De Soto Missouri Police Department

De Soto Missouri Police Department De Soto is a city in Jefferson County, Missouri, United States. The population was 6,477 at the estimated 2008 census. population in 1980. Louis. In 1859, the St.

The Van Metre family were first to settle in 1803 .The town was organized in 1857 and is named for the explorer Hernando De Soto, who claimed the Louisiana Territory for Spain. De Soto was the city closest to the mean center of U.S. The city celebrated its Bicentennial in 2003. The city made national news on and after May 6, 2003, when straight line winds/tornado struck. History

Incorporated in 1869, the City of De Soto is a third-class city with a population of 6,375 which utilizes the council-manager form of government. De Soto is located in the southeastern part of Missouri, approximately 45 miles south of St. De Soto is in Jefferson County, which is one of the fastest growing counties in Missouri. De Soto was part of the Louisiana Territory and was transferred from France to Spain and back to France again, and in 1803 was sold to the United States. During that same year, Isaac Van Metre came to the place that was later named De Soto and erected a cabin. A marker now stands to commemorate the first log cabin built in De Soto. Louis Iron Mountain Railroad built a depot. Later named the Missouri Pacific Railroad, it established a major rail car repair facility in De Soto. The city is known as "Fountain City" because of the numerous artesian wells. Water from these wells and springs was bottled and shipped by tank car to the 1904 World Fair in St. The De Soto Police Department employs 15 Full Time Police Officers who have all received a Missouri Class A License to be a Police Officer. Police Officer receive ongoing continuing Education to stay current on best practices and current law. In 2016 Our agency added a mascot. Leo the Safety Pup was purchased with money raised from local businesses in conjunction with the National Child Safety Council. In 2016 Safety but was named by a student at Vineland Elementary and became known as Leo. Our agency prides itself in providing a proactive enforcement strategy to addressing the crime problems in the City. Our officers strive to provide professional service with the highest level of integrity and trust. Community Policing is a priority realizing that creating partnerships with the community we serve only serves to accomplish the overall goal of providing a safe and friendly environment in De Soto for all to live. The Police Chief maintains an open door policy and is available to meet with any community member who seeks to offer suggestions, opinions or general conversation regarding the status of the Police Department and any areas we serve. The Police Department serves over 6400 Citizens and visitors each year and responds to approximately 27000 calls for service which include self initiated activity. Each year in De Soto that are over 100 vehicle accidents, our officers take a proactive approach to traffic enforcement to ensure our roadways stay safe.

A big thank you to Midwest Sports Center of Festus for providing us with a side-by-side to use during the VFW Poker Run ...
09/10/2026

A big thank you to Midwest Sports Center of Festus for providing us with a side-by-side to use during the VFW Poker Run this Saturday, September 12!

Our local VFW has been an amazing community partner for many years, generously supporting our department and helping provide our officers with essential gear and equipment.

Please check out the attached flyer for event details. We hope to see everyone there!

Congratulations to Sergeant Michael Schneider on his recent promotion!Sgt. Schneider joined the De Soto Police Departmen...
09/08/2026

Congratulations to Sergeant Michael Schneider on his recent promotion!

Sgt. Schneider joined the De Soto Police Department in February 2021 and has been a valuable asset to our department, including throughout the transition to our new administration.

Chief Steger believes Sgt. Schneider is the right person for the job and looks forward to seeing him step into this new leadership role full time.

Please join us in congratulating Sgt. Michael Schneider on his well-earned promotion!

09/07/2026

Tornado siren test today

A big thank you to Ann Dorn and the David Dorn Foundation for their generosity and continued support of law enforcement....
09/04/2026

A big thank you to Ann Dorn and the David Dorn Foundation for their generosity and continued support of law enforcement.

Ann recently visited the De Soto Police Department and donated 18 fully equipped duty bags for our officers, each containing a Streamlight flashlight, tourniquet, hearing protection, eye protection, first aid kit, and CPR mask. These are practical pieces of equipment our officers can carry with them and have available when they’re needed most.

What Ann is doing through the David Dorn Foundation goes well beyond donating equipment. She has taken the loss of Captain David Dorn and turned it into a mission to continue his legacy of taking care of first responders. The Foundation now provides equipment and other resources to first responders who otherwise may have to purchase these items themselves.

We are incredibly appreciative that Ann chose to include our officers in that mission, and we sincerely thank her for taking the time to visit with us and for everything the Foundation provided.

We encourage everyone to take a few minutes and check out the David Dorn Foundation. Learn about Captain Dorn’s story, see the work Ann and the Foundation are doing, and, if you’re able, consider supporting their mission. Every bit of support helps them continue putting equipment directly into the hands of first responders. 💙

Thank you, Ann. We appreciate what you’re doing for our officers and first responders across Missouri, and for keeping Captain David Dorn’s legacy of service alive.

https://www.dornfoundation.com/meet-the-foundation-2 -OurTeam

09/02/2026

Three months ago and beyond, our department has been several officers and dispatchers short, and we later saw additional officers leave to pursue new opportunities.

Being short staffed is especially challenging for a smaller department. We want to thank our officers who stepped up, worked extra hours, and sacrificed time with their families to make sure our community remained covered.

Today, we’re happy to announce that for the first time in many years, the De Soto Police Department is fully staffed. Some new to the field, some bring experience but all came because they wanted to be here and they believe that good work lies ahead.

We look forward to tackling the issues facing our city head on and continuing the strong partnership we have with our community.

Congratulations, Detective Sergeant Eric Robinson!We’re proud to announce the promotion of Eric Robinson to Detective Se...
09/02/2026

Congratulations, Detective Sergeant Eric Robinson!

We’re proud to announce the promotion of Eric Robinson to Detective Sergeant!

Eric has been with the De Soto Police Department since 2018 and has been a valuable member of our team. Chief Steger is excited to see Eric step into this new role and continue serving our department and community.

Please join us in congratulating Detective Sergeant Robinson on his well-earned promotion!

09/01/2026

⚠️ IMPORTANT NOTICE: PRESCRIPTION DRUG DROP BOX TEMPORARILY UNAVAILABLE

Until further notice, the De Soto Police Department is unable to accept prescription medications in the drop box located in our lobby.

Please do not leave medications outside the drop box or elsewhere in the lobby. Residents may use one of the following alternate drop-off locations:

Arnold Police Department
2101 Jeffco Blvd., Arnold
(636) 296-3204
Open 24 hours

Hillsboro Police Department
101 Main Street, Hillsboro
(636) 797-3334, Ext. 2
Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–4 p.m.
Call dispatch after hours

Big River Ambulance – Station No. 1
6321 Lorens Lane, Cedar Hill
(636) 274-3964
Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.

Jefferson College Police Department
802 Mel Carnahan Drive, Apt. 214, Hillsboro
(636) 481-3500
Open 24 hours

Crystal City Police Department
130 Mississippi Avenue, Crystal City
(636) 937-4614
Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

North Zone Sheriff’s Office
26 Dillon Plaza Drive, High Ridge
Located in Dillon Plaza
(636) 797-3210
Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–6 p.m.

Pevely Police Department
401 West Main Street, Pevely
(636) 475-4498
Open 24 hours

Seckman Substation
3055 Lions Den Road, Imperial
(636) 797-6066
Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.

Festus Police Department
100 Park Avenue, Festus
(636) 937-3646
Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.

We recommend calling the location before visiting to confirm that its drop box is currently available. We apologize for the inconvenience and will notify the public when our drop box is available again.

Thank you for your patience and cooperation.

08/30/2026

A special thank you to the De Soto Elks Lodge for hosting their annual First Responder BBQ today!

Each year, the Elks take the time to recognize and support the first responders who serve our community, and we are incredibly appreciative of their continued generosity.

The De Soto Elks are an outstanding community partner, and we are grateful for everything they do to support our first responders and the De Soto community.

08/26/2026

🚌 SCHOOL IS BACK IN SESSION! 🚌

The 2026–2027 school year is officially underway, which means our streets are once again busy with school buses, students, parents, and young drivers.

The De Soto Police Department would like to remind everyone to use a little extra caution during your morning and afternoon commute:

🛑 STOP FOR SCHOOL BUSES — When a school bus has its red lights flashing and stop arm extended, drivers must stop as required by law. Never try to beat the lights or pass a stopped school bus.

🚸 WATCH FOR STUDENTS — Children can be unpredictable. Slow down and stay alert around bus stops, crosswalks, neighborhoods, and school entrances.

🏫 OBEY SCHOOL-ZONE SPEED LIMITS — Please pay close attention to posted school-zone speeds and signs. A few miles per hour can make a significant difference in stopping distance and reaction time.

📵 PUT THE PHONE DOWN — Distracted driving and school traffic are a dangerous combination. Keep your attention on the road.

⏰ LEAVE A LITTLE EARLIER — Expect additional traffic and delays during school arrival and dismissal times. Giving yourself a few extra minutes makes it easier for everyone to slow down and drive safely.

Our officers will be paying particular attention to school zones, bus routes, and areas with increased student traffic as everyone settles into the new school year.

Let’s work together to make the 2026–2027 school year a safe one for our students, families, school staff, and community.

08/25/2026

The De Soto Police Department recently discovered that one of our Flock Safety cameras near the De Soto Athletic Complex had been intentionally damaged.

The camera pole was damaged, and the solar panel appeared to have been struck multiple times by projectiles. Fortunately, the equipment was repaired, and the camera is back up and fully operational.

Address

17 Boyd Street
DeSoto, MO
63020

Telephone

+16365868891

Website

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