Maryland Heights, MO

Our mission is to enforce the law, maintain the peace, protect life and property and promote the quality of life in the City of Maryland Heights. To accomplish our mission, we depend upon a partnership among citizens, elected officials and city employees. Each one of us is the Police Department. We are what makes the difference between a good organization and an excellent one.

We adopt the following values:

• We value both personal and organizational integrity. Honest government is our first responsibility.
• We value team work as an essential component of organizational effectiveness.
• We value a spirit of professionalism.
• We value a humane organization.
• We value the constitutional, civil, and human rights of all citizens.
• We value the idea of service to our community.

Photo of the 1985 Maryland Heights Police Department

On May 9, 1985, the City of Maryland Heights incorporated, and on August 16 of that year, the Maryland Heights Police Department was formed. City staff, including the MHPD, operated out of a converted warehouse at 212 Millwell Drive. There were 40 commissioned police officers that came from a variety of small and large area police departments, including one officer that had been with the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Five dispatchers and two secretaries made up the noncommissioned personnel. The officers painted the interior of the warehouse and constructed the first jail, which consisted of four wooden walls and a chair. 

These officers took to the streets on August 17 in ten used police vehicles purchased from the Missouri State Highway Patrol. The vehicles sported the "gum drop" type police light bars and operated on a radio frequency in the 800 mhz band. The officers were under the command of Chief Neil Kurlander, Deputy Chief Thomas O'Connor, Captain Robert Nichols, and Sergeant Earl Rhodus.

The internationally accredited department has since grown to 78 commissioned police officers, 17 non-commissioned employees and 12 reserve officers. Serious crimes (murders, rapes, robbery) are rare in Maryland Heights, and the department's rate for cleaning up crimes is higher than the national average.

In October of 2008, city staff, including the Police Department, moved into the new Maryland Heights Government Center located at 11911 Dorsett Road, just down the street from the old station.

In 2009, the Maryland Heights Police Department became only the second agency in the State of Missouri to receive certification under the Missouri Police Chief's Certification Program.  In 2016, the Maryland Heights Police Department received international accreditation at the annual conference of the Commission of Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA).

The men and women of the Maryland Heights Police Department take pride in their history and look forward to the challenges of the future.

What is CALEA?
The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) is a voluntary, non-governmental agency forged in 1979 by the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), the National Association of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE), the National Sheriff's Association (NSA), and the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) to create a body of standards which further the professional level of service offered by local law enforcement agencies. 

What does CALEA Accreditation do? 

• CALEA Accreditation requires an agency to develop a comprehensive, well though out, uniform set of written directives. This is one of the most successful methods for reaching administrative and operational goals, while also providing direction to personnel.
• CALEA Accreditation standards provide the necessary reports and analyses a CEO needs to make fact-based, informed management decisions.
• CALEA Accreditation requires a preparedness program to be put in place so an agency is ready to address natural or man-made unusual occurrences.
• CALEA Accreditation is means for developing or improving upon an agency's relationship with the community. 
• CALEA Accreditation strengthens an agency's accountability, both within the agency and the community, through a continuum of standards that clearly define authority, performance, and responsibilities. 
• Being CALEA Accredited can limit an agency's liability and risk exposure because it demonstrates that internationally recognized standards for law enforcement have been met, as verified by a team of independent outside CALEA-trained assessors.
• CALEA Accreditation facilitates an agency's pursuit of professional excellence. 

The communications team operates our 24-hour dispatch center.  They receive and process all 9-1-1 emergency calls, as well as all non-emergency calls for service.  They also work hard to assist our police officers with their investigative efforts by helping to run records and warrant checks on suspects.  If you have a request for non-emergency police service you can either call (314) 298-8700 or you can email the On-Duty Dispatcher at: mhdispatch@marylandheights.com.  This email is monitored 24 hours per day by each on-duty dispatcher.  For all emergency situations, please call 9-1-1.

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This is our uniform patrol division responsible for around-the-clock protection of the city. They provide traffic enforcement, bicycle patrol, accident and criminal investigations, crime scene processing and an above average response to crimes in progress. 

The Detective Bureau is responsible for investigation and follow-up of all crime reports generated by our patrol services officers. They are also responsible for background investigations and all major case work, as well as for evidence processing, juvenile case management and working with the St. Louis Multi-Jurisdictional Task Force.  Detectives from the Bureau of Investigations also assist with transporting prisoners, with warrant services, and with narcotics and vice enforcement.

This team of problem solvers focuses on identifying threats and problems to businesses and residents alike. They work hard to correct these issues and to enhance day-to-day policing activities through the integration of information, investigative activities and the use of technical equipment. These officers also serve the City as a fully functional tactical team prepared to respond to any threat which may present itself.

These four legged officers enhance the department's operations in drug detection and missing person searches. Our canines are nationally certified by the Master Trainers of the North American Police Working Dog Association, the National Police Canine Association and the Missouri Police Canine Association.

This community relations division handles crime prevention and citizen education programs. It includes School Resource Officers at the Pattonville High School and Pattonville Heights Middle School, as well as a D.A.R.E. Officer who doubles as a School Resource Officer at our local elementary schools. This division also has a team of Reserve Police Officers who are used to supplement patrol services and assist at special events throughout the City.

This team of highly skilled clerks maintain all of our police reports, arrest reports and all other documents required to comply with state and federal information acts. They also assist our officers and detectives in their preparations for court hearings. Further, they assist our community by providing applicant fingerprint processing.