Vision Statement

 A leading police agency connected to the community.

Mission Statement

To serve and protect the Clayton Community with PRIDE.

Values

• Professionalism
• Respect
• Innovation
• Dedication
• Excellence

Department History

Prior to the formal establishment of the Clayton Police Department in 1920, law enforcement services in Clayton's early years were provided by a Marshal. Beginning with one full-time officer, the Department has mirrored the City's growth. It now consists of 49 commissioned officers and five civilian employees. Of particular note, in its over one hundred years of existence, the Police Department has only had eight Chiefs of Police.

Long recognized as a leader among municipal police agencies in St. Louis County, the Clayton Police Department has consistently endeavored to ensure the quality of its personnel and has historically fielded one of the best-educated, highly trained, and most respected police forces in the metropolitan region. In keeping with its tradition as a leader, in 2000, the Department was among the first law enforcement agencies in the State of Missouri to successfully achieve accreditation through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). CALEA maintains a public portal that may be used for comments, commendations, and other information regarding the Clayton Police Department's quality of service or additional information relevant to the accreditation process. You can access the portal here.

Organization

The Police Department is divided into three major bureaus, two of which are commanded by Captains and the other by a Lieutenant. The Field Operations Bureau is responsible for patrol duties, responding to calls-for-service, traffic enforcement, community relations, and crime prevention programs. The Investigations Bureau is responsible for follow-up investigations and juvenile matters. Finally, the Support Bureau is responsible for records and general administration.