About St. Louis Police Department

Metropolitan Police Department of St. Louis (SLMPD) is the second-largest law enforcement agency in the state of Missouri and one of the only two metropolitan police departments in the state to be accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). SLMPD is staffed by over 1,300 full-time sworn officers and 463 civilian personnel. The department has been the recipient of several awards, including the prestigious Tri-Arc award that it received from CALEA in 2013 – making it one of only six departments in the world to receive this award. Below, you can learn more about the department, on how you can pass the St. Louis police department test and advance onto the academy.

Motto: “Service, Integrity, Leadership, and Fair Treatment to All”

History: SLMPD was established in 1808, making it the oldest law enforcement agency in the state of Missouri and one of the oldest in the United States. The department was originally established with just four patrol officers, who were commanded by an appointed marshal. However, the organizational structure of the department was revised in 1861 by the governor of the city, thus giving rise to the modern SLMPD. Since its founding, over 170 officers have lost their lives in the line of duty.

Size: The Metropolitan Police Department of St. Louis covers an area of nearly 70 square miles, in which a population of just over 300,570 people resides. The city is geographically divided into 6 patrol districts.

Headquarters: 1915 Olive Downtown West, St. Louis, Missouri 63103, United States

Divisions: There are 4 main bureaus within the department: bureau of community policing – which carries out a patrol in the 6 patrol districts of the city. Patrolling is carried out by 3 patrol units; bureau of professional standards – which is responsible for taking disciplinary actions if needed, conducting the internal affairs of the department, training, and recruitment of officers; bureau of investigative services – which investigates into criminal cases and special cases; bureau of specialized enforcement – which is responsible for traffic policing, mounted patrol and other specialized units.

How to become an officer: Candidates must take the St. Louis police department test that comprises of a written exam, a physical ability test (PAT) and an oral board interview. The law enforcement aptitude battery assesses candidates’ core competencies, such as writing comprehension, logical reasoning, and problem-solving skills. It also seeks to find out candidates’ behavioral and attitudinal dispositions to a few hypothetical situations. The physical ability test (PAT) evaluates candidates on the basis of their core strength, stamina, and physical endurance. Candidates who pass the PAT will be called for an oral test. This is followed by a polygraph examination and a thorough background and medical check.

Average salary: $71,163-$88,400 annually, rising with experience and responsibility.

Police academy: Candidates who pass the St. Louis police department test are enlisted to join the police academy. Recruits must complete a 28-week intensive training program. Here, candidates acquire essential skills like criminal investigation procedure, report writing, operations of firearms, traffic law enforcement, basic principles of criminal law, and constitutional implications.

Registration: Further information on the St. Louis police exam can be found on their website. Candidates are expected to score high given that there are a very limited number of places available. Only the highest-scoring candidates will be selected to progress.