City of St. Louis Integrates Local Police Forces

Local control allows the City of St. Louis to unify its once disparate law enforcement units under the command of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department (SLMPD).  Today, Chief Sam Dotson and Airport Director Rhonda Hamm-Niebruegge began the work of assimilating the airport police into the SLMPD.  They expect the transition to be complete by July.

City park rangers and City marshals, each once individual units, are also integrating into the SLMPD.

"Local control gives us the opportunity to unify our police operations so that each unit is working toward the same goals and under the same leadership," said Mayor Francis Slay. "Policing and security are a top priority for the City. This integration will provide the most efficient, effective and professional law enforcement service to residents and visitors alike."

The St. Louis Airport Police Department is a full-service law enforcement agency responsible for traffic control, criminal investigation, airport-based community-oriented policing, and general airport security for the traveling public. Until now, it has operated independently from the SLMPD.

"While the St. Louis Airport Police Department has provided exemplary law enforcement services to the airport over several decades, the time has arrived to integrate this policing function into the City's larger law enforcement apparatus," said Chief Dotson.

Under the SLMPD command structure, the airport policing function will operate as a new bureau. Airport police operations and approximately 75 airport police officers will come under the internationally-accredited SLMPD on July 1, 2014.