When St. Louis County police leaders explained why Juan Cox should become the department’s next chief, they repeatedly returned to one issue: accountability.
The County Board of Police Commissioners voted Tuesday to appoint Cox as the department’s permanent chief after he served as acting chief following the retirement of Kenneth Gregory, the department’s first Black chief, in April.
Commission Chair Richard Banks said Cox’s experience during and after the Ferguson unrest helped distinguish him from other candidates.
“Chief Cox was very involved with the whole Ferguson issue. He was a lieutenant then and was involved with the training of officers,” Banks said.
The 2014 police shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson placed a national spotlight on policing in St. Louis County and sparked years of scrutiny over police-community relations, accountability and officer training.
While the St. Louis County Police Department does not oversee all 88 municipalities in the county, it maintains countywide jurisdiction and provides police services in unincorporated areas and municipalities that contract with the department.
Banks said Cox’s experience in both training and internal affairs positions prepared him to lead a department that continues to face public expectations for transparency and accountability.
“In his 31 years on the job, he was a drug detective, a captain in the drug unit and, most importantly, he was in our internal affairs unit,” Banks said.
“So, he understands very well the issues, concerns and training involved in making sure there’s accountability and that people don’t act unilaterally,” Banks continued. “And that’s really the problem; when people make unilateral, dumb decisions.”
Cox said he hopes to build on the department’s reputation while continuing to strengthen its relationship with the community.
“I just want the department to be recognized as one of the premier police departments in the nation,” he said, calling the appointment “the privilege of a lifetime.”
Cox, an East St. Louis native, joined the St. Louis County Police Department in 1995 and has served in the Central County, South County, North County and Jennings precincts, as well as in the Bureau of Strategy and Risk Management and the Bureau of Drug Enforcement. He previously commanded the St. Louis Gateway Strike Force.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Eastern Illinois University and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia.
St. Louis County Executive Sam Page praised the appointment, describing Cox as “a respected leader within the Police Department and in the community.”
Page also cited Cox’s work with the region’s Save Lives Now violence-reduction initiative.
The Ethical Society of Police, an organization that advocates for minority officers, also welcomed the selection. In a statement, the group said Cox had worked with members to address concerns raised by both the community and department personnel and had helped strengthen trust, accountability and collaboration between law enforcement and the public.
The Board of Police Commissioners cited Cox’s work on crime-prevention initiatives, community outreach programs and efforts to improve relationships between police officers and young people through programs such as the St. Louis County Police Athletic League.
In May, the board invited five lieutenant colonels to apply for the position. Three applied, one later withdrew and Cox and Lt. Col. Norman Mann advanced as finalists.
Former Express Scripts executive and community volunteer Michael Holmes said he was pleased with the board’s decision.
“I’m very happy they made that choice,” Holmes said, describing Cox as a “highly competent, down-to-earth brother.”
Sylvester Brown Jr. is the Deaconess Foundation Community Advocacy Fellow.