The 1,000-member St. Louis Police Officers’ Association announced this morning that it has endorsed state Sen. Chris Koster, D-Harrisonville, for Missouri Attorney General.

Koster contended that, “together with endorsements from the Missouri State Fraternal Order of Police and the Missouri Deputy Sheriffs’ Association, the association’s endorsement solidifies the law enforcement community’s unanimous support…”

Said Sgt. Gary Wiegert, president of the St. Louis Police Officers’ Association: “Senator Koster understands law enforcement’s needs and challenges because of his long, impressive career fighting to keep sexual predators, violent criminals and methamphetamines off our streets. Senator Koster has championed these issues both as Cass County Prosecuting Attorney and in the State Senate, and we look forward to working hand-in-hand with him when he is our next Attorney General.”

Koster said in a statement: “For my entire professional life, I have stood firmly behind law enforcement because of their steadfast commitment to keeping our communities safe and crime-free. I am honored by the overwhelming support they have shown me in this campaign, and humbled by their belief that my ten years as Cass County Prosecutor make me uniquely qualified to be this state’s next chief law enforcement officer.”

Meanwhile, a rival Democrat — state Rep. Margaret Donnelly of Richmond Heights — rolled out, en masse, a reminder of her earlier local endorsements for attorney general.

They include: St. Louis Comptroller Darlene Green, St. Louis City Collector Mike McMillan, Alderwomen April Ford-Griffin and Kacie Starr-Triplett, Aldermen Jeffrey Boyd and Steve Conway, Alderwoman Kacie Starr-Triplett, former aldermanic President Jim Shrewsbury, former St. Louis Prosecuting Attorney Dee Joyce Hayes and Former Supreme Court Justice Ronnie White.

Other St. Louis area Democrats on Donnelly’s list include:
state Senators Joan Bray and Rita Days, state Reps. Rachel Storch, Clint Zweifel, Michael Spreng, Jamilah Nasheed, Michael Vogt, Tom Villa, Jeanette Mott-Oxford, Mike Frame, Robin Wright-Jones, Sam Komo, Maria Chappelle-Nadal, and Mike Daus, former state Treasurer Nancy Farmer, and former state Democratic Party Chair May Scheve, also a former state legislator.

Donnelly also cited a long list of local township and ward endorsements. Overall, she said, “I am excited and honored to have the support of so many prominent officials and organizations in the Saint Louis region.

“As we head towards the crucial choice of the Democratic Party’s nominee for Attorney General, I feel our momentum growing as people hear our message and realize that protecting Missouri’s children and families isn’t just a campaign slogan. It’s what I’ve done all my life in my law practice and in my public service and that is what I will bring to the Attorney General’s Office.”