History Of The Department

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.

To be eligible to run for the office of Sheriff in the City of St. Louis, a candidate must meet several qualifications. 

• The candidate must be a citizen of the United States, a resident of the City of St. Louis for at least one year prior to filing, and a taxpayer within the city. 
• Additionally, the candidate must not have been convicted of a felony. 
• Missouri law also requires that the sheriff hold a valid peace officer license, pursuant to Chapter 590 of the Missouri Revised Statutes, within two years of being elected to the position. 

These qualifications are designed to ensure that individuals seeking the office possess both a commitment to the community and the necessary law enforcement credentials.

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.