| Metropolitan Police Department of the City of St. Louis | |
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The current Seal of the Metropolitan Police Department
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The current patch of the Metropolitan Police Department
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SLMPD officer badge, with number omitted.
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Flag of City of St. Louis
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| Common name | Metropolitan Police Department |
| Abbreviation | SLMPD , MPDSL |
| Motto | Officium moris principatum et aequi Omnibus (Latin) Service, Integrity, Leadership, and Fair Treatment to All |
| Agency overview | |
| Formed | 1808; 216 years ago (1808)[1] |
| Employees |  1,758.0 full-time (2022) [2] |
| Annual budget | US$180,338,801 [FY 2022][3] |
| Jurisdictional structure | |
| Operations jurisdiction | St. Louis, Missouri, United States |
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| Jurisdiction of the Metropolitan Police Department | |
| Size | 65.99 square miles (170.9 km2) (total) (land) |
| Population | 294,890 (2021)[4] |
| Legal jurisdiction | City of St.Louis |
| Governing body | Public Safety Department - City of St. Louis |
| General nature | |
| Operational structure | |
| Headquarters | 1915 Olive Downtown West, St. Louis |
| Police Officers |  1,343 (2021)[3] |
| Corrections personnel and Civilian members | 462 (2021)[3] |
| Mayor of St. Louis responsible | |
| Agency executives |
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| Parent agency | Public Safety Department - City of St. Louis |
| Bureaus | 4
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| Patrol Divisions | 4
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| Facilities | |
| Stations | 3 Patrol Stations, 6 sub-stations |
| Justice Centers | City Justice Center 200 S.Tucker Blvd. St. Louis, Missouri |
| Marked and Unmarked vehicles | 2000+ |
| Helicopter/Airplanes | 6 Helicopter, 1 Fixed Wing |
| Horses | 14 |
| K-9's | 20 |
| Notables | |
| Anniversary |
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| Website | |
| Metropolitan Police Department official website | |
| [5] | |
The Metropolitan Police Department of the City of St. Louis (also known as the SLMPDorMetro) is the primary law enforcement agency for the U.S. city of St. Louis.
According to the Mapping Police Violence dataset, SLMPD has the highest police use of deadly force per capita.[6][7] The SLMPD union has strongly resisted attempts to establish independent oversight of police misconduct.[6] When Kimberly Gardner, the top prosecutor in St. Louis, sought to establish a unit within her office to independently investigate police misconduct, the leader of the SLMPD union said Gardner should be removed "by force or by choice."[6]
The Metropolitan Police Department was established in 1808, five years after St. Louis became part of the United States. The department was created with only four officers, who received no pay. Able-bodied men age 18 and older were required to patrol for four months of the year. This was the only police system for the next 10 years. Refusal to serve on patrol carried a fine of $1.[8]
In 2013, CALEA recognized the Metropolitan 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.[9]
The MPDSL is a division in the Public Safety Department - City of St. Louis. With approximately 1,343 officers and 462 civilian staff, it is the 34th municipal police department in the United States. The department serves an area of 69 square miles (180 km2) and a population of over 294,890 people. Established on August 7, 1808, the SLMPD is one of the oldest police departments in the United States. The Metropolitan Police is the second largest municipal police agency in Missouri, based on number of employees, city population, and geographic area served.
From April 28, 1836, to August 29, 2020, the Officer Down Memorial Page reported that 170 officers in the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department have died in the line of duty.[10]
The composition of the department's total personnel, according to the 2020 annual report, was:[11]
Starting salary for a Metropolitan police officer is minimum $47,815 to $70,387 maximum[12]
Officers are represented by the St. Louis Police Officers Association (SLPOA). SLPOA employs author and former Arnold police officer Jeff Roorda as business manager. In the 2017 city mayoral election, incumbent Lyda Krewson called for Roorda to be fired due to social media comments directed at candidate Tishaura Jones and declared that he would not be welcomed in her office if elected.[13]
The St. Louis Ethical Society of Police (ESOP), formerly known as St. Louis Black Police Officers Association until 1975, represents African American police officers by providing legal counsel and other benefits; however, the SLPOA is the only recognized bargaining unit for officers.[14]
Officers with the SLMPD have been accused of several incidents of alleged police misconduct,[15][16] obstruction of justice,[15][17] violations of civil rights,[18] and racial prejudice.[19][20] Several of these controversial incidents have resulted in criminal charges against SLMPD officers, and some cases have resulted in guilty pleas.
See: Shooting of Anthony Lamar Smith
Three St. Louis police officers from its Civil Disobedience Team were charged with felony assault against undercover police officer Luther Hall during the 2017 St. Louis protests. Officer Hall, according to the November 2018 indictment, had been extensively assaulted by the three officers. According to the prosecutors, officers Christopher Myers, Randy Hays, and Dustin Boone used excessive force in the form of kicking Hall and beating him with their police batons. Hall stated that the officers smashed his cell phone and broke a camera he had used to document the protests.[21] Hall's injuries as a result of the assault included an injured tailbone, two herniated discs, and a jaw injury that prevented Hall from eating, resulting in a twenty-pound weight loss.[22] Prosecutors obtained text messages from the officers involved, which revealed the officers' excitement at the prospect of brutalizing protesters. Officer Boone allegedly texted "it’s gonna be a lot of fun beating the hell out of those shitheads once the sun goes down and nobody can tell us apart!!!!” and “Did everyone see the protesters getting FUCKED UP in the galleria????? That was awesome.”[23]
A fourth police officer, Bailey Colletta, was charged with providing false testimony to a grand jury.[24] Colletta pled guilty to giving false testimony to cover up the attack on Hall, and admitted she had lied to the FBI and to a federal grand jury.[25]
All four officers were suspended without pay.[25]
Officer Hays, who allegedly had texted "going rogue does feel good", pled guilty to assault.[26] Hays admitted that on the evening of September 17, although Hays did not witness anything probable cause to arrest Hall, Hays and other officers arrested Hall. During the arrest, Hall was compliant and pinned to the ground, with Officer Boone's knee on Hall's shoulder and continually pushing down Hall's head while telling him not to look at them; during this time, officers kicked Hall in the face and beat him with a baton.[27]
An indictment released in December 2019 revealed that a fifth officer, Steve Korte, was also charged for violently beating Hall, and then lying to the FBI about his involvement. He was placed on administrative leave without pay. Officer Korte was later unanimously found not guilty by the jury, after evidence was shown in trial proving he was nowhere near Luther Hall when he was attacked.[28] Officer Korte was later reinstated by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department.[27]
Hall filed a federal civil rights lawsuit in September 2019 against the police and against the city.[29]
A controversy ensued in 2019 regarding the existence of a list created by circuit attorney Kimberly M. Gardner's office of 28 Metropolitan Department officers that were to be excluded from acting as witnesses in future prosecutions due to an alleged history of misconduct.[30] In late September 2020, fifteen more officers were added to the list. This would indicate about five percent of the sworn officers of the department are listed. The names of those on the list has not been released to the public.[31]
On January 24, police arrived at the residence of SLMPD officer Nathaniel Hendren following reports of gunshots, upon arrival police found 24-year-old officer Katlyn Alix fatally shot in the chest, following an alleged game of Russian roulette.[32] St. Louis circuit attorney Kimberly Gardner criticized the investigation, stating that the department was obstructing the investigation of the shooting, claiming investigators refused to allow a sample of Officer Hendren's blood be tested for alcohol and other substances.[33][34][35] St. Louis Metropolitan Police Commissioner John Hayden Jr. responded to criticism of the investigation as unfounded.[36]
In June 2019 officers and employees from numerous police departments in the United States were found to have participated in a number of private groups on Facebook that shared content that was described as racist,[37] violent, and Islamophobic.[38] This information was published online by the Plain View Project, which had viewed and documented the social-media accounts of 2,900 officers from eight separate departments, finding twenty percent of those users posted material that was determined to meet the threshold of being offensive.[39] At least 22 officers in the department were found to have participated in the closed groups, St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kimberly M. Gardner stated that these officers would be added to a list of officers who have been determined to be unable to provide witness testimony in criminal prosecutions.[40]
Former St. Louis police officer William C. Olsten was charged with three counts of felony third-degree assault on July 17, 2019 for allegations of pepper-spraying three protesters outside of Busch Stadium in 2017 against the acquittal of Officer Jason Stockley.[41] Officer Olsten was later found not guilty by Judge Thomas Clark, who remarked, "While regrettable, unfortunate and concerning that the complaining witnesses experienced the unpleasant effects of the chemicals disbursed from Defendant's mace canister, Defendant's actions were justified under the circumstances."[42]
The Commissioner of Police serves as the senior sworn member of the SLMPD. Prior to 1806, the position was known as the chief inspector and as the chief of police before that. The Commissioner is the overall person in charge of the police department.
John Hayden Jr. is the 35th individual to hold the post and was appointed on December 28, 2017.[43]
| Title | Insignia | Badge color | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commissioner of Police |  |
Gold with Black Letters | The Commissioner of Police is the person in charge of running the entire police department. The Commissioner of Police is appointed by Director of Public Safety. Highest member in the Metropolitan Police Department. |
| Assistant Commissioner of Police |  |
Gold & Black | The Assistant Commissioner of Police is the commanding officer of an office. |
| Deputy Chief |  |
Gold & Black | Deputy chiefs are appointed by the commissioner. Deputy Chiefs are the second highest members in the Metropolitan Police Department. |
| Major |  |
Gold | Majors are appointed by the commissioner. |
| Captain |  |
Gold | Captains are appointed by the commissioner. |
| Lieutenant |  |
Gold | Lieutenants are assigned to geographic patrol and detective divisions and are responsible for supervising patrol sergeants, police officers and detectives who carry out day-to-day, routine crime suppression and investigative functions |
| Sergeant |  |
Sil-Ray w/ Gol-Ray panels | Sergeants are responsible for the direct supervision of their patrol division and the conduct, appearance and performance of personnel assigned under their command. |
| Police Officer/Detective | No Insignia | Sil-Ray | Police Officers/Detectives Perform duties to patrol a specific area to protect life and property, and enforce laws and ordinances using tactful and courteous treatment of the public and conscientious and efficient performance of duties. |
| Probationary Police Officer | No Insignia | Following graduation from the academy, officers receive the title Probationary Police Officer (PPO) for twelve months until being promoted to Police Officer. | |
| Police Cadet | No Insignia | None | The goal of the program is to provide interested individuals between the ages of 18 and 20½ with paid, on the job training and exposure to various police department units; the opportunity to earn course credit; and the foundation to be successful and well-prepared upon entering the St. Louis Police Academy once turning 20½. |
Police Officer (Trainee) is the initial rank of oncoming Metropolitan Police officers, held while undergoing training at the Metropolitan Police Academy.[44]
Commissioner of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department is an office held by the highest-ranking member of the Metropolitan Police Department. St. Louis has had 35 police chiefs (including interim chiefs) since 1993. For a full list of past and current police chiefs, visit the Commissioner of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department page.
The ranks of Lieutenant Colonel, Assistant Chief and Commissioner of Police are appointed. The Assistant Chief as second-in-command. Lieutenant Colonels command the Bureaus of Investigative Services, Professional Standards, and Community Policing and Auxiliary Services.
Each bureau contains various divisions, each typically commanded by a Captain. A Lieutenant may the head of a division in lieu of a Captain under certain conditions. Uniformed Lieutenants generally command patrol sectors and serve as watch-commanders, with Uniformed Sergeants functioning as line-supervisors of squads of officers. Lieutenants assigned to the Criminal Investigation Division serve as unit supervisors, with Sergeants assigned as supervising investigators of Part 1 felony offenses, primarily in the Homicide, Sexual Assault, and Robbery Sections.
All potential candidates for the position of Police Officer must undergo a written examination, oral board panel and review, physical agility testing, psychological screening, drug testing and intensive background investigation. The number of candidates accepted is less than 25 percent of overall applicants. New officers are hired as probationary employees at the rank of Police Trainee. Upon successful completion of the six-month police academy, they are appointed as a probationary Police Officer. Upon successful completion of 3 months of field training and an additional 1-year probationary period, they attain their full rank.
The department utilizes a variety of vehicles, including the Ford Police Interceptor, Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor (CVPI), the Dodge Charger, the Chevrolet Tahoe, the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and 2500 series, the Chevrolet Impala 9C1, the Chevrolet Caprice, and the Ford F-150 and F-250. Both regularly marked and slicktop vehicles are used frequently. Each officer is issued the Beretta 92D 9mm handgun which has been standard issue since 1992. As of 2017 it was reported that the department would be getting new 9mm Beretta pistols to replace the currently issued aging 92D.[45]
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Patrol cars
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Miscellaneous
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Specialized Enforcement
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The department is divided into four bureaus and an office.[46] which are typically commanded by a deputy chief or major. The bureaus fit under four umbrellas: Investigative Services, Professional Standards, and Community Policing and Auxiliary Services. Bureaus are often subdivided into smaller divisions and units
| Bureau | Commander | Description | Subdivisions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bureau of Community Policing | Lieutenant Colonel Michael Sack | The Community Policing Bureau which is the largest bureau within the department. | The Bureau of Community Policing comprises six districts which are grouped into the North, South and Central patrols and the Housing Unit & Special Operations Team & the Special Operations Investigators, Drug Enforcement & Intervention, Mobile Reserve, and Special Weapons & Tactics and Canine and Aviation and Traffic/Mounted Patrol and Park Rangers. |
| Bureau of Investigative Services | Major Ryan Cousins | The Investigative Services is responsible for the safety and security | The bureau comprises Homicide, the St. Louis Regional Bomb and Arson Unit, Sex Crimes, Child Abuse, Domestic Abuse Response Team (DART) and Cyber Crimes and Domestic Violence Prevention. |
| Bureau of Professional Standards | Major Eric Larson | The Bureau of Professional Standards is responsible for Investigating complaints of officer misconduct, maintaining the department’s CALEA accreditation, training personnel, and recruiting and selecting new officers. | The bureau comprises Police Academy, Force Investigation Unit, Police Trainees, Internal Affairs, Planning & Research and Private Security and CALEA & Body Worn Camera & Laboratory/Identification. |
| Bureau of Auxiliary Services | Lieutenant Colonel Rochelle D. Jones | The Bureau of Auxiliary Services is responsible to ensure the integrity of the Police Department and its personnel. | The Auxiliary Services comprises Property Custody, Communications, Communications Service Center, Telephone Reporting, Warrant/Fugitive, Prisoner Processing, Marshals. |
The Bureau of Community Policing & Specialized Enforcement is led by Lieutenant Colonel Michael Sack.
The City of St. Louis is divided geographically into three area patrol stations and six police districts and 6 substations. Each patrol division is commanded by a major and each district is commanded by a captain.[47][48]
| Division number | Division name | Areas served | Commander | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | South Patrol | Bevo Mill, Boulevard Heights, Carondelet, Carondelet Park, Holly Hills, Mount Pleasant, Patch, Princeton Heights and portions of Dutchtown and South Hampton.[49] | Captain Donnell Moore | 63,829 |
| 2nd | South Patrol | Botanical Gardens, Cheltenham, Clayton/Tamm, Clifton Heights, Ellendale, Forest Park, Forest Park Southeast, Franz Park, Hi-Point, Kings Oak, Lindenwood Park, McRee Town, North Hampton, Shaw, Southwest Garden, St. Louis Hills, The Hill, Tiffany, Tower Grove Park, Tower Grove South, Wilmore Park, Wydown/Skinker and portions of South Hampton.[50] | Captain Christi Marks | 73,128 |
| Division number | Division name | Areas served | Commander | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3rd | Central Patrol | Benton Park, Benton Park West, Compton Heights, Fox Park, Gravois Park, Kosciusko, Lafayette Square, LaSalle, and Marine Villa, McKinley Heights, Peabody–Darst–Webbe, Soulard, The Gate District, Tower Grove East and Portions of Dutchtown.[51] | Captain Joseph Morici | 47,090 |
| 4th | Central Patrol | Carr Square, Columbus Square, Covenant Blu-Grand Center, Downtown, Downtown West, Fairgrounds Park, Hyde Park, Jeff-Vander-Lou, Midtown, Old North St. Louis, St. Louis Place and Portions of College Hill Fairgrounds and Near North Riverfront[52] | Captain Pierre Benoist | 37,758 |
| District number | District name | Areas served | Commander | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5th | North Patrol | Academy, Central West End, DeBaliviere Place, Fountain Park, Hamilton Heights, Kingshighway West, Lewis Place, Skinker/DeBaliviere, The Ville, Vandeventer, Visitation Park, Wells/Goodfellow, West End and portions of the Greater Ville and Kingsway East.[53] | Captain Michael Mueller | 51,615 |
| 6th | North Patrol | Baden , Mark Twain, Mark Twain/I-70 Industrial, North Point, North Riverfront, O'Fallon , O’Fallon Park, Penrose, Penrose Park, Riverview, Walnut Park East, Walnut Park West and portions of College Hill, Fairground , Greater Ville, Kingsway East and Near North Riverfront.[54] | Captain Latricia Allen | 37,853 |
The homicide detectives of SLMPD will be featured in A&E's reality series The First 48.[55][when?]
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