Chief of Police

Larry Hampton
The Chief of Police, as executive officer of the Department, shall execute the policies established by the City Manager pursuant to statutory duties. He shall be responsible for the observance and enforcement of all laws, ordinances, and regulations the Department has authority to execute. He shall see that these rules are strictly observed and enforced. 

The most purposeful and fulfilling goals of the Police Department are to bring service to the City and its residents.  In order to achieve this challenging cause, all components of the agency must be planning forward in a concise and expedient method.  All three bureaus prepare separately and act in concert with one another to accomplish the will of the people and perform the most pressing and daunting responsibilities.                         

Chief Larry Hampton is a enthusiastic community leader who has devoted his life to law enforcement here in University City, MO. He began his career in law enforcement as an intern with the Illinois State Police Department in 1994.  He was officially hired by the University City Police Department (UCPD) in 1996, as a Patrolman.  He served as a detached Service Officer for the Directed Patrol Unit, specializing as a Midwest Gangs Investigator before later being transferred to the UCPD Bureau of Investigations as a Detective in 1998.  As a Detective he received specialized training and was certified as a Computer Voice Stress Analyzer for the UCPD Internal Affairs Division.  He was a Major Case Squad Investigator during his tenure as a Detective.  He served the department in this capacity until he was promoted to the rank of Patrol Sergeant in 2006.  Having served the community authentically and with pliability, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and Platoon Commander in 2007.  During his tenure he was a Major Case Squad Commander leading Missouri case investigations. He remained a Platoon Commander for UCPD until he was promoted to Bureau of Field Operations Commander with the rank of Captain in 2015, and also serving as the Inspector of Internal Affairs. Chief Hampton was appointed to the position of Chief of Police in 2016.  Chief Hampton earned a Master’s degree in Public Administration / Criminal Justice throughout his criminal justice career in University City, and he began his academic studies by earning a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice / Criminology from Southeast Missouri State University in 1995.  Chief Hampton is a proud graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy (FBINA) Session #282. He has completed countless other command level training conferences and seminars not limited to the FBI-Trilogy, FBI GLEEDS, St. Louis University Center for Workforce Organizational Development, Northwestern University Center for Public Safety, Louisville University's Southern Police Institute, and the Dignitary Protection School of the United States Secret Service.

He is an active member in the following organizations:

  • FBI National Academy Associates (FBINAA)
  • International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP)
  • National Association of Chiefs of Police (NACOP)
  • Missouri Police Chiefs Association (MPCA)
  • St. Louis Area Police Chiefs Association (SLAPCA)
  • North St. Louis County Police Chiefs Association (NCMPCA) - Executive Board Member
  • National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) - Current Chapter President
  • FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Association (FBI-LEEDA)
  • Appointed to St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney's Advisory Panel
  • Active Member of Police Executive Research Forum (PERF)
  • Active Member of the Order of the Sword & Shield (securityhonorsociety.org)
  • Active Member in the US Attorneys Hate Crimes Task Force - St. Louis
  • LEPAC Vice Chairman with the REJIS Commission - a policy making body within the REJIS organization