() Missouri lawmakers are poised to put control of St. Louis’ police department in the hands of a governor-appointed board this week.

The move comes nearly 13 years after voters approved a petition to return police oversight to local leaders for the first time since before the start of the Civil War.

Republican lawmakers have argued that the return to local leaders was not successful, pointing to crime numbers and population decline in St. Louis.

Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe says state control over the department is needed for public safety.

Critics of the proposed bill argue violent crime has decreased under local leadership.

If approved, St. Louis would rejoin Kansas City as the only major U.S. cities with state-run police forces. The Kansas City department has been under state control since 1939.