He referred to the recognition as a ‘big honor’ that is owed to the community he serves.
St. Louis officially declared Wesley Bell Day on Dec. 6 to honor the county’s first Black prosecutor.
He referred to the recognition as a “big honor” that is owed to the community he serves.
“To me, it is a testament to the men and women of the St. Louis County Prosecutor’s Office who wake up every day with the idea of public safety, with the idea of treating our victims with the dignity and respect that they deserve, and keeping this region safe. In that way, it’s a big honor,” he said.
During his tenor, Bell established the Diversion Committee and the Incident Review Unit. The unit allows people who have been wrongfully convicted to petition for the prosecuting attorney to review their case. Bell considers the measure, the first to be created in the country, a stride for criminal justice reform.
However, Bell will transition outside of local politics to help serve his St. Louis on a national scale. He was recently elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, serving on behalf of Missouri’s first district.
“This job as well as my soon-to-be job is about the work,” he added. “It’s about representing the interests of my constituents. The people right here in this region.”
While Bell will continue serving St. Louis in another capacity, the race to appoint his successor, a growing battle between Page and Missouri Governor Mike Parson, wages on. Page has already announced his pick for the next prosecuting attorney, but the GOP leader has assured his own plans to make the appointment.
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Source: Black Enterprise
