Starting August 1, Florissant Police will patrol Calverton Park

CALVERTON PARK, Missouri – The city of Calverton Park Police Department will be taken over by police in neighboring Florissant next month, officials confirmed Friday.

The city held a special council meeting Friday afternoon and voted 4-0 to allow the Florissant Police Department to take over the city’s police department beginning August 1.

The Calverton Park Police Department consists of a chief and four officers who serve a population of about 1,200 residents, according to Mayor James Paunovich. The small community covers an area of ​​about 0.4 square miles and borders the larger cities of Florissant, Ferguson and Hazelwood.

Paunovich cited economic difficulties and the inability to find officers for the positions as reasons for asking Florissant to take over the position. The current starting salary for a Calverton Park police officer is $38,000.

Pauvonich said the economic fallout from the pandemic has hit Calverton Park hard, and the city has taken out a $200,000 state loan “just to stay afloat.”

The city still owes $125,000 on that loan, which Pauvonich said the state plans to pay back by September – something the mayor says the city cannot afford. Pauvanovich said he plans to write a letter Monday asking the state for an extension.

Calverton Park officers and chief will have the opportunity to apply for positions with the Florissant Police Department, Pauvonich said.