Law enforcement officials want special gun docket

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - A group of Missouri law enforcement officials is asking state lawmakers to create special armed-offender dockets for courts in the St. Louis and Kansas City areas.

A task force led by Attorney General Chris Koster issued the recommendations Friday as part of a report on curbing urban violence. The report asks the Legislature to consider special dockets that would prioritize violent offenses committed with firearms.

The group also asked law enforcement to boost cooperation and make better use of surveillance technology. It also recommended salary increases for county sheriffs.

Koster says Missouri's two largest cities each had more than 100 homicides last year. City officials and police department representatives from St. Louis City, Kansas City and St. Louis County joined Koster on the task force.