Chief William Karabas

On November 1, 2002 Mayor Robert G. Lowery appointed William Karabas as the police department's new Chief of Police, succeeding Stephen Kruse who resigned as Chief in order to accept a position in the private sector.

As the department's Chief Executive Officer, Chief Karabas is responsible for the management of the department in order to accomplish its objectives of public safety and service to the City of Florissant. The Chief of Police is responsible for planning, organization, staffing, directing, coordinating, and budgeting of all police department activities. Three bureau commanders report directly to Chief Karabas

Chief Karabas serves as the Director of Emergency Preparedness and coordinates all disaster planning. This includes working closely with all City department heads, the Black Jack and Florissant Valley Fire Protection Districts, the St. Louis County Police Department Office of Emergency Preparedness, as well as other local, state, and federal agencies, which would operate together in the event of a disaster.

In recent years Chief Karabas has lead the efforts to unify radio and data communications for all of the public safety agencies in St. Louis County. The tragic events of September 11, 2001, demonstrate the urgency of these efforts and it appears that the project is on track.

A 41 year veteran of law enforcement, Chief Karabas began his career with the Pine Lawn Police Department in 1960 and later joined the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. He was appointed as Chief of the Forest Park Community College Campus Police Department and subsequently Chief of the University of Missouri St. Louis Campus Police Department. Most recently he served 16 years as the Chief of Police for Brentwood, Missouri where he started the first D.A.R.E. program in Missouri.

Chief Karabas holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from Northeast Missouri State University and is a graduate of the F.B.I. National Academy at Quantico, Virginia.
Chief Karabas also serves actively in many professional and civic organizations including:
· St. Louis Area Police Chiefs Association
· Law Enforcement Police Advisory Committee
· Life member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police
· Missouri Police Chief's Association
· Board of Director of the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis
· Rotary Club of Florissant.