Police Disciplined For Improper Use Of World Series Tickets

Wednesday, April 4th 2007, 5:04 pm

By: News On 6

ST. LOUIS (AP) _ Fifteen members of the St. Louis police department were disciplined Wednesday, after officers seized World Series tickets from scalpers and gave them to friends and family.

St. Louis Police Chief Joe Mokwa suspended eight officers without pay for two weeks for giving away the Cardinals tickets, which should have been stored as evidence. He recommended their rank be reduced for at least a year. They could lose up to $20,000 each in pay.

A lieutenant and three sergeants also await punishment for failure to supervise. Another three officers will be disciplined for violating an internal procedure.

The names of those involved were not made public. Mokwa says the St. Louis Circuit Attorney's office will review the matter to recommend if any criminal charges should be filed.

The department said its internal affairs division started investigating last November after receiving a complaint.

``This is a very emotional time for the Department and for me because families and careers are impacted by this disciplinary action,'' Mokwa said in a statement.

Mokwa's recommendations will be made to the Police Board on the grounds that the officers violated ethical standards and evidence handling procedures.

The president of the St. Louis Police Officers' Association, Sgt. Kevin Ahlbrand, said the association is satisfied the punishment is in line with the offense.

Tickets are no longer torn at Busch Stadium but are electronically scanned. The tickets were stored as evidence after they were used but should have been stored immediately after being confiscated, police have said.

Face value of World Series tickets at Busch Stadium ranged from $50 to $250 each. The Cardinals hosted three games during their World Series win over Detroit last October.