Get To Know The 6 Finalists For St. Louis Police Commissioner

ST. LOUIS, MO -- Narrowed down from a 42-person pool, six candidates remain in the running for the position as St. Louis's next police commissioner.

The finalists appeared at a Thursday town hall, where they responded to questions that residents submitted online prior to the event. All were selected from a larger pool of 42 applicants for the position. They were reviewed for consideration by the mayor-appointed Citizens Advisory Committee, the city’s personnel department, and an independent search firm (the International Association of Chiefs of Police).

The top six candidates were named after interviews with the search firm, the CAC, and their successful completion of a management test administered by those in the personnel department.

Finalists will be interviewed by St. Louis Mayor Krewson and Department of Public Safety Director Jimmie Edwards, who will make the final decision and, thereafter, offer the position to the selected candidate.

The following finalists are listed in alphabetical order:

Mary Edwards-Fears - St. Louis, MO

Mary Edwards-Fears currently serves as a Captain commanding Evidence Management and Professional Standards for the City of St. Louis, a position she has held since 2015. She has a Bachelor’s Degree and Master’s Degree from Webster University.

Stephen Geron - Dallas, TX

Stephen Geron currently is as a Major serving as the Executive Officer in the Southeast Patrol Division in the Dallas Police Department, a position he has held since September 2016. He has a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences from Midwestern State University.He has served as a Major since 2014 and is a 25 year veteran of the Dallas Police Department.

John Hayden - St. Louis, MO

John Hayden currently serves as a Major commanding the North Patrol Division in the City of St. Louis. He has a Bachelor of Arts from Washington University in St. Louis and a Master of Arts in Management from Fontbonne. He is a 30 year veteran of the St. Louis Police Department.

Keith Humphrey - Norman, OK

Keith Humphrey currently serves as the Chief of the Norman Police Department, a position he has held since 2011. He has a Bachelor of Business Administration from Texas A&M University and a Master of Business Administration from Amberton University. Prior to this position, he served as the Chief of Police of Lancaster, TX from 2008-2011.

Patrick Melvin - Port Arthur, TX

Patrick Melvin currently serves as the Chief of Police for Port Arthur, a position he has held since May 2016. He has a Bachelor of Science from Arizona State University and a Master of Education from Northern Arizona University. Prior to this position, he served as the Police Chief for the Salt River Police Department in Arizona from 2011-2016. He also served as the Chief of Police of Maricopa, Arizona from 2006 to 2009.

Lawrence O’Toole - St. Louis, MO

Lawrence O’Toole currently serves as the Interim Police Chief for the City of St. Louis, a position he has held since April 2017. He has a Bachelor of Science from Southeast Missouri State University and a Master of Business Administration from Lindenwood University. He has served in the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department for 33 years.