By St. Louis Public Radio
St. Louis – Gov. Jay Nixon has nominated a former police chief to the board the oversees the St. Louis police department.
Jerry Lee led the St. Louis County police force from 2004 until he retired in 2009. He had been with the department for 38 years. His appointment must be confirmed by the state Senate when it returns to session.
In a statement, Nixon called Lee's experience and insights "a tremendous asset."
If Lee is confirmed, Nixon will have selected all four appointed members to the board. Mayor Francis Slay is automatically the fifth. Lee would fill the seat of Todd Epsten, who resigned from the Board of Police Commissioners in May after being ousted as president by Bettye Battle-Turner, another Nixon nominee. Nixon said later that he had not talked to his three nominees about removing Epsten, but would not have been surprised if his senior staff had.