "DONNYBROOK NEXT UP" FOR THE FIRST TIME, WE HOPE SEVERAL TIMES IN THE FUTURE, ST. LOUIS COUNTY PROSECUTING ATTORNEY WESLEY BELL.

WELCOME.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> YOU WERE THE SUBJECT OF A RECENT CLASSIC BILL McCLELLAN COLUMN.

HAS THE DUST SETTLED FROM THE TRANSITION FROM THE CIRCUIT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IN THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS, BECAUSE THE MINUTE SHE LEFT AND THERE WAS SOME INVOLVEMENT IN TERMS OF HER ANOINTING YOU OR APPOINTING YOU AS A TRANSITIONAL CIRCUIT ATTORNEY, HAS THAT SETTLED DOWN A LITTLE BIT?

>> WELL, I THINK THE CIRCUIT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IN GENERAL IS STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

>> SURE.

>> IT'S PROBABLY THAT DUST STILL GOING AND I THINK THE GOVERNOR MADE A VERY GOOD CHOICE WITH GABE GORE, WHO I'VE BEEN ABLE TO MEET WITH AND TALK TO, AND WE STAND READY TO HELP, AND SO WITH RESPECT TO THE FORMER CIRCUIT ATTORNEY, SHE WAS INITIALLY SUPPOSED TO RESIGN ON JUNE 1st, AND I WAS ASKED BY THE MAYOR AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE CITY, AS WELL AS THE JUDGE TO REACH OUT AND TRY TO HELP WITH THAT TRANSITION, AND IT WAS RECEIVED POSITIVELY, AND SO WE STARTED THE PROCESS OF JUST TRYING TO HELP OUT IN ANY WAY WE COULD, AND THEN SHE RESIGNED AND OBVIOUSLY WE ARE WHERE WE ARE, AND AGAIN, WE'RE STILL READY TO HELP, AND WE ALREADY HAVE AN ATTORNEY THAT'S IN THE CITY HELPING OUT.

>> IN THE WARRANT OFFICE, WESLEY?

>> YES, SO WE HAVE AN INDIVIDUAL WHO WILL BE ACTUALLY IN THE WARRANT OFFICE IN THE MORNING -- NO, HE WAS THERE TODAY, ACTUALLY, AND THEN WE HAVE ANOTHER ONE TO TWO ATTORNEYS THAT WILL BE THERE TOMORROW, AND WE'RE HOPING TO HAVE FOUR TO FIVE -- AND THIS IS ALL SHORT-TERM OBVIOUSLY, BECAUSE WE KNOW THE CIRCUIT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, THERE'S A CRISIS, I THINK WE ALL KNOW THAT SO I THINK WE UNDERSTAND THAT REGIONALLY PUBLIC SAFETY IN THE CITY IMPACTS PUBLIC SAFETY IN THE COUNTY, SO WE UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE INVESTED.

WE HAVE AN INVESTMENT IN HELPING OUT, BUT ALSO I JUST THINK IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

>> AS SOMEBODY WHO HAS REALLY BEEN THROWN INTO THE POLITICAL RE REALM, RAISED IN ST. LOUIS COUNTY, YOUR FATHER IS A POLICE OFFICER, MOTHER IS A CIVIL SERVANT.

WERE YOU PREPARED FOR THE POLITICAL SIDE OF BEING A PROSECUTOR?

>> YOU KNOW, I HAD A LITTLE BIT OF TRAINING AS I WAS ELECTED TO THE FERGUSON CITY COUNCIL IN 2019, WHICH WAS ABOUT NINE MONTHS AFTER FERGUSON BECAME FERGUSON.

SO I WAS KIND OF BAPTIZED BY FIRE INTO POLITICS, AND WORKING WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, WITH THE CONSENT DECREE, REFORMING THE COURTS BRINGING THE COMMUNITY POLICING MODEL TO FERGUSON.

THAT WAS ONE OF THE FEW COUNCIL RACES THAT WAS COVERED NATIONALLY, WHICH THAT I WAS NOT PREPARED FOR.

COMPARATIVELY SPEAKING, COMPARED TO THAT, I WAS MORE THAN READY FOR THIS.

I ALSO HAD A GOOD TEAM, TOO.

WE HAD A GREAT GROUP OF FOLKS ON OUR TRANSITION THAT HELPED US TRANSITION INTO THIS OFFICE, JUDGE WOLF WAS OUR CHAIR OF THAT TEAM, AND EVEN NOW, WE GOT A GREAT GROUP AT THE ST. LOUIS COUNTY PROSECUTING ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, AND SO IT'S A TOUGH JOB, BUT YOU GOT GOOD PEOPLE AROUND YOU, IT MAKES IT, I WON'T SAY EA EASY BUT NOT AS DIFFICULT, IF YOU WILL.

>> A QUICK FOLLOW-UP, YOU TALK ABOUT HAVING GOOD PEOPLE AROUND YOU, THIS WAS SOMETHING AND THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE A POSTMORTEM ON KIM GARDNER'S TENURE, BUT WE KNOW SO MUCH INK HAS BEEN SPILLED ON THE FACT THAT SHE HAD ALMOST A 100% TURNOVER RATE.

WHAT DO YOU DO TO ENSURE THAT YOUR OFFICE REMAINS AS STABLE AS POSSIBLE?

>> I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO CHOOSE PUBLIC SERVICE ARE IN IT BECAUSE THEY CARE.

ATTORNEYS CAN MAKE A LOT MORE MONEY IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, BUT THEY'RE DOING THAT BECAUSE THEY CARE ABOUT VICTIMS.

THEY CARE ABOUT VICTIMSVICTIMSES' FAMILY AND PUBLIC SAFETY AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO TREAT THEM WITH THE RESPECT THEY DESERVE, SO WE TRY TO EMPOWER OUR PROSECUTORS TOMPORTANT TO TREAT THEM WITH THE RESPECT THEY DESERVE, SO WE TRY TO EMPOWER OUR PROSECUTORS TO BE ABLE TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND MAKE THE RIGHT CALLS.

WE LEAN ON THEM TO DICTATE WHAT THEY SHOULD AND SHOULDN'T DO.

I LIKE TO HEAR WHAT THEY SAY AND JUST TREATING PEOPLE WITH RESPECT.

IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS YOU NEED TO DO IN A JOB LIKE THIS.

>> WESLEY, YOU'VE BEEN AN ABSOLUTIST ABOUT CAPITAL PUNISHMENT.

>> UM-HUM.

>> AND RIGHT NOW IN PITTSBURGH ON TRIAL IS A MAN WHO SHOT UP A SYNAGOGUE AND KILLED I THINK IT WAS SEVEN PEOPLE, AND I LOOK AT CASES LIKE THAT, AND I THINK, I CAN SEE THE GENERAL PRINCIPLE OF WE'RE NOT GOING TO SAY THAT YOUR LIFE IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN YOUR LIFE AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO SEEK THE DEATH PENALTY AT ALL, BUT WHEN YOU HAVE SOMETHING THIS HORRIFIC AND YOU HAVE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE KILLED, DO YOU EVER THINK THAT MAYBE YOU SHOULD BE A LITTLE MORE FLEXIBLE AND NOT HAVE SUCH AN ABSOLUTIST POSITION?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT THERE'S AN ISSUE OF, WHAT I FEEL OR WHAT YOU FEEL PERSONALLY AND THERE'S GOOD POLICY, AND THE TWO DON'T ALWAYS INTERTWINE.

YOU KNOW, A TRIGGER FOR ME ARE CRIMES THAT INVOLVE KIDS, AND WHEN WE'RE DEALING WITH CASES LIKE THAT, YEAH, MAN, I WANT TO FLIP THE SWITCH IF I COULD ON INDIVIDUALS LIKE THIS, BUT FROM A POLICY STANDPOINT, THE DEATH PENALTY IS SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT DETERRENCE AND WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT THE JURISDICTIONS WITH THE DEATH PENALTY HAVE HIGHER HOMICIDE RATES THAN JURISDICTIONS WITHOUT THE DEATH PENALTY, AND SO SOME PEOPLE CONFLATE THE THINGS, CONFLATE THE ISSUES AND SAY WELL, IT'S AS IF YOU'RE TRYING TO LET THEM GO FREE.

NO, WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THE DEATH PENALTY IS DISPROPORTIONATELY APPLIED, IF YOU'RE BLACK OR BROWN OR JUST POOR, NO MATTER WHAT YOU ARE, WHITE, BLACK OR BROWN, IF YOU'RE POOR, YOU ARE MORE LIKELY TO GET THE DEATH PENALTY FOR THE EXACT SAME CASE, AND SO IF WE CAN'T GET IT RIGHT AND WE KNOW THAT POOR PEOPLE ARE MORE LIKELY TO GET IT, WE KNOW THAT IT DOESN'T HAVE THE DETERRENT EFFECT, WE KNOW IT COSTS TAXPAYERS MORE MONEY TO EXECUTE, BECAUSE OF ALL THE APPEALS, AND THINGS THAT KICK IN FROM A POLICY STANDPOINT, IT JUST DOES NOT, IT DOESN'T ADD UP, AND SO YEAH, WHEN WE LOOK AT AN INDIVIDUAL CASE LIKE THAT, I CANNOT HELP BUT TO SYMPATHIZE WITH THE FAMILIES AND VICTIMS.

IT'S JUST TERRIBLE, AND WITH THOSE TYPES OF CASES, THOSE INDIVIDUALS SHOULD GO TO JAIL FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIFE WITHOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF PAROLE, SO THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GET OUT ONE DAY, BUT FROM, WITH THE DEATH PENALTY, YOU KNOW, IN ADDITION TO THE OTHER THINGS THAT I MENTIONED, NATIONWIDE STATS SHOW THAT WE GET IT RIGHT -- WE GET IT WRONG, EXCUSE ME, CLOSE TO 10% OF THE TIME.

ONCE YOU GET IT WRONG WITH THE DEATH PENALTY, YOU CAN'T REALLY CORRECT THAT ONE.

SO YEAH, I UNDERSTAND, AND I UNDERSTAND THE, YOU KNOW, FROM THE HEART STRINGS THAT ARE PULLED WHEN YOU HEAR OF A SITUATION LIKE THAT, BUT FROM A POLICY STANDPOINT, I THINK IT'S JUST BETTER TO LOCK THEM UP FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIFE AND MOVE ON, AND IRONICALLY, THAT ACTUALLY GIVES FAMILIES CLOSURE BECAUSE DEATH PENALTY CASES TEND TO BE DRAWN OUT LONGER AND THE APPEALS LAST LONGER, AND SO TEN YEARS FROM CONVICTION A FAMILY THINKS THEY HAVE CLOSURE AND THEY GET THE CALL, A JUDGE OVERTURNED IT AND NOW WE HAVE TO DO IT AGAIN.

>> WITH THE CATHOLIC SUPPLY CASE, YOU SAID THAT AN IMPORTANT PART OF THAT WAS THAT THE FAMILY AGREED WITH YOU IN TERMS OF NOT PURSUING THE DEATH PENALTY.

IF THE FAMILY HAD DISAGREED, WOULD THAT HAVE IMPACTED YOUR DECISION?

>> WELL, JUST SO WE'RE ACCURATE, OUR POLICY WAS OUR POLICY FROM DAY ONE.

>> RIGHT.

>> AND THE FAMILY DID AGREE.

I MAKE A POINT TO MEET WITH ANY FAMILY THAT DEALS WITH THE TERRIBLE CRIME LIKE THAT, PERSONALLY, IF THEY WANT TO.

BECAUSE MANY MAY HAVE QUESTIONS.

AND I'VE HAD THAT QUESTION YET FROM SOME FAMILIES.

SOME AGREE, LIKE IN THE CATHOLIC SUPPLY MERGERS, THE AMAZING FAMILY, I SHOULD SAY, THEY THOUGHT THE DEATH PENALTY WAS TOO EASY.

THEY WANTED THEM TO SIT THERE AND HAVE TO REMEMBER THIS AND THINK ABOUT IT FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.

SO THERE'S DIFFERENT WAYS YOU CAN LOOK AT IT.

I WANT TO BE CLEAR, WE'RE NOT ADVOCATING PEOPLE GETTING OUT OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, IF THEY COMMIT THE CRIMES.

THEY HAVE TO GO TO JAIL FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIFE.

>> FOREVER, ABSOLUTELY.

>> DO YOU THINK THAT YOUR POSITION ON THE DEATH PENALTY, DOES YOUR SUPPORT POLITICALLY, DOES YOUR RE-ELECTION, SHOULD THAT, YOU KNOW, CAUSE THE REST OF US TO LOOK AT THE FACT THAT THIS ISSUE IS, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE CHANGING THE WAY THEY FEEL ABOUT THIS ISSUE, MAYBE?

>> WELL, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME, AS OF I THINK TWO YEARS AGO THAT A MAJORITY OF AMERICANS AGREE THAT THE DEATH PENALTY, WE SHOULD NOT HAVE THE DEATH PENALTY.

WE'RE THE LAST WESTERNIZED COUNTRY THAT STILL HAS THE DEATH PENALTY, AND SO I JUST THINK WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE DATA, AND I'M A DATA PERSON.

YOU LOOK AT THE DATA, WE SAW THAT ALL THE JURISDICTIONS WITH THE DEATH PENALTY HAD LOWER HOMICIDE RATES.

THAT WOULD BE AT LEAST AN ARGUMENT BUT IT'S NOT THE CASE AND SO I JUST THINK THAT MOST AMERICANS GET IT, AND I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SENDING PEOPLE TO JAIL FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIFE, NO PROBATION OR PAROLE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, SO THEY'LL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

WE'RE PAST THE EFFICACY OF THE DEATH PENALTY.

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK GARDNER LOST HER JOB NOT BECAUSE OF IDEOLOGICAL REASONS BUT COMPETENCY OR LACK THEREOF, BUT A NUMBER OF PROGRESSIVE PROSECUTORS HAVE FOUND THE PUBLIC BACKLASH AGAINST THEM, I MEAN, A MAN IN SAN FRANCISCO WAS RECALLED, THE PROSECUTOR IN PHILADELPHIA IMPEACHED BY THE STATE LEGISLATURE, AND YET HERE YOU ARE, YOU COASTED THE RELOCATION RECENTLY WITH NO REAL OPPOSITION.

WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THAT, WESLEY?

>> WELL, FIRST, JUST TO BE ACCURATE, KIM, THE FORMER CIRCUIT ATTORNEY, LEFT HER JOB.

YOU CAN ARGUE WHAT MAY HAVE HAPPENED, BUT SHE LEFT HER JOB.

>> ALRIGHT.

>> JUST FOR ACCURACY PURPOSES.

AND YOU KNOW, WITH US, AND WITH ME IN GENERAL, I TRY TO STAY AWAY FROM THE LABELS, BECAUSE I THINK IN OUR POLITICIZED SOCIETY, WE HIDE BEHIND LABELS SOMETIMES AND WE MAKE DECISIONS BASED ON WHAT OUR TRIBE SAYS WE SHOULD DO, OUR PARTY OR WHAT HAVE YOU, AND SO FOR ME, THIS JOB IS PRETTY SIMPLE.

SERIOUS AN VIOLENT CRIMES, WE'RE GOING TO AGGRESSIVELY PROSECUTE THEM.

FOR LOW-LEVEL NON-VIOLENT OFFENSES WHERE APPROPRIATE WE'LL LOOK AT ALTERNATIVES TO INCARCERATION, TREATMENT PROGRAMS, WHEN SOMEONE IS STRUGGLING WITH MENTAL HEALTH, STRUGGLING WITH OPIOID ADDICTION.

I THINK MOST ST. LOUISANS BELIEVE THOSE INDIVIDUALS SHOULD GET HELP IF THEY HAVEN'T COMMITTED ANY SERIOUS OR VIOLENT OFFENSES.

IT'S NOT ABOUT THE PROGRESSIVE TITLE.

I THINK MANY PEOPLE BELIEVE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I DO ARE PROGRESSIVE, AND I'M ABSOLUTELY FINE WITH THAT AND PROUD TO WEAR THAT, BUT ALSO THERE'S ANOTHER IDENTI SIDE OF IT.

THIS JOB IS ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY AS WELL, AND WHEN SOMEONE COMMITS A SERIOUS AND VIOLENT OFFENSE THEY'LL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN SUCCESSFUL DOING.

>> IF YOU WANT TO PASS ON THIS, THAT IS YOUR RIGHT, BUT GOING BACK TO THE CIRCUIT ATTORNEY FOR JUST A MOMENT, SHE ABSOLUTELY MADE IT ABOUT RACE, AND IN A CITY THAT IS SO RACIALLY POLARIZED IN SO MANY INSTANCES, IT SEEMED ANAN ESPECIALLY EGREGIOUS CHARGE WHEN SO MUCH OF IT WAS COMPETENCY FROM THE INSIDE OF HER OFFICE, THE REPORTS IN "THE POST DISPATCH" AND ELSEWHERE, IT SEEMED TO MAKE IT EVEN WORSE FOR THE PEOPLE WHEN RACE IS THE ISSUE.

AS AN AFRICAN AMERICAN PROSECUTOR, CAN YOU WEIGH IN ON THAT PART?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE LIKE TO ASK ME ABOUT THE CIRCUIT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IN THE CITY, AND I THINK PEOPLE FORGET, WE ARE THE LARGEST JURISDICTION IN THE STATE IN ST. LOUIS COUNTY.

WE HAVE 1 MILLION PEOPLE.

WHILE ST. LOUIS CITY MAY HAVE MORE VIOLENT CRIME, WE HAVE MORE CASES, JUST BECAUSE WE HAVE TRIPLE THE POPULATION.

SO I'M BUSY ENOUGH DOING MY JOB AS OPPOSED TO WONDERING WHAT TAKES ARE GOING ON IN THE CITY AND HOW DIFFERENT PEOPLE FEEL WITH DIFFERENT SITUATIONS, AND SO WHAT I'M FOCUSED ON IS PUBLIC SAFETY IN ST. LOUIS COUNTY.

I DO BELIEVE THAT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO THINK MORE REGIONALLY, SO WHEN THE MAYOR DID ASK ME TO NOT ONLY JOIN OUR TRANSITION TEAM, I WAS MORE THAN HAPPY TO DO THAT, AND THEN ACTUALLY REACH OUT AND WORK WITH AND WE'RE GOING TO WORK WITH WHOEVER IS IN THAT OFFICE, WE'RE GOING TO WORK WITH THEM, PARTICULARLY WHEN NEEDED ESPECIALLY AT A TIME OF CRISIS LIKE WE ARE NOW, AND SO THE MINUTES AFTER GABE GORE WAS SWORN IN, I TEXTED HIM TO LET HIM KNOW THAT WE WERE HERE TO HELP AND WE MET A COUPLE TIMES ALREADY, AND SO YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANT TO GET INVOLVED IN WHAT SHE MAY HAVE BEEN THINKING OR WHAT THE NEW CIRCUIT ATTORNEY MAY BE THINKING.

WHAT I'M FOE CAN YOU SEED ON AND LASER FOCUSSED IS ON IS PUBLIC SAFETY IN THIS REGION, PARTICULAR ST. LOUIS COUNTY.

>> LET ME HAVE YOU LASER FOCUS ON THE FUTURE.

>> YES, SIR.

>> BUZZ WESTFALL WAS A COUNTY PROSECUTOR WHO BECAME COUNTY EXECUTIVE.

I THINK THAT'S AN INTERESTING PROGRESSION, AND RIGHT NOW IN THE FIRST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, WE HAVE CORY BUSH, AND SHE JUST VOTED AGAINST THE BUDGET DEAL, AND SHE -- YOU TALK ABOUT LABELS.

SHE'S CLEARLY PROUD TO BE A PROGRESSIVE, TO THE POINT THAT SHE DOES SOME THINGS THAT RUB A LOT OF PEOPLE THE WRONG WAY.

HAVE YOU CONSIDERED -- >> A LOT OF DEMOCRATS THE WRONG WAY.

>> SOME PEOPLE LIKE ME.

I'M IN THE DISTRICT.

WHAT DO YOU SEE IS YOUR POLITICAL FUTURE?

>> MY POLITICAL FUTURE, I CAN TELL YOU THIS.

IF YOU UNDERSTOOD THE DAY-TO-DAY, AND YOU GOT A CHANCE TO COME TO OUR OFFICE, MR. McCLELLAN, WE HAVE 140 EMPLOYEES -- >> PLEASE CALL ME BILL, AS OLD AS I AM.

I'M GOING TO CALL YOU WESLEY.

>> IT'S RESPECT.

IT'S RESPECT.

WE HAVE 140 EMPLOYEE, CLOSE TO 70 ATTORNEYS.

YOU KNOW, THIS JOB IS TOUGH ENOUGH AS IS.

AND SO I DON'T WANT TO GET IN THE HABIT OF PONTIFICATING AND SPECULATING ON WHAT OTHER OFFICEHOLDERS ARE DOING AND THE REASONS THEY'RE DOING IT, PARTICULARLY WHEN I HAVE NO CONTROL OVER IT.

LIKE I SAID BEFORE, WHERE WE'RE FOCUSED ON IS PUBLIC SAFETY IN ST. LOUIS COUNTY.

I THINK THAT WE CAN DO TWO THINGS AT ONCE.

WE CAN WALK AND CHEW GUM.

WE IT AGGRESSIVELY PROSECUTE SERIOUS AND VIOLENT OFFENDERS AND WE CAN LOOK AT TREATMENT FOR THOSE WHO NEED AND DESERVE THOSE KIND OF PROGRAMS THAT ARE STRUGGLING WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE DISORDER AND MENTAL HEALTH CARE.

SO WHAT'S GOING ON IN WASHINGTON, THEY GOT A TOUGH ENOUGH JOB, AND I'M GOING TO STAY IN MY LANE, IN ST. LOUIS COUNTY, WHICH IS A LARGE LANE, BY THE WAY.

>> AND YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO MENTION THAT THAT WAS A POLITICALLY ASTUTE ANSWER.

YOU HAVE VERY ARTICULATELY SPOKEN ABOUT THE WORKLOAD.

THE $700,000 REQUEST FOR THE SATELLITE OFFICES, HOW HAS THAT -- HAS THAT HELPED AT ALL?

>> THAT WASN'T JUST FOR THE SATELLITE OFFICES.

THE SATELLITE OFFICES WERE INCLUDED IN THAT.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WORKED WITH OUR -- SO WE CREATED AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE, A POLICE CHIEF'S ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

WE HAVE ABOUT 15 CHIEFS THAT WE MEET WITH EVERY SIX TO EIGHT WEEKS, AND SO THAT WE CAN MAKE CERTAIN THAT WE'RE SITTING AT A TABLE LIKE THIS AND DISCUSSING ISSUES THAT CONCERN ALL OF US AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY EXPRESSED WAS THAT IF YOU'RE WAY OUT WEST OR WAY OUT NORTH, COMING TO CLAYTON FOR EVERY APPLICATION, WARRANT APPLICATION OR SEARCH WARRANT, IT CAN KEEP OFFICERS OFF THE STREET FOR EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, AND SO IF WE COULD GET A SATELLITE OFFICE OR TWO IN THOSE AREAS, IT WOULD JUST HELP THEM OUT AND SO WE SEE THE LAW ENFORCEMENT, WHICH 55 POLICE DEPARTMENTS IN ST. LOUIS COUNTY, WHICH IS UNIQUE, BUT WE SEE THEM ALL AS PARTNERS, AND SO THUS FAR, THE SATELLITE OFFICES HAVE BEEN VERY POPULAR WITH OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS.

NOW, WHAT WE'VE DONE IS WE SUSPENDED THEM FOR A WEEK OR TWO, SO THAT INDIVIDUAL COULD GO HELP OUT IN THE CITY.

WE TALKED TO OUR PARTNERS AHEAD OF TIME, TO THE CHIEFS AND ASKED THEM, ARE YOU OKAY WITH THIS AND UNANIMOUSLY, THEY ALL AGREED, BECAUSE THEY UNDERSTAND AS WELL, THE CRISIS THAT'S GOING ON IN THE CITY, AND SO WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE TRYING TO BE MORE PROACTIVE AS OPPOSED TO REACTIVE AND BY GETTING, BEING ABLE TO OPEN SATELLITE OFFICES, STARTING A VIOLENT CRIMES UNIT LIKE WE'VE DONE, A DEDICATED DOMESTIC VIOLENCE UNIT, A DEDICATED SEX TEAM THAT ALLOWS US TO BE MORE PROACTIVE AS OPPOSED TO REACTIVE.

SO I WOULD SAY THE ST. LOUIS COUNTY RESIDENTS ARE DEFINITELY GETTING THEIR MONEY'S WORTH.

>> WESLEY, WHEN YOU WERE ELECTED, IT CAME AS A SHOCK TO A LOT OF PEOPLE, INCLUDING ME.

AND A LOT OF PEOPLE IN YOUR OFFICE, AND THERE WAS AN INITIAL, I DON'T WANT TO CALL IT PANIC, BUT THE WORKERS VOTED TO UNIONIZE.

>> UM-HUM.

>> HOW HAS THAT WORKED OUT?

>> YOU KNOW, I DON'T -- AGAIN, I DON'T GET INVOLVED IN THINGS THAT DON'T CONCERN ME AND RIGHT NOW, THAT'S NOT A CONCERN.

IT HASN'T BEEN AN ISSUE.

WHAT HAS BEEN AN ISSUE IS A TREMENDOUS CULTURE IN THE OFFICE.

WE HAVE A GREAT GROUP OF MEN AND WOMEN WHO POOL TOGETHER, TO CARE FOR EACH OTHER AND HELP EACH OTHER.

YOU'RE RIGHT, EARLY ON, IT WAS DIFFERENT BUT THAT'S KIND OF PAR FOR THE COURSE, WHEN YOU HAVE A NEW PERSON COMING IN, SOME PEOPLE DON'T KNOW, AND YOU KNOW, AND THERE WASN'T THE OPEN ARMS FROM MY PREDECESSOR, AND SO BUT ONCE WE GOT A CHANCE TO GET IN THERE AND TALK TO HIM AND AGAIN, LET THEM KNOW THEY'RE GOING TO BE TREATED WITH RESPECT AND VALUED, YOU KNOW, WE HAVEN'T HEARD MUCH OF THAT.

>> THAT SPEAKS WELL TO YOU, AS A UNION PERSON MYSELF, I ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT THE BOSS HAS GOT THE KIND OF UNION THEY DESERVE.

AND SO IF YOU'RE HAVING NO TROUBLE, THAT'S VERY GOOD.

>> YOU KNOW, IN PUBLIC SERVICE, YOUR TURNOVER, YOU'RE ALWAYS GOING TO HAVE TURNOVER BECAUSE ATTORNEYS CAN ALWAYS GO TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND MAKE MORE MONEY BUT WE'VE HAD OUR LOWEST TURNOVER IN OVER 20 YEARS, LOOK AT THE NUMBERS AND BY AND LARGE, PEOPLE ARE STAYING.

WE HAVE HAD A COUPLE PEOPLE THAT WENT TO THE BENCH, JUDGESHIPS.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN COUNT THAT AGAINST US.

THAT WAS A GOOD THING.

A COUPLE WENT TO THE U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE BUT BY AND LARGE, FOLKS ARE STICKING AROUND AND IT'S JUST A GREAT GROUP OF MEN AND WOMEN.

I'M PROUD TO BE AMONGST THEM.

>> LET ME ASK A QUICK FOLLOW-UP, WENDY.

>> SURE.

>> YOU MENTIONED YOUR PREDECESSOR, BOB McCULLOUGH, AND BOB SEEMED VERY UPSET ABOUT LOSING.

NOW, HIS BROTHER HAS BEEN APPOINTED PROSECUTOR IN ST. CHARLES COUNTY.

>> RIGHT.

>> I KNOW THERE'S TRADITIONALLY BEEN A LOT OF BACK-AND-FORTH WITH THE TWO.

WHEN YOU HAVE THE CONFLICT, ST. CHARLES PICKED IT UP.

HOW ARE YOU WORKING WITH JOE McCULLOUGH?

>> WE HAD A TREMENDOUS RELATIONSHIP WITH TIM LOMAR, THE PRIOR PROSECUTOR IN ST. CHARLES.

MY DAD IS A RETIRED POLICE OFFICER 25 YEARS.

THE FIRST TIME I WAS GOING TO MEET THE NEW ST. CHARLES McCULLOUGH, JOE McCULLOUGH, HE CALLED ME AND SAID "HEY, TRY TO GET ALONG WITH HIM."

I WASN'T NOT GOING TO TRY TO GET ALONG BUT I'M LIKE FINE, DAD.

WHEN I DID SEE HIM, I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT, BECAUSE YOU KNOW, AGAIN, I DIDN'T GET THE WARMEST RECEPTION FROM MY PREDECESS PREDECESSOR, BUT HE WALKED UP TO ME AND REACHED OUT HIS HAND AND SAID "HEY, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU" AND EVERYTHING THAT'S DONE SINCE THEN HAS BEEN TOWARD THAT END, SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO A POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP, AND I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT WITH ALL OF OUR STAKEHOLDERS IN THIS AREA, BECAUSE THOSE WHO COMMIT SERIOUS CRIME DO NOT CARE ABOUT THESE MAGICAL BORDERS THAT WE DREW.

THEY'RE NOT GOING TO NOT STEAL A CAR BECAUSE I'M IN THE CITY AND THAT'S IN THE COUNTY.

WE HAVE TO ADDRESS PUBLIC SAFETY IN THE SAME MANNER OF WORKING TOGETHER, SHARING INTELLIGENCE AND EVEN BEING STRATEGIC ON PROSECUTIONS AND YOU'RE RIGHT BILL -- I SAID BILL -- >> THANK YOU, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. BELL.

>> AND YOU'RE RIGHT, WE DO -- IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE SEND A LOT OF CASES, NOT A LOT BUT CAN FLICK CASES TO THEM AND THEY CAN FLICK TO US AND IT'S IMPORTANT IN THE REGION AND I HAVE EVERY CONFIDENCE IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE JUST AS IT WAS WITH THE PREVIOUS ST. CHARLES PROSECUTOR.

>> SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO ATTENDED THE CRIME SUMMIT A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO WERE TALKING ABOUT THE FACT THAT THE BARRIERS WERE DOWN, AND THAT PEOPLE REALLY WERE APPROACHING EACH OTHER FROM DIFFERENT PARTIES, DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS, AND JUST HOW ENCOURAGING THAT WAS.

HOW IMPORTANT IS -- YOU SEEM TO BE REALLY OUT FRONT WHEN IT COMES TO OPEN LINES OF COMMUNICATION, COMMUNICATING PAST IDEOLOGICAL DIFFERENCES.

WHAT SORT OF A DIFFERENCE WOULD THAT MAKE?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT POLITICS IS POLITICS.

WE'RE ALL ADULTS HERE.

WE UNDERSTAND THAT.

BUT I THINK THIS OFFICE, THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE, IT SHOULD BE THE MOST APOLITICAL POSITION, BECAUSE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY.

YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT VICTIMS AND FAMILIES.

SO FROM DAY ONE, MYSELF AND FORMER CHIEF TIM SWOTE, WHO JOINED MY STAFF FROM THE DAY AFTER THE PRIMARY, WE STARTED REACHING OUT TO THE POLICE CHIEFS, SO WE COULD START BUILDING THOSE RELATIONSHIPS.

WE REACHED OUT TO THE THEN U.S. ATTORNEY, TIM LOMAR.

I LITERALLY COULDN'T GET SWORN IN BEFORE TIM WAS ALREADY BLOWING MY PHONE UP, IN A GOOD WAY OBVIOUSLY.

SO I JUST THINK THAT IT -- NOT ONLY IS IT IMPORTANT, I THINK IT'S INTEGRAL THAT WE WORK TOGETHER, ESPECIALLY IN THIS PARTICULAR ROLE, BECAUSE FAMILIES ARE DEPENDING ON IT.

BILL, TO YOUR POINT EARLIER, YOU KNOW, WHEN I WAS ASKED TO HELP IN THE CITY, WE SHARE A LOT OF DEFENDANTS MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE SHARE A LOT OF VICTIMS AND VICTIMSFAMILIES.

I KNEW THE BACKLOG.

IT WAS TOO IMPORTANT NOT TO GET INVOLVED.

WE HAVE GREAT RELATIONSHIPS BUT THAT'S INTENTIONAL.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO LET SMALL LITTLE JURISDICTIONAL SQUABBLES GET IN THE WAY OF PRODUCTIVE RELATIONSHIPS THAT BENEFIT THE RESIDENTS OF ST. LOUIS CITY, ST. LOUIS COUNTY, AND THIS ENTIRE REGION.

>> AS THE SON OF A POLICE OFFICER AND SOMEBODY WITH AN EYE ON THE FUTURE, AND AS YOU SAID, YOUNG PEOPLE CHANGING ATTITUDES, WHAT CAN WE DO TO HAVE A BETTER RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN YOUNG PEOPLE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT, IN YOUR OPINION, AS THE SON, NOT AS THE PROSECUTOR ATTORNEY OF ST. LOUIS COUNTY SO MUCH, BUT AS THE SON OF A POLICE OFFICER.

>> YOU KNOW, THAT'S AN INTERESTING QUESTION BECAUSE FOR ME, GROWING UP THE SON OF A POLICE OFFICER, I SAW POLICE OFFICERS IN THEIR BEST LIGHT, BUT AS A YOUNG AFRICAN AMERICAN, THERE WERE TIMES WHEN I WAS PULLED OVER JUST LIKE ANYONE ELSE.

AS A MATTER OF FACT I SAID THIS BEFORE, I WAS PULLED OVER, NOT A LOT, BUT OUR FRIENDS, WE'D BE DRIVING AROUND THE MOVIE THEATER, STUFF LIKE THAT, AND WE'D GET PULLED OVER AND I DIDN'T KNOW THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH IT UNTIL I GOT INTO LAW SCHOOL AND WAS READING THE CASE LAWS, OH, THEY WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO PULL ME OVER.

I'VE SEEN BOTH SIDES OF IT.

WHAT EVERYONE AGREES IS THAT IN ANY INDUSTRY, THERE'S ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT.

THERE'S NO INDUSTRY THAT'S PERFECT AND LAW ENFORCEMENT IS THE SAME.

THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT GET INTO LAW ENFORCEMENT BY AND LARGE DO IT FOR THE RIGHT REASONS.

PEOPLE MAKE MISTAKES AND WE HAVE GOTTEN AWAY FROM THE COMMUNITY POLICING MODEL THAT MANY FOLKS IN PREVIOUS GENERATIONS KNEW ABOUT, OFFICER WALKING AROUND AND THEY CALLED HIM OFFICER FRIENDLY OR WHAT HAVE YOU.

THEY KNEW PEOPLE ON HIS BEAT.

I WAS A CITY COUNCILMAN AND WE STARTED CHANGING THE, GOING TO A MORE COMMUNITY-ORIENTED POLICY, WE SAW THE TRUST BUILDING UP AND SO NOT ONLY DID IT MAKE RESIDENTS FEEL MORE CONFIDENT IN THEIR CITY, BUT IT ALSO HELPED US SOLVE CRIMES, BECAUSE MORE PEOPLE WERE WILLING TO CALL IN AND HELP.

>> THAT IS A VERY POSITIVE PLACE TO END OUR PROGRAM.

YOU HAVE HONORED US WITH YOUR PRESENCE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE, COUNTY PROSECUTOR WESLEY BELL.

FOR ALL OF US AT NINE PBS, HAVE A TERRIFIC WEEKEND.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT THURSDAY.

>>> "DONNYBROOK" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE SUPPORT OF THE BETSY AND THOMAS PATTERSON FOUNDATION AND THE MEMBERS OF NINE PBS.