John W. Hayden Jr. (born December 4, 1962) is an American law enforcement officer who was appointed as the 35th

Police Commissioner A police commissioner is the head of a police department, responsible for overseeing its operations and ensuring the effective enforcement of laws and maintenance of public order. They develop and implement policies, manage budgets, and coordinate ...

of St. Louis,

Missouri Missouri (''see #Etymology and pronunciation, pronunciation'') is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking List of U.S. states and territories by area, 21st in land area, it border ...

on December 28, 2017, by former Mayor Lyda Krewson, and was St. Louis' fourth African-American Police Commissioner. Byers, Christine
"John W. Hayden Jr. Commissioner of Police"
''St. Louis Post-Dispatch'', December 28, 2017.

Early life and education

Hayden was born in St. Louis. He attended and graduated from Lutheran High School North (Missouri) in 1981. He received his Bachelor of Mathematics degree from Washington University in St. Louis and his master's degree in management from Fontbonne University. He was accepted into Saint Louis University School of Law and has completed over 50 credits in their Juris Doctor program. He has also completed 15 hours of graduate coursework in theological studies at the Covenant Theological Seminary.

Career

Hayden joined the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department on February 23, 1987, where he served in the Fourth District. He also was assigned to the Vice/Narcotics Division, Fourth District Detective Unit and the Police Academy and Commander of North Patrol. He was appointed as Commissioner of Police on December 28, 2017, at a salary of $153,000 a year. He retired as Commissioner of Police on June 18, 2022, As Commissioner of Police Hayden was responsible for planning, directing, managing and overseeing the activities and operations of the Metropolitan Police Department, including field operations, investigations, support services, and general administration. He coordinated activities with other city departments and outside agencies. He oversaw a department of 1,350 officers and 465 civilian employees with a yearly budget of $370 million. Hayden is a life member of

Kappa Alpha Psi Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. () is a List of African-American fraternities, historically African American Fraternities and sororities, fraternity. Since the fraternity's founding on January 5, 1911, at Indiana University Bloomington, it has n ...

. He is a member of the Police Executive Research Forum, the International Association of Chiefs of Police and the Major Cities Police Chiefs Association. He has served as a deacon at Pleasant Green Missionary Baptist Church in St. Louis since 1998.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hayden, John Jr. 1962 births Living people African-American police officers Washington University in St. Louis alumni Fontbonne University alumni Commissioners of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department Missouri Democrats Saint Louis University School of Law alumni Covenant Theological Seminary alumni