Divisions

The St. Joseph Police Department began on June 1, 1887, with 42 officers. Currently, we have grown to 138 sworn officers, 48 full-time, and 2 part-time civilian support personnel.

The police department serves over 70,000 residents. Officers patrol 46.5 square miles, broken down into nine patrol districts, and answer on average over 76,000 calls for service per year. We are located in the Law Enforcement Center in the downtown area.

St. Joseph is the county seat of Buchanan County and is the largest city in Northwest Missouri. The Missouri River, Interstate 29, and Highway 36 provide a variety of routes for travel and commerce through our jurisdiction. They also present special challenges in our patrol efforts. We routinely collaborate with other law enforcement agencies to ensure the safety of our citizens and visitors traveling within our city.

St. Joseph hosts several parades and festivals throughout the year. During these events, the police department coordinates with local government and private entities to enhance security for festival patrons.

We strive to maximize the effectiveness of all specialized services while continually seeking innovative ways to enhance the safety and security of our community. Law enforcement is ever-changing, and we are prepared to meet the challenges of the future.