City of St Louis Metropolitan Police Department
City of Saint Louis Missouri
Saint Louis Metropolitan Police
Pension System
and
Relief Association
June 1886
Saint Louis Metropolitan Police Relief Fund was established to provide benefits to the sick and disabled members
of the police force and assist widows and orphans of deceased officers.
The cost was fifty cents per payday to be paid by all police officers per payday.
1873
Saint Louis Metropolitan Police Relief Fund made loans to working police officers if a sergeant co-signed the loan.
1878
The Saint Louis Metropolitan Police Relief Fund was funded by all rewards received by police officers,
fines for violation by Police Officers and the proceeds from unclaimed property.
1879
The Saint Louis Metropolitan Police Relief Fund was also funded by donations by other
business and organizations for request of additional police services.
March 12, 1881
The Saint Louis Metropolitan Police Relief Association was established by the Missouri legislation
to provide for benefits to the sick and disabled members of the police force
and assist widows and orphans of deceased officers.
September 1882
The Saint Louis Metropolitan Police Relief Association began using the profit from gross receipts
of special events such as entertainment enterprises and was promoted by the selling of tickets
by police officers to promote the various events.
December 11, 1884
The Saint Louis Metropolitan Police Relief Association
held the first Policeman's Ball to benefit the fund for relief.
July 10, 1900
Membership in the Saint Louis Metropolitan Police Relief Association
became mandatory for all police officers who were assessed
twenty percent ( 20% ) of their wages.
October 1, 1929
The rules and regulation of the Saint Louis Metropolitan Police Relief Association were revised.
October 1, 1957
The Police Retirement System Saint Louis was establish.
Saint Louis Police Retirement System
State of Missouri Revised Statutes concerning the Police Relief and Pension Systems
In 1966 the average retirement benefit was $301.43 per month.
In 2006 the average retirement benefit was $2,255.11 per month.
The Police Circus
The Saint Louis Metropolitan Police Relief Association held a Police Circus to benefit the relief funds.
The Police Circus was held annually during the various years from the early 1900's to the mid 1960's.
This annual Police Circus became the biggest producer of gross receipts for the Police Relief funds
and was promoted by the selling of tickets by police officers to promote the event.
The house was packed as everyone enjoyed the circus
and this was before television became the major source of entertainment.
April 17 to April 30
1941
The cover of 1941 Police Circus program.
In the early years the Police Circus was held at the Saint Louis Coliseum.
Washington Avenue and Jefferson Avenue
Click for Missouri History Museum Photo of City of Saint Louis Coliseum
In the later years the Police Circus was held at the Saint Louis Arena.
On Oakland across from Forest Park
Click for Missouri History Museum Photo Saint Louis Arena
1959
BackStoppers Incorporated
founded
St. Louis Globe-Democrat own Richard Amberg, publisher
and
Nicholas Blassie, the president of the local meatcutter's union,
came up with the idea for the BackStoppers.
The Backstoppers expanded from serving only the city and county
to serving 17 counties on both sides of the Mississippi River in Missouri and Illinois.
The members of the BackStoppers cover St. Louis City, the Missouri counties of St. Louis, St. Charles, Lincoln,
Jefferson, Franklin, St. Francois, Perry, Pike, Ste. Genevieve, Warren and Washington.
The group also covers the Illinois counties of Bond, Clinton, Madison, Monroe and St. Clair.
In addition, Backstoppers cover members of Troop C of the Missouri Highway Patrol and District 11 of the Illinois State Police.
Backstoppers funds the benefits with fundraisers, membership dues, and investments.
Membership in The BackStoppers is a privilege because it is an opportunity to perform an uncommon
good for some of the community's most deserving families, the survivors of a fallen hero.
The BackStoppers Incorporated
The BackStoppers
9811 South Forty Dr. Suite 3
Saint Louis, MO 63124
Phone 314-692-0200
This is for all for the survivors of fallen police officers and firefighters within the area served.
Among the first of many served by the
Backstoppers
on
Thursday, July 2, 1964
was
Saint Louis Police Canine Officer
Patrolman Paul McCulloch
and
the fallen hero left a family of survivors,
some of who become police officers, lawyers or attorneys and a county prosecutor.
City of Saint Louis Officer Down Memorial Page for Paul McCulloch
Guns 'N Hoses
began
1987
This annual event features three-round boxing matches between teams of Missouri and Illinois police officers and firefighters.
Boxers are paired by age, weight and ability.
The event is to raise money for the BackStoppers.
which assists families of public servants who die in the line of duty.
There is also Guns 'N Hoses Softball and Hockey events during the years to raise money for the BackStoppers.
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[ Saint Louis Police Veteran's Police Headquaters Page ]