St. Louis police are dropping plans for a reality TV docuseries after community pushback.
The department had been in talks with a production company tied to 'Law & Order' creator Dick Wolf for a show about its work reducing gun violence.
But Mayor Cara Spencer blasted the idea, calling it ridiculous and raising concerns about residents' privacy and constitutional rights.
In years past, economic development officials have debated whether to acknowledge issues like crime and Ferguson in campaigns like the one for Amazon HQ2. On that one, they decided to focus on more positive traits of the region.
St. Louis has struggled since at least the 1980s' National Lampoon's Vacation to shift people's perceptions of St. Louis away from crime and decay.
In a statement, SLMPD said it heard the community and won’t move forward.
OUR ORIGINAL STORY:
St. Louis Police may get their own TV show.
That's if the St. Louis Board of Police Commissioners approves a contract with Lucky 8, known for their show 'To Catch A Smuggler', to produce a show focused on St. Louis police that would air on A&E.
City Police spokesman Mitch McCoy says St. Louis has a perception problem and the television show would help.
"I have routinely said no to COPS, I've routinely said no to Live PD, I've routinely said not to these national shows that want to show a 15 second foot pursuit. That does not help us change perception. That does not help us at all showcase what our city has to offer," McCoy said.
The Board postponed a vote on the contract Wednesday saying more clarification is needed along with the Mayor's input.
Mayor Cara Spencer is in Cincinnati and Detroit this week to study their downtown redevelopment.
The St. Louis Fire Department was featured on national television in A&E's 'Live Rescue' show in 2019.
