St. Louis’ Crime Chime: Targeted in the Cold: The 13 Silenced Deputies Who Struck Back Against City Hall

Following an EEOC investigation into the abrupt termination of 13 deputies under former Sheriff Alfred Montgomery, the St. Louis Sheriff’s Office has reached a 5-year federal conciliation pact enforcing anti-discrimination policies, training, and civil rights compliance.

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Overview: The St. Louis Sheriff’s Office entered into a five-year federal conciliation agreement with the EEOC and the U.S. Department of Justice to settle 13 allegations of unlawful race and age discrimination. The federal investigation found reasonable cause to believe that former Sheriff Alfred Montgomery carried out abrupt, unreviewed terminations of older white staff and a Black deputy who spoke out against the firings. Under the agreement, the department must institute anti-bias training, overhaul employment policies, and submit compliance reports to federal watchdogs, while the dismissed employees retain the right to pursue individual civil lawsuits.
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Federal watchdogs enforce a five-year anti-bias oversight pact after 13 veteran deputies were abruptly terminated without performance reviews.

In the shadow of the Arch where the river runs deep,

The St. Louis Sheriff’s Office had a promise to keep.

Charged with court security on the city’s home turf,

Serving warrants and notices to prove their sworn worth.

Yet behind the marble pillars and the badge on the chest,

A storm started brewing when a leader took the desk.

Back in late twenty-twenty-four, whispers hit the floor,

Sheriff Alfred Montgomery looked ahead to the door,

Calling ranks “top-heavy” with an eye on the old,

Setting off a winter that turned suddenly cold.

Come January’s freeze, thirteen names got the call,

No review of their service, no appraisal at all.

Senior white deputies were cast to the side,

While experience and tenure were stripped of their pride.

One lone Black brother raised his voice to the room,

Calling out the raw bias that had sealed their swift doom,

Standing up for the veterans who had carried the load,

Only he got dropped too, pushed straight down the road.

The EEOC stepped in when the workers laid claim,

Finding reasonable cause that the cuts weren’t the same,

Pointing back to the words spoken before taking command,

Showing age and race bias had guided the hand.

The department stepped back, never claiming the wrong,

Denying all charges though the pressure grew strong.

Through conciliation tables where the regulators speak,

They hammered out a truce to protect the critique.

A five-year pact now governs the hall,

With civil rights notices pinned to the wall,

Policy rewrites, mandated training in place,

To banish all bias on age and on race.

Federal watchdogs will monitor the city’s new sheet,

While the courthouse keeps running right down on the street.

Though the agency settles to put past days in flight,

Those thirteen dismissed still hold on to their right,

Free to take to the bench where the final gavel lands,

Seeking justice on paper from the court’s own hands.

From heartbreaking losses to shocking crimes, these stories paint a sobering picture of the challenges facing our communities. Let’s hope for justice, healing, and a safer tomorrow.

A noir-style illustration of a detective under a streetlight with a magnifying glass.
St. Louis Crime Noir: Investigating the city’s weekly crime trends.

St. Louis Crime Chime: Partnering for a Safer Community

The St. Louis Crime Chime is evolving into a mission-driven organization dedicated to partnering with local public safety agencies and community-focused media, such as The Evening Whirl and Real STL News, to shine a light on social and violence-related issues. Our goal is to provide resources that support both victims and perpetrators of traumatic events, fostering healing and prevention within our community.

Through its St. Louis Crime Chime section. This essential platform empowers residents by highlighting emerging threats and safety concerns, encouraging vigilance and informed decision-making. Beyond reporting, it holds individuals and institutions accountable by keeping arrests and legal proceedings in the public eye, promoting transparency and urging neighbors to protect and support one another.

While the headlines often confront difficult truths, they also serve as a rallying cry for action. By staying informed through reliable sources and official police data, residents can move beyond fear and take an active role in prevention and community-building efforts. Together, we can transform awareness into meaningful change, helping St. Louis write a safer, more hopeful chapter for all.

What You Can Do

Stay tuned, stay safe, and remember: “If it’s crime you seek, we’ve got the streak.


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