Editing Rock Hill, Missouri (section)

=== Police and fire ===
In 2004 mayor Robert Salamone approached the city of [[Brentwood, Missouri|Brentwood]] about a possible takeover of Rock Hill police and fire services. The proposal was unpopular with Rock Hill residents.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Jarrett|first1=Linda|title=Rock Hill Pursuing Efforts Toward New Police Force|url=http://www.websterkirkwoodtimes.com/Articles-News-c-2011-03-24-174261.114137-sub-Rock-Hill-Pursuing-Efforts-Toward-New-Police-Force.html|access-date=20 May 2017|work=Webster-Kirkwood Times|date=21 May 2004}}</ref> In July the Board of Aldermen voted unanimously to keep police and fire services local. The Board of Aldermen also passed resolutions consolidating some police and fire positions under a safety administrator position.<ref name="Safety admin">{{cite news|last1=Jarrett|first1=Linda|title=Rock Hill Fire And Police Services To Stay|url=http://www.websterkirkwoodtimes.com/Articles-News-c-2011-03-17-174050.114137-sub-Rock-Hill-Fire-And-Police-Services-To-Stay.html|access-date=20 May 2017|work=Webster-Kirkwood Times|date=23 July 2004}}</ref>

Police and fire moved to a residential property on Charleville Avenue when city hall on Manchester Road was razed in 2005.<ref name="Prop R">{{cite news|last1=Jarrett|first1=Linda|title=Rock Hill's Prop R Would Fund New City Facilities|url=http://www.timesnewspapers.com/Articles-Election-Coverage-c-2016-03-31-198046.114137-sub-Rock-Hills-Prop-R-Would-Fund-New-City-Facilities.html|access-date=28 May 2017|work=Webster-Kirkwood Times|date=1 April 2016}}</ref>

In June 2018 the Board of Aldermen voted to transfer administration of the city's uniformed employee [[pension]] plan to the Missouri Local Government Employees Retirement System.<ref name="LAGERS">{{cite news |last1=Jarrett |first1=Linda |title=LAGERS To Take Over Pension Plan For Rock Hill |url=http://www.timesnewspapers.com/Articles-c-2018-06-07-204021.114137-sub-LAGERS-To-Take-Over-Pension-Plan-For-Rock-Hill.html |access-date=2 July 2018 |work=Webster-Kirkwood Times |date=8 June 2018}}</ref>

;Rock Hill Police Department
Roger Stephens was the village's first police officer, who was later served as Chief for 13 years. During Stephens' tenure the city purchased its first police motor car, a 1933 Ford V8. Marshall Whitecotton was appointed police chief c. 1944, then elected to eight additional two-year terms until his death in August 1966.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/142252996/|title=Marshall Whitecotton Dies; Rock Hill Police Chief|date=21 August 1966|work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch}}</ref> Under Whitecotton, Brentwood cooperated with Rock Hill's motorized six-man department, which by then had two-way radios.<ref name="Early">{{Cite book|title=A History of Rock Hill|last=Blann|first=Celeste Wagner|publisher=Celeste Wagner Blann|year=1976|pages=1–10|chapter=Early History of Rock Hill}}</ref>

Bradford Epperson served as police chief from 1966 until his death in April 1978. He was President of the Missouri Police Chiefs Association in 1975.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/139480190/|title=Rock Hill Is Searching For New Chief Of Police|date=6 April 1978|work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch}}</ref>

In 1973 Rock Hill voters made police chief an appointive position, having defeated a similar effort in 1966.<ref>{{cite news|title=Bruce W. Woodruff Victor in Kirkwood Proposals|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/140680297/|access-date=15 June 2017|work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|date=4 April 1973}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Ballwin Voters Defeat Projects |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/142235438/?terms=%22rock%2Bhill%22%2Bannex |access-date=28 October 2019 |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |date=5 October 1966}}</ref> After Chief James Johnstone retired, a police committee recommended promoting acting police chief Mark Zimmer for the permanent position but the recommendation was rejected by aldermen.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/140764272/|title=Rock Hill To Disclose Choice For Police Chief|date=26 May 1983|work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch}}</ref> Northwoods police chief Donald McDonald was appointed Rock Hill police chief in June 1983.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/140764597/|title=Northwoods Police Chief Named To Head Rock Hill Department|date=9 June 1983|work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch}}</ref> Under his leadership Rock Hill became known for its aggressive enforcement of speed limits.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/obituaries/don-mcdonald-dies-rock-hill-police-chief-enforced-speed-limit/article_dd36a153-8518-53dd-a1ec-e8fc10ccf3f8.html|title=Don McDonald dies, Rock Hill police chief enforced speed limit}}</ref> He retired in June 1997.<ref name="city hall 1996">{{cite news|title=City Departments Must Live With Current Building|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/142652879/|access-date=16 June 2017|work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|date=14 November 1996}}</ref> A 2000 Missouri study on racial profiling at traffic stops indicated Rock Hill pulled over significantly fewer black drivers than the county. Over four months black drivers made up 10.6 percent of 1,499 police stops.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Skrivan|first1=Laurie|title=Profiling study bolsters blacks' charges|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/141169027/|access-date=13 June 2017|work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|date=2 June 2001}}</ref>

Between 1983 and 2009 Officer Ronald Zeigler issued an estimated 150,000 tickets, mostly to speeding drivers. He was Missouri City Traffic Officer of the Year in 1985, Rock Hill Officer of the Year five times, and the 2000 Traffic Officer of the Millennium. Zeigler retired in October 2009. He "put the city on the regional map as a place where speeding motorists could expect to pay for their ignorance of speed limits," according to the ''Webster-Kirkwood Times''.<ref name="Zeigler retirement">{{cite news|last1=Jarrett|first1=Linda|title=A Ticket To Retirement|url=http://www.timesnewspapers.com/Articles-Features-c-2009-10-01-166931.113118-sub-A-Ticket-To-Retirement.html|access-date=23 April 2017|work=Webster-Kirkwood Times|date=2 October 2009}}</ref> In 2011 Ziegler returned part-time.<ref name="Ziegler returns">{{cite news|last1=Jarrett|first1=Linda|title=Anonymous Donor May Pay To Move Historic Church|url=http://www.timesnewspapers.com/Articles-News-c-2011-06-30-175765.114137-sub-Anonymous-Donor-May-Pay-To-Move-Historic-Church.html|access-date=23 April 2017|work=Webster-Kirkwood Times|date=1 July 2011}}</ref>

In 2007 Rock Hill Police opened a substation inside a bank on Manchester Road.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Smith|first1=Todd|title=Rock Hill Police get first substation|url=http://www.stltoday.com/suburban-journals/rock-hill-police-get-first-substation/article_5cc13e84-70e6-55fc-82ff-aed4f87aba89.html|access-date=4 June 2017|work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|date=13 December 2007}}</ref>

Paul Arnett became police chief circa 2006.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Jarrett|first1=Linda|title=Onstar Leads To Carjacking Suspects|url=http://www.timesnewspapers.com/Articles-News-c-2010-08-05-170257.113118-sub-Onstar-Leads-To-Carjacking-Suspects.html|access-date=4 June 2017|work=Webster-Kirkwood Times|date=21 April 2006}}</ref> Previously he had served with the department for nearly 30 years.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Shapiro|first1=Mary|title=150,000 traffic tickets later|url=http://www.stltoday.com/suburban-journals/metro/traffic-tickets-later/article_380870d3-0a48-505e-b849-47067f50fe8a.html|access-date=4 June 2017|work=Suburban Journals|date=13 October 2009}}</ref> The ''Webster-Kirkwood Times'', which published Arnett's crime dispatches (one of which appeared on [[Late Show with David Letterman|''David Letterman'']]) wrote that "writing a good crime report is hard. Almost as hard as doing police work. And Chief Arnett appears to have mastered both."<ref>{{cite news|last1=Bufe|first1=Mary|title=The Story You Are About To Read Is True|url=http://www.timesnewspapers.com/Articles-Columnists-c-2008-05-15-76257.113117-sub-The-Story-You-Are-About-To-Read-Is-True.html|access-date=4 June 2017|work=Webster-Kirkwood Times|date=16 May 2008}}</ref> Arnett retired in March 2013.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Jarrett|first1=Linda|title=Donald Wickenhauser Takes Helm Of Police Department|url=http://www.timesnewspapers.com/Articles-News-c-2013-09-05-189117.114137-sub-Donald-Wickenhauser-Takes-Helm-Of-Police-Department.html|access-date=4 June 2017|work=Webster-Kirkwood Times|date=6 September 2013}}</ref>

In April 2010 officer Matt Crosby was shot and paralyzed when he responded to a domestic disturbance call on Raritan Drive. The shooter received a life sentence with possibility for parole in September 2012.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Byers|first1=Christine|title=Man gets life in prison for shooting that left Rock Hill officer paralyzed|url=http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/man-gets-life-in-prison-for-shooting-that-left-rock/article_12f60c96-0647-11e2-8194-0019bb30f31a.html|access-date=20 May 2017|work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|date=25 September 2012}}</ref>

;Rock Hill Fire Department
In October 1940 Rock Hill residents voted in favor of a bond issue creating a city fire service after a long-standing contract with Maplewood fire services ended. The fire station and city hall building was dedicated in December 1941.<ref name="Clubs">{{Cite book|title=A History of Rock Hill|last=Blann|first=Celeste Wagner|publisher=Celeste Wagner Blann|year=1976|pages=55–61|chapter=Clubs}}</ref>

John Kriska was fire chief circa 1990.<ref>{{cite news|title=First Fire Of 1990 Center in Richmond Heights|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/141303480/|access-date=13 June 2017|work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|date=1 January 2001}}</ref> He became safety administrator in 2004.<ref name="Safety admin"/>

In 2006 the fire department received a record 932 calls.<ref>{{cite news|title=2006 was busy for fire department|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/151848328/|access-date=13 June 2017|work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|date=18 January 2007}}</ref> Current fire chief Kevin Halloran became chief c. 2008.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Forder|first1=Anna C.|title=Coping With The Aftermath Of Sept. 14 Flooding|url=http://www.timesnewspapers.com/Articles-Features-c-2008-10-02-81064.113117-sub-Coping-With-The-Aftermath-Of-Sept-14-Flooding.html|access-date=4 June 2017|work=Webster-Kirkwood Times|date=3 October 2008}}</ref>

In 2008 the city received a $237,000 grant from the [[Federal Emergency Management Agency]] for a new fire truck.<ref name="DiPlacido sworn" /> Fire house offices moved from the Charleville Firehouse to City Hall on Thornton Avenue while a fire engine and ambulance continued to operate out of the Charleville. [[CVS Pharmacy]] asked for $1.5 million TIF on the city's behalf to build a new firehouse to replace the old, which would be demolished to build CVS.<ref name="TIF commission"/> In January 2013 the city TIF commission recommended against using TIF to finance the fire department's move.<ref name="TIF commission">{{cite news|last1=Jarrett|first1=Linda|title=Commission Rejects TIF For Fire House|url=http://www.timesnewspapers.com/Articles-News-c-2013-01-24-184765.114137-sub-Commission-Rejects-TIF-For-Fire-House.html|access-date=28 May 2017|work=Webster-Kirkwood Times|date=25 January 2013}}</ref> In April 2013 the Board of Alderman left the fire department out of the $1.2 million TIF, instead splitting the amount three ways between CVS, Webster Groves School District and the city.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Jarrett|first1=Linda|title=Board Approves $1.2 Million Toward CVS Pharmacy Project|url=http://www.timesnewspapers.com/Articles-News-c-2013-04-04-185930.114137-sub-Board-Approves-12-Million-Toward-CVS-Pharmacy-Project.html|access-date=28 May 2017|work=Webster-Kirkwood Times|date=5 April 2013}}</ref>

In August 2016 Rock Hill agreed to explore consolidating its fire command with [[Clayton, Missouri|Clayton]], [[Maplewood, Missouri|Maplewood]], [[Brentwood, Missouri|Brentwood]] and [[Richmond Heights, Missouri|Richmond Heights]],<ref>{{cite news|last1=Jarrett|first1=Linda|title=5 Cities Develop Joint Fire Command In Rock Hill|url=http://www.websterkirkwoodtimes.com/Articles-News-c-2016-08-18-199039.114137-sub-5-Cities-Develop-Joint-Fire-Command-In-Rock-Hill.html|access-date=20 May 2017|work=Webster-Kirkwood Times|date=19 August 2016}}</ref> however in September 2017 Rock Hill left the agreement after studies suggested the joint command would cost the city more than double its fire department budget.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.timesnewspapers.com/Articles-News-c-2017-08-31-201857.114137-sub-Rock-Hill-Decides-Not-To-Join-Cities-In-Joint-Fire-Command.html|title=Rock Hill Decides Not To Join Cities In Joint Fire Command|last=Jarrett|first=Linda|work=Webster-Kirkwood Times|access-date=2018-05-16|language=en-US}}</ref>

August 21, 2018, was the grand opening of Rock Hill's new city hall, police and fire departments at 827 N. Rock Hill Road.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.timesnewspapers.com/webster-kirkwoodtimes/news/rock-hill-unveils-new-city-facilities/article_043ff2b1-b96a-5b24-8cde-0e110c404c02.html|title=Rock Hill Unveils New City Facilities|last=Jarrett|first=Linda|website=Webster-Kirkwood Times, Inc.|language=en|access-date=2019-08-15}}</ref>