Audio Of St. Louis County Dispatcher's Racist Remarks Released

St. Louis MO

14 January, 2021

2:52 PM

Description

CBS St. Louis January 14, 2021 St. Louis County released the audio file of racist remarks a county dispatcher said on police radio last weekend. News 4 was able to obtain the audio after a lawyer sued the county, accusing them of breaking Sunshine laws. County police fought the audio's release, citing personnel matters. "For crying out loud, those [expletive] [expletive]," the dispatcher is heard saying in the Jan. 9 transmission. The context of the comments is still unclear, but the County Police Association claims the dispatcher directed the slur at a fellow employee. [READ: St. Louis County dispatcher investigated for using racial slur over police radio is chief's brother-in-law, sources say]News 4 has confirmed the dispatcher is Mark Peeler, St. Louis County Police Chief Mary Barton's brother-in-law. He is currently suspended and an internal investigation is ongoing. Chief Barton has previously denied there's systemic racism in the department but a recent independent review of the department found a serious racial divide in the ranks.