St. Joseph's first Chief of Police was John Broder. Originally, Chief Broder was from Vermont. He was married and lived in St. Joseph for 27 years until his death on January 17, 1911. Chief Broder was appointed Chief of Police on June 1, 1887 at the age of 56. He resigned on July 8, 1901.
Other past Chiefs of Police are as follows:
| William Henry Frans Appointed Patrolman: February 14, 1893 Age: 29 Appointed Chief: January, 1, 1902 Resigned: February 28, 1909 Reappointed Patrolman: March 25, 1911 Resigned: August 16, 1912 |
James J. McNamara Appointed Patrolman: May 21, 1891 Age: 30 Appointed Chief: February 29, 1909 Resigned: September 16, 1909 |
| Charles H. Haskell Appointed Chief: September 16, 1909 Age: 42 Resigned: June 14, 1912 |
William T. Gray Appointed Patrolman: January 15, 1896 Age: 30 Appointed Chief: June 14, 1912 Reduced in Rank: February 2, 1914 Resigned: July 10, 1919 |
| James A. Clouser Appointed Patrolman: June 1, 1906 Age: 33 Appointed Chief: February 2, 1914 Resigned: August 30, 1916 |
Thomas D. Moore Appointed Patrolman: February 16, 1902 Age: 28 Resigned: October 20, 1913 Appointed Chief: August 20, 1916 Resigned: June 14, 1920 |
| B. Frank Watson Appointed Patrolman: June 1, 1887 Age: 37 Appointed Chief: June 12, 1920 Reduced in Rank: February 15, 1921 Retired: June 1, 1925 |
Clay C. MacDonald Appointed Chief: February 15, 1921 Age: 64 Resigned: October 21, 1922 |
| Hugh Raphael Appointed Patrolman: February 16, 1910 Age: 38 Appointed Chief: November 21, 1922 Reduced in Rank: September 7, 1929 Died: April 3, 1932 |
Earl M. Mathews Appointed Detective: January 16, 1926 Age: 53 Appointed Chief: September 7, 1929 Reduced in Rank: July 11, 1932 Resigned: July 11, 1933 |
| B.T. Andrews Appointed Patrolman: August 8, 1919 Age: 23 Appointed Chief: July 11, 1932 Reduced in Rank: January 8, 1933 Retired: July 15, 1946 |
Charles Enos Appointed Chief: February 18, 1933 Age: 42 Resigned: February 18, 1937 |
| James E. Kelley Appointed Patrolman: June 1, 1912 Age: 32 Appointed Chief: February 24, 1937 Reduced in Rank: February 24, 1941 Retired: October 31, 1943 |
Melvin Claud Swepton Appointed Patrolman: September 2, 1921 Age: 25 Appointed Chief: February 23, 1942 Reduced in Rank: March 19, 1945 Retired: September 15, 1946 |
| Chester C. Fee Appointed Patrolman: May 17, 1923 Age: 37 Appointed Chief: March 23, 1946 Retired: February 17, 1947 |
J. Croy Keller Appointed Patrolman: June 1, 1937 Age: 28 Appointed Chief: March 19, 1947 Died: August 31, 1952 |
| Harry W. Crowell Appointed Patrolman: June 1, 1937 Age: 27 Appointed Chief: March 10, 1953 Died: April 15, 1961 |
Edward C. Burke Appointed Patrolman: November 1, 1935 Age: 29 Appointed Chief: May 16, 1961 Retired: August 19, 1969 |
| Glenn E. Thomas Appointed Patrolman: May 4, 1934 Age: 22 Appointed Chief: August 20, 1969 Retired: September 30, 1978 |
James R. Hayes Appointed Patrolman: February 1, 1956 Age: 30 Resigned: October 1, 1978 Appointed Chief: October 1, 1978 Retired: October 23, 1989 |
| Arthur J. Kelly III Appointed Chief: May 13, 1990 Age: 46 Resigned: July 8, 1994 |
Jerry L. Hoover Appointed Chief: October 13, 1994 Age: 49 Resigned: July 3, 1997 |
| James Montgomery Appointed Chief: December 8, 1997 Age: 46 Resigned: February 1, 2000 |
Mike Hirter Appointed Chief: October 30, 2000 Age: Retired: December 31, 2005 |
| Christopher Connally Appointed Chief: January 1, 2006 |
