St. Louis County Police Department (Missouri)

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 police chief is Colonel Timothy E. Fitch. According to the Charter of St. Louis County, the county police chief has all of the 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.

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 the only county 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 91 municipalities. Additionally, St. Louis County police officers are authorized to enforce Missouri law in all counties in the state having a government of the...
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