Belmar has been an advocate of reform among municipal police departments, but on Thursday he said: “When we take look at the city of St. Louis and the challenges it has today, whether it’s economic development or crime or a combination of both, I don’t necessarily think we can draw a line and eliminate the Kirkwood Police Department and say this is the answer to our problems.”

Part of the rationale behind combining all police departments is that 75 percent of the 52 municipal police departments in St. Louis County are unaccredited, and are frequently criticized for providing subpar police services. Another is that the St. Louis crime rate could be diluted with a larger population.

But the idea of eliminating municipal police departments and governments in St. Louis County is something the Municipal League opposes, said league Executive Director Pat Kelly. All but three municipal police departments are on track to become certified, he said.

He said Belmar met with him and “several other municipal police chiefs” weeks ago. “His plan sounds a lot like what I was recommending in that meeting, I just didn’t know he had put anything in writing yet,” Kelly said.