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 led the effort to unify radio and data communications for all public safety agencies throughout St. Louis County, Missouri. The tragic events of September 11, 2001, demonstrated the urgency of these efforts. As a result of his unwavering guidance and support for this endeavor a proposal for a one-tenth of one percent sales tax was presented for a public vote in the November 2009 elections. This proposal, known as Prop E911 passed with 68% of voters support. Chief Karabas now serves as the Chairman of the recently formed St. Louis County Emergency Communication Commission that will oversee the implementation and completion of the project.
A 49 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:
· Vice Chairman of the Board of Director of the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis
· Past President Greater St. Louis Police Chiefs Association
· Chairman of the St. Louis County Emergency Communications Commission
· Chairman of the Police Advisory Committee of the Regional Justice Information Service (REJIS)
· Law Enforcement Police Advisory Committee
· Life member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police
· Missouri Police Chief's Association
· Rotary Club of Florissant.
