Acknowledging other cities were trying to get Police Chief Robert Tracy to leave St. Louis, the state-appointed board of police commissioners reached a new deal with Tracy, Saturday, that establishes his annual base salary at $295,000. The contract is good through October 2030.
Board president Chris Saracino says in a written statement that when you have one of the top police chiefs in the country, you act to keep him. Saracino deems it a time-sensitive investment in the city's future - for safer neighborhoods, thriving businesses, and the people who call St. Louis home.
Meanwhile, St. Louis Police Officers Association President Martin Garcia says the association is deeply disappointed in the police board's decision. He says fast-tracking a contract extension that was years from expiring, while leaving civilian employees waiting is difficult to defend. Garcia says SLMPD civilian and professional staff have worked without a contract since June 2025, with wages below market rates, while rank-and-file officers continue earning thousands less than their counterparts in St. Louis County.
As for Chief Tracy, his statement released Saturday, "St. Louis is home, and my family and I are proud of the roots we've put put down here. The relationships we've built and the people we've vome to know make this commitment personal. I am grateful for the board's confidence and the opportunity to keep serving alongside the dedicated men and women of this department as we build a safer future for the families who call St. Louis home."
