St. Louis County Police Department
The St. Louis County Police Department (SLCPD) is the primary and largest law enforcement agency serving St. Louis County in the U.S. state of Missouri. The current Chief of Police is Colonel Mary T. Barton. According to the Charter of St. Louis County, the county police chief has all of the criminal law enforcement duties of the sheriff of St. Louis County, except for the operation of the St. Louis County Jail, which is handled by the St. Louis County Department of Justice Services (civilian), court bailiff and service of civil process. Court bailiff/civil process duties are provided by a court-appointed sheriff and his employees, none of whom have law enforcement powers.
| St. Louis County Police Department | |
|---|---|
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| Common name | St. Louis County PD |
| Abbreviation | SLCPD |
| Motto | To Serve and Protect |
| Agency overview | |
| Formed |
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| Preceding agency |
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| Employees | 1,290 (2020) |
| Annual budget | $87,561,609 (2010)[2] $87,673,800 (2011)[3] $141,515,890 (2020) [4] |
| Jurisdictional structure | |
| Operations jurisdiction | St. Louis County, Missouri, United States |
 | |
| jurisdiction of St. Louis County Police Department | |
| Size | 520 sq mi (1,300 km2). |
| Population | 998,954 (2016 Census) |
| Legal jurisdiction | St. Louis County, Missouri |
| Governing body | St. Louis County Board of Police Commissioners |
| Constituting instrument |
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| General nature |
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| Headquarters | 7900 Forsyth Boulevard St. Louis, Missouri 63105 |
| Sworn members | 1,100 (2020) |
| Unsworn members | 329 (2018) |
| Board of Police Commissionerss responsible |
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| Agency executives |
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| Facilities | |
| Precincts | 8 Precincts, 12 sub-stations |
| Helicopter/Airplanes | 6 Helicopter, 1 Fixed Wing |
| Website | |
| St. Louis County Police Department Official Website | |
The St. Louis County Police Department is the Largest County police agency in Missouri, based on number of employees, county population, and geographic area served.
This change in law enforcement services occurred in 1955, when the St. Louis County Charter was amended by the voters to restrict the duties of the St. Louis County Sheriff's Office. The position of elected sheriff was eliminated. St. Louis County is one of two counties in Missouri that does not have an elected sheriff. With the charter amendment, all law enforcement services were assigned to a new police agency, the St. Louis County Police Department. The department is primarily responsible for law enforcement and investigations within unincorporated St. Louis County and contract municipalities, however, it has full police authority throughout the county, including its 88 municipalities which are also served by 58 local police departments, some of them very small.[5] Additionally, St. Louis County police officers are authorized to enforce Missouri law in all counties in the state having a government of the first classification, which includes the independent City of St. Louis. Chief Mary Barton was appointed to the position of Chief of Police on May 1, 2020 by the St. Louis County Board of Police Commissioners.
Departmental history
The St. Louis County Police Department was established in 1955. The department was created with 95 officers and 18 civilian employees.[6] The department is divided into four divisions: Patrol, Operational Support, Special Operations, and Criminal Investigation. It is the third largest local police agency in the state, the only county police department in Missouri, and one of only a few in the United States. The SLCPD is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies. CALEA is the only international body that accredits law enforcement agencies. Only seven percent of all U.S. law enforcement agencies are accredited. In 2010, CALEA recognized the St. Louis County Police Department with it distinguished Tri-Arc Award. The Tri-Arc Award is reserved for those police agencies that have successfully accredited their law enforcement services, police academy and communications division. Only six agencies in the world have achieved this status.
Fallen officers
From October 4, 1871, to October 6, 2016, the Officer Down Memorial Page reported that 13 officers in the St. Louis County Police Department died in the line of duty,[7] 5 of them from gunfire,[8] 5 from automobile-related incidents, 1 from being stabbed, and 2 from heart attacks.[8] Many families of those killed in the line of duty get support from BackStoppers, a local charity.
The causes of death are as follows:
| Cause of deaths | Deaths |
|---|---|
| Aircraft accident | |
| Automobile accident | |
| Assault | |
| Electrocuted | |
| Fall | |
| Gunfire | |
| Gunfire (accidental) | |
| Heart attack | |
| Motorcycle accident | |
| Stabbed | |
| Struck by streetcar | |
| Struck by train | |
| Struck by vehicle | |
| Structure collapse | |
| Vehicular assault | |
| Total | 13 |
Board of Police Commissioners
The St. Louis County Board of Police Commissioners is responsible for the operation of the department . The Board sets policy, makes promotions, holds both closed and open meetings and coordinates with the Chief of Police in providing police services to the citizens. Four of the five members of the board are selected by the County Executive of St. Louis County, following approval of the County Council, with the County Executive serving as the sixth member. As provided in the St. Louis County Charter, the St. Louis County Police Department operates under the control of a civilian board of commissioners appointed by the County Executive with the approval of a majority of the County Council. Commissioners serve overlapping three year terms.
As of 2020, the membership is: Board of Commissioners
| Member | Title | Party |
|---|---|---|
| William Ray Price Jr. | Chairman | |
| Michelle Schwerin | Vice Chairman | |
| Dr. Laurie Punch | Board Member | |
| Thomasina Hassler | Board Member | |
| Mr. Mark Gaertner | Board Member |
Executive Command Staff
The Chief of Police serves as the senior sworn member of the SLCPD. Mary T. Barton is the 9th individual to hold the post and 1st Female Chief in SLCPD History. Prior to 1955 the position was known as the Superintendent of Police and after that Chief of Police.[9]
The Office of the Chief of Police is responsible for the planning, efficient administration and operation of the Police Department under the authority of the Board of Police Commissioners.
The Chief of Police reports directly to the Board of Police Commissioners .
The Office of the Chief of Police has Seven units or bureaus[10]:
- Chief of Police: Colonel Mary T. Barton (appointed to the position of Chief of Police on May 1, 2020)
- Deputy Chief of Police: Lieutenant Colonel Kenneth Gregory
- Bureau of Professional Standards
- Public Information Office
- Intelligence
- Executive Protection Detail
- Strategy and Risk Management
Chief's of Police
| Chief of Police | Term began & Term Ended | |
|---|---|---|
| Albert E. DuBois | 1955-1956 | |
| Raymond W. Hensley | 1956-1969 | |
| Robert J. diGrazia | 1969-1972 | |
| G. H. Kleinknecht | 1973-1990 | |
| Ronald A. Battelle | 1990-2004 | |
| Jerry Lee | 2004-2009 | |
| Timothy E. Fitch | 2009-2013 | |
| Jon M. Belmar | 2014 - 2020 | |
| Mary T. Barton | 2020 - Present |
Division of Patrol
The SLCPD is divided into eight police precincts, two of which are contracted cities, Fenton and Wildwood (5th and 6th). Each precinct's cars are issued plates with a letter corresponding to the assigned precinct. On November 1, 2010, the SLCPD took command of the City of Jennings Police Department under contract. The agency contracts with another 16 municipal governments to provide full-time police protection. Although the agency has full police authority of the sheriff in the entire county, including all municipalities, direct service population for the SLCPD is over 400,000 residents. A majority of these 400,000 residents are located in South St. Louis County and Affton, both of which are unincorporated but heavily populated and suburban. The division fields 33 School Resource Officers (SRO) to various school districts in the county. A volunteer Reserve Police Unit provides uniformed support to the division. The Division of Patrol is commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Bryan Ludwig.
| Police Precincts | Police Captain |
|---|---|
| 1 Commander of the North County Precinct | Tim Cunningham |
| 2 Commander of the Central County Precinct | John Wheeler |
| 3 Commander of the Affton-Southwest Precinct | Melissa Webb |
| 4 Commander of the South County Precinct | Jim Schneider |
| 5 Commander of the City Fenton Precinct | Norman Mann |
| 6 Commander of the Wildwood Precinct | James Mundel |
| 7 Commander of the West County Precinct | Mary Barton |
| 8 Commander of City of Jennings Precinct | Jason Law |
County Police Precincts
- 1st- North County (Plates: A)
- 2nd- Central County (Plates: B)
- 3rd- Affton Southwest County (Plates: C)
- 4th- South County (Plates: D)
- 5th- City of Fenton (Plates: F)
- 6th- City of Wildwood (Plates: G)
- 7th- West County (Plates: H)
- 8th - Jennings (Plates: J)
Vehicles marked with plates "T" are Tactical Unit vehicles or are used for the Tactical Unit; vehicles with plates "E" are for administration, D.A.R.E., K-9 Units, MetroLink, or other special non-patrol units. [6]
Patrol Officers are issued the SIG Sauer P229R .40 semi-automatic pistol which replaced the Smith and Wesson 4006 .40 semi-automatic pistol in 2007. Detectives were issued the S&W 4013 .40 and the S&W 4014 .40, but now carry the SIG Sauer P229R .40 like the patrol officers.
Division of Special Operations
In 2004, the St. Louis County Police Department, the Metropolitan Police Department, City of St. Louis, and the St. Charles County Sheriff's Department joined together to share resources and created the Metro Air Support. Metro Air Support, as of July 2, 2007, boasts 6 helicopters, 1 fixed wing airplane, 5 pilots, 1 flight instructor, and 8 Crew Chiefs.[11]
In addition to Metro Air Support, the Division of Special Operations staffs a full-time Tactical (SWAT) Unit consisting of 21 members, as well as nine K-9 Units trained to detect narcotics, locate missing persons and apprehend suspects. As a matter of policy, the department uses SWAT and police dogs to serve all felony warrants.[12] Special Operations is also responsible for entrance security at the County Jail, Family Court and St. Louis County Courthouse in Clayton, the Crisis Intervention Team, DARE, Highway Safety Unit, Chaplains, MetroLink Unit, and the Office of Emergency Management. The Division of Special Operations is commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Jeff Bader.
Division of Criminal Investigation
The SLCPD has the largest investigative unit in the state. Nearly 200 detectives provide county-wide services for the crimes of homicide, child abuse, St. Louis Regional Bomb and Arson Unit, domestic violence, sexual assault, fugitive apprehension, auto theft, burglary, fraud, robbery, drug abuse, and child exploitation. The SLCPD also has a full-time ASCLAD-Lab accredited Crime Laboratory, Intelligence Unit, Fingerprint Unit, Prisoner Conveyance Unit, Crime Scene Unit (CSI) and Polygraph Unit. The Division of Criminal Investigation is commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Mike Busalaki.
Division of Operational Support
The SLCPD provides a wide range of support services for the department and community which include the following:
- Fiscal Services (budget)
- St. Louis County and Municipal Police Academy (CMPA)
- Planning & Analysis Unit
- Bureau of Professional Standards (Internal Affairs)
- 911 (Communications) Center
- Computer Services Unit
- Sex Offender Registration Unit
- Central Police Records Unit
- Vehicle & Supply Unit
- Staff Inspections Unit
- Office Services Unit
The Division is commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Troy Doyle
Commissioned/sworn positions
The SLCPD uses the following ranks.
Officers with the power of arrest.
| Title | Insignia |
|---|---|
| Chief of Police |  |
| Deputy Chief of Police |  |
| Captain |  |
| Lieutenant |  |
| Sergeant |  |
| Detective |  |
| Police Officer | |
| Probationary Police Officer | |
Professional staff (non-sworn) positions
- Professional any non-supervisory employee that is not commissioned.
- Supervisor Professional staff employee equal to rank or pay grade of commissioned Sergeant or Lieutenant
- Director Professional staff employee equal to rank or pay grade of commissioned Captain
- Executive Director Professional staff employee equal to rank or pay grade of commissioned Lieutenant Colonel
Misconduct
On October 25, 2019, a jury awarded $20 million to a police sergeant for discrimination by the St. Louis County Police Department.[13] Witnesses testified that police department leadership had said that the sergeant would never be promoted because he was "way too out there with his gayness and he needed to tone it down if he wanted a white shirt." (The command staff are called "white shirts" because of the color of their uniform shirts.) [14] On October 27 County Executive Sam Page announced that "the time for leadership changes has come and change must start at the top" of the St. Louis County Police Department.[15] After reaching the settlement, Chief Jon Belmar resigned from his position. It is unclear if insurance would cover the amount. [16]
See also
References
- "The St. Louis County Police Department: Then and Now". St. Louis County. Retrieved November 29, 2014.
- "Download". www.stlouisco.com. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2020-05-07.
- "Budget summary" (PDF). www.stlouisco.com. 2012. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2019-07-04.
- New Flordell Hills police force off to rough start as officer is charged with stealing from evidence room; by Jennifer S Mann, 2 October 2014, St Louis Post-Dispatch
- "St. Louis County Government". stlouiscountypolice.com. Archived from the original on 2018-08-25. Retrieved 2018-08-21.
- "Fallen Officers". Officer Down Memorial Page. Archived from the original on 2016-10-13. Retrieved 2016-10-07.
- "St. Louis County Police Department, MO". The Officer Down Memorial Page (ODMP). Archived from the original on 2016-10-13. Retrieved 2016-10-07.
- "Chief of Police". stlouiscountypolice.com. Archived from the original on 2020-02-28. Retrieved 2020-02-12.
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2019-09-12. Retrieved 2020-04-23.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- Metro Airborne Law Enforcement of St. Louis, Mo Archived 2007-07-03 at the Wayback Machine
- Balko, Radley (4 June 2015). "Lawsuit: St. Louis County sent SWAT team, killed a dog over code violations". Washington Post. Archived from the original on 6 June 2015. Retrieved 6 June 2015.
- "A cop was told to 'tone down your gayness.' Now, he could get nearly $20 million, jury says". Archived from the original on 2019-10-28. Retrieved 2019-10-28.
- Jurors say police sergeant should get almost million in discrimination; by Christine byers, 25 October 2019, St Louis Post-Dispatch
- "County Executive Sam Page".
- Kohler, Jeremy. "St. Louis County reaches $10.25 million settlement with Wildhaber in discrimination suit". Saint Louis Post-Dispatch. Archived from the original on 11 February 2020. Retrieved 11 February 2020.