Fire and Police

The St. Louis community formed a volunteer fire department in 1822 and for thirty years, volunteers fought fires in the city. A list of volunteers from 1888 through 1906 is here.

It was not until 1857, almost ten years after a devastating fire swept through the city destroying many blocks around the riverfront, that a paid fire department was established. Early fire trucks were horse-drawn; not until well into the twentieth century were fire engines motorized.

You can see a list of firefighters who served in St. Louis in 1914, their ranks, and their companies on the “St. Louis Fire Department Roster, 1914” page. Firefighters who died before 1914 in St. Louis City are listed on this page.

Each community in St. Louis County established its own fire department as more homes were built and the population increased. The histories of these fire departments need to be researched separately from the St. Louis City department.

Today’s St. Louis City Fire Department Headquarters is at 1421 N. Jefferson, St. Louis, MO 63106. Phone: 314-533-3406. The department does have a museum and archives. Learn more about its history on its website, which you can access here.

The City of St. Louis’s original police force, begun in 1808, consisted of four unpaid men. Others were expected to contribute their services on a rotating basis or were fined if they did not. By 1818, the force had grown to six, including one on night duty. From that unprepossessing beginning, the City of St. Louis’s police department has grown and changed into the modern department we know today. The police department is proud of its history and has a library and archives, which you can learn more about on their website.

You can access a list of St. Louis City police officers and their causes of death from 1861 through 1899 here. A fascinating glimpse of what life was like in St. Louis is contained in a notebook kept by Officer Charles Henry Richter, who worked in the police department from 1893–1896. You can read about the interactions Officer Richter had with citizens here. Photos and biographies of some early St. Louis policemen are contained in a book located at the Missouri Historical Society’s Library and Research Center. A list of those people is on the “St. Louis City Police Photos Index” page.

Many individual communities in St. Louis County have their own police departments. There is also a St. Louis County Police Department that was begun in 1955. Each department maintains its own separate records. You can learn more about the history of the St. Louis County Police Department on their website.

Last modified: 05-Jun-2025 11:22