History Of The Department
Sheriff Department's history
Since 1876, the City of St. Louis has had 27 Sheriffs, from John Finn presiding over the office the year St. Louis city separated from the County of St. Louis to our current Sheriff Alfred Montgomery.
The qualifications for Sheriff of St. Louis are identical to those credentials for President of the United States. The candidate must be 35 years of age, a natural-born citizen and a resident of the U.S. for at least 14 years.
It is the Sheriff's duty to take charge of prisoners, to oversee juries, and to prevent breaches of the peace. The Sheriff also carries out the judgments of the county court. In St. Louis, the Sheriff serves the 22nd Judicial Circuit Court of the City of St. Louis.
Name | Party | Dates Served |
---|---|---|
Alfred Montgomery | Democrat | 2025- |
Vernon Betts | Democrat | 2017-2024 |
James W. Murphy | Democrat | 1989-2016 |
Gordon D. Schweitzer | Democrat | 1979-1989 |
Benjamin L. Goins | Democrat | 1978 |
Raymond R. Percich | Democrat | 1972-1977 |
Martin L. Tozer | Democrat | 1953-1972 |
Thomas F. Callanan | Democrat | 1949-1953 |
John F. Dougherty | Democrat | 1945-1949 |
Thomas H. Quinn | Democrat | 1941-1945 |
James J. Fitzsimmons | Democrat | 1937-1941 |
Thomas R. Madden | Democrat | 1933-1937 |
George Strodtman | Republican | 1929-1933 |
Anton Schuler | Republican | 1925-1929 |
Charles E. Morstadt | Republican | 1921-1925 |
George P. Weinbrenner | Republican | 1917-1921 |
Joseph F. Dickmann | Democrat | 1913-1917 |
Louis Nolte | Republican | 1907-1913 |
Patrick H. Clarke | Republican | 1905-1907 |
Joseph F. Dickmann | Demorat | 1901-1905 |
John H. Pohlman | Republican | 1899-1901 |
Henry Troll | Republican | 1895-1897 |
Patrick Stead | Democrat | 1891-1895 |
John H. Pohlman | Republican | 1888-1891 |
Henry F. Harrington | Democrat | 1884-1888 |
Isaac M. Mason | Republican | 1880-1884 |
John Finn | Democrat | 1876-1880 |