When someone thinks about a police department employee, one of the first images that likely comes to mind is a commissioned police officer.

And while our commissioned officers are indeed the most visible aspect of our department, and often the only employees that the public might interact with in person, our officers are supported by civilian, professional staff who help our department run efficiently.

Our Communication Division is staffed by civilians, and we will be recognizing the call takers, dispatchers and supervisors who fulfill the critical responsibilities of this center later this month when we observe National Public Safety Telecommunications Week.

There are also civilian analysts in our Real Time Crime Center, and professional staff who support teams at police headquarters and at our area stations. Civilians serve as firearms examiners, forensic science technicians, fingerprint examiners and prisoner processing clerks. We also have professional staff who manage human resources, victim’s advocacy and counseling, information technology and legal projects for our department – supporting each of our employees, teams, and facilities. There are also professional staff members who work alongside commissioned officers in my office, our Public Information Division and so many other areas within the SLMPD.

While each of these members of our department have different roles and responsibilities, each helps make it possible for us to fulfill our mission – and we are grateful for their contributions. They are “unsung heroes” in the law enforcement profession, and they make the work of police officers possible. They play a key role in making our communities safer, and we appreciate their decision to dedicate their careers to serving the City of St. Louis!

We are always working to recruit future police officers, but we also regularly post civilian job openings. If you are interested in serving your city, but a commissioned officer position is not for you, I encourage you to visit the city’s website to learn more about some of our job opportunities for civilians. We would love to have you join our team, and to become part of our SLMPD family and help us serve our city.