JEFFERSON CITY — Police officers throughout Missouri would no longer have to live within the cities they serve under a plan given preliminary approval by the Missouri House Wednesday.

Supporters said scrapping the mandate could help fill scores of vacancies in St. Louis, boosting the ability of the police department to fight crime in a city that saw 194 homicides in 2019.

“They are in drastic need of support for officers on the ground,” said Rep. Ron Hicks, R-Dardenne Prairie, who sponsored the legislation. “We need to free up the city of St. Louis.”

If approved, officers would be required to reside within an hour’s response time of their headquarters.

The legislation initially only affected St. Louis, but was expanded via an amendment by Rep. Nick Schroer, R-O’Fallon, to include all other Missouri municipalities, including Kansas City.

Schroer said residency requirements stifle the ability of cities to recruit a diverse workforce.

“If it’s good for St. Louis, it’s good for the entire state,” Schroer said.