ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - Chief John Hayden of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department announced on Wednesday he will retire effective February of next year.
He has served as Police Commissioner since December 28, 2017. He was appointed by Mayor Lyda Krewson after the retirement of Chief Sam Dotson.
“Thirty-five years of service is a major milestone, and after prayerful consideration with my family, I am announcing my decision to retire in early 2022,” Hayden said. “Our department has made progress on key issues. I am confident under Mayor Jones’ leadership the City will find a hardworking, dedicated successor.”
The official announcement was made in a press conference with St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones, Director of Public Safety Dan Isom and Hayden. Jones says a nationwide search for a new chief will begin.
Hayden, 55, is a lifelong resident of St. Louis and has been with the department since 1987. He was asked about what's changed the most in his 35 years.
"Probably the biggest change is that there's a high expectation of accountability," Hayden says. "When as before people kind of took things that law enforcement did as for granted."
During his tenure, St. Louis has seen some of its highest crime rates in history and had a shortage of more than 100 officers.
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He was in charge of the second-largest police department in the state with more than 1,300 sworn officers and over 400 civilian employees. Hayden was responsible for an annual budget of $170 million, a third of the entire city’s budget.
During his more than 30 years with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department he has served as Commander in the North Patrol Division, Commander of the Internal Affairs Division, Executive Aide to the Chief of Police and has been a Police Academy instructor and training coordinator.
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