Cedric Carr was recently promoted to captain of UMSL Police Department after working for the department for over a decade. (Photo by Derik Holtmann)
When Cedric Carr initially applied to be a police officer right out of college, he and his friends thought of it as a bit of a joke. But he ended up falling in love with the profession, and 30 years later, he knows he’s exactly where he’s supposed to be.
Carr spent the first two decades of his career working for the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and University City Police Department before joining the police department at the University of Missouri–St. Louis in 2016. He enjoys the community aspect of a campus police department, which allows him to meet students one-on-one, implement resources and get involved with hands-on projects. In particular, he’s worked closely with the UMSL Bridge Program’s Saturday Academy and as the department’s liaison for athletic events. Having grown up in Normandy himself, he’s excited to help build community in the area.
“I’m just a Normandy guy, and I truly love this community,” Carr said. “I love how UMSL is run. For 10 years I’ve watched it grow, the leadership from the chancellor all the way down. It’s just been impeccable. I’m a lot closer to the community here, and I truly love the community service part of it.”
Carr will have new and different opportunities to engage with the community after being promoted from lieutenant to captain of UMSL PD. His new role involves overseeing a larger team and assisting Chief Marisa Smith with various projects around campus.
Smith, who has worked with Carr for a decade, said he is an experienced and approachable leader who understands both the operational and strategic needs of the department.
“His depth of experience, sound judgment and ability to effectively communicate across all levels of the organization make him well-suited for the role of captain,” Smith said. “Cedric consistently goes above and beyond in his service to the department. He is always willing to assist, regardless of the circumstances, and employees regularly rely on him for guidance and support with both complex and routine matters. His commitment to service and his willingness to step in wherever needed demonstrate his dedication to the team and the community.”
As captain, Carr is committed to advancing the department’s vision of building meaningful community partnerships while delivering service with excellence and integrity. He aims to improve officer retention, foster positive relationships with faculty and staff and enhance the department’s reputation through more community service and visibility across campus.
“I want our officers to focus more on the community,” Carr said. “I want us to know our faculty, know our staff, stick their heads in and go up to the chancellor’s suite just to say hi and let them know we’re here and we’re thinking about them because that goes a long way. I just really want to change the whole way people look at police officers.
“We’re going to get out there more. There are so many events going on across campus, and I want us to be a part of some of those events. I want people to recognize us and kind of look past the blue suits and look at us as friendly neighbors, willing to help.”
