Colonel James P. Damos, DSN 144, had never even been a police officer when University City asked him to become police chief in 1961.
He went on to a distinguished career in which he helped found the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis and became its first chairman. He was University City's police chief for 28 years. He eventually became the chief of chiefs — president of the International Association of Chiefs of Police.
"I guess I'm about the first president that didn't start out riding in a patrol car," Chief Damos told the Post-Dispatch in 1982.
His family said Monday that James P. Damos died Saturday (Sept. 10, 2011) at Delmar Gardens West in Town and Country of complications from Alzheimer's disease and strokes.
He was 91 and had lived in University City during his career as chief.
Chief Damos was working in his family's movie theater business when then-City Manager Charles T. Henry named him chief.
The appointment of an outsider without police experience ordinarily would have caused resentment in the ranks.
But Chief Damos had what the city manager said the police department needed: management skills. He was a businessman who had served on the city's personnel board and had helped manage the police department's then large force of auxiliary officers.
He was also the department's only college graduate.
He agreed to take the job for two years on the condition that he be allowed to modernize the department.
Chief Damos immediately set about getting training for his force, then of 51 officers. He helped persuade the Legislature to require training for all Missouri police officers.
Chief Damos enlisted help from Clarence Kelley, who had started a major case squad when he was chief in Kansas City. Kelley later became director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
In 1964, Chief Damos and the late Peter Maniscalco, a magistrate judge in St. Louis County, presented the Major Case Squad concept to 135 law enforcement officers in Missouri and Illinois.
The representatives voted unanimously to approve the concept. The squad became active in May 1965 with the selection of 112 of the area's best police investigators.
At first, they had few resources, and they worked cases without overtime.
Today, the squad can select from 450 investigators in 117 police agencies in 13 Missouri and Illinois counties. It resolves more than 80% of its cases, the majority of which are homicides.
Mearl Justus, sheriff in St. Clair County, now heads the squad's board of directors. He recalled when Chief Damos was chairman: "He was a truly professional guy, and he did an outstanding job of holding the squad together, and that was not always easy."
Chief Damos graduated from the old Blewett High School in 1936 and St. Louis University. He retired in 1989.
Damos, James P. at the age of 91, on Saturday, September 10, 2011.
Beloved husband of the late Constance (nee Pliakos) Damos; loving father of Peter J. Damos (Susan) of San Antonio, TX and George J. Damos; dear grandfather of Michael Damos and Carol Damos Hill (Luke); dear great-grandfather of Rieley Damos and Audrey Hill; dear brother of the late Marguerite Damos Welsh, the late Paul Stephen Damos and the late Barbara Damos Anderson; uncle, great-uncle, cousin and friend of many.
Chief James P. Damos, DSN 144, served as Chief of Police for the University City Police Department for 28 years, retiring in 1989. His two sons, Peter and George Damos, both followed their father into law enforcement. Peter started with the Saint Louis County Police Department with a DSN of 1435 and served from 1975 to 1982. Peter went on to serve with the United States Secret Service as a Special Agent; and George Damos, DSN 1584, also served with the Saint Louis County Police Department. Both sons, like their father before them, served with distinction.
Services: Funeral from LUPTON CHAPEL, 7233 Delmar Blvd., University City on Thursday, September 15, 2011 at 9 a.m. to St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, 4967 Forest Park Blvd., St. Louis, for a 10 a.m. service. Interment St. Matthew Cemetery.
Memorial contributions greatly appreciated to The BackStoppers, Inc., P.O. Box 66927, St. Louis, MO 63166. The family will receive friends at LUPTON Chapel on Wednesday, September 14, 2011, from 4 to 8 p.m., with a Trisagion Service being held at 7 p.m.
He went on to a distinguished career in which he helped found the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis and became its first chairman. He was University City's police chief for 28 years. He eventually became the chief of chiefs — president of the International Association of Chiefs of Police.
"I guess I'm about the first president that didn't start out riding in a patrol car," Chief Damos told the Post-Dispatch in 1982.
His family said Monday that James P. Damos died Saturday (Sept. 10, 2011) at Delmar Gardens West in Town and Country of complications from Alzheimer's disease and strokes.
He was 91 and had lived in University City during his career as chief.
Chief Damos was working in his family's movie theater business when then-City Manager Charles T. Henry named him chief.
The appointment of an outsider without police experience ordinarily would have caused resentment in the ranks.
But Chief Damos had what the city manager said the police department needed: management skills. He was a businessman who had served on the city's personnel board and had helped manage the police department's then large force of auxiliary officers.
He was also the department's only college graduate.
He agreed to take the job for two years on the condition that he be allowed to modernize the department.
Chief Damos immediately set about getting training for his force, then of 51 officers. He helped persuade the Legislature to require training for all Missouri police officers.
Chief Damos enlisted help from Clarence Kelley, who had started a major case squad when he was chief in Kansas City. Kelley later became director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
In 1964, Chief Damos and the late Peter Maniscalco, a magistrate judge in St. Louis County, presented the Major Case Squad concept to 135 law enforcement officers in Missouri and Illinois.
The representatives voted unanimously to approve the concept. The squad became active in May 1965 with the selection of 112 of the area's best police investigators.
At first, they had few resources, and they worked cases without overtime.
Today, the squad can select from 450 investigators in 117 police agencies in 13 Missouri and Illinois counties. It resolves more than 80% of its cases, the majority of which are homicides.
Mearl Justus, sheriff in St. Clair County, now heads the squad's board of directors. He recalled when Chief Damos was chairman: "He was a truly professional guy, and he did an outstanding job of holding the squad together, and that was not always easy."
Chief Damos graduated from the old Blewett High School in 1936 and St. Louis University. He retired in 1989.
Damos, James P. at the age of 91, on Saturday, September 10, 2011.
Beloved husband of the late Constance (nee Pliakos) Damos; loving father of Peter J. Damos (Susan) of San Antonio, TX and George J. Damos; dear grandfather of Michael Damos and Carol Damos Hill (Luke); dear great-grandfather of Rieley Damos and Audrey Hill; dear brother of the late Marguerite Damos Welsh, the late Paul Stephen Damos and the late Barbara Damos Anderson; uncle, great-uncle, cousin and friend of many.
Chief James P. Damos, DSN 144, served as Chief of Police for the University City Police Department for 28 years, retiring in 1989. His two sons, Peter and George Damos, both followed their father into law enforcement. Peter started with the Saint Louis County Police Department with a DSN of 1435 and served from 1975 to 1982. Peter went on to serve with the United States Secret Service as a Special Agent; and George Damos, DSN 1584, also served with the Saint Louis County Police Department. Both sons, like their father before them, served with distinction.
Services: Funeral from LUPTON CHAPEL, 7233 Delmar Blvd., University City on Thursday, September 15, 2011 at 9 a.m. to St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, 4967 Forest Park Blvd., St. Louis, for a 10 a.m. service. Interment St. Matthew Cemetery.
Memorial contributions greatly appreciated to The BackStoppers, Inc., P.O. Box 66927, St. Louis, MO 63166. The family will receive friends at LUPTON Chapel on Wednesday, September 14, 2011, from 4 to 8 p.m., with a Trisagion Service being held at 7 p.m.
Colonel James P. Damos, DSN 144, had never even been a police officer when University City asked him to become police chief in 1961.
He went on to a distinguished career in which he helped found the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis and became its first chairman. He was University City's police chief for 28 years. He eventually became the chief of chiefs — president of the International Association of Chiefs of Police.
"I guess I'm about the first president that didn't start out riding in a patrol car," Chief Damos told the Post-Dispatch in 1982.
His family said Monday that James P. Damos died Saturday (Sept. 10, 2011) at Delmar Gardens West in Town and Country of complications from Alzheimer's disease and strokes.
He was 91 and had lived in University City during his career as chief.
Chief Damos was working in his family's movie theater business when then-City Manager Charles T. Henry named him chief.
The appointment of an outsider without police experience ordinarily would have caused resentment in the ranks.
But Chief Damos had what the city manager said the police department needed: management skills. He was a businessman who had served on the city's personnel board and had helped manage the police department's then large force of auxiliary officers.
He was also the department's only college graduate.
He agreed to take the job for two years on the condition that he be allowed to modernize the department.
Chief Damos immediately set about getting training for his force, then of 51 officers. He helped persuade the Legislature to require training for all Missouri police officers.
Chief Damos enlisted help from Clarence Kelley, who had started a major case squad when he was chief in Kansas City. Kelley later became director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
In 1964, Chief Damos and the late Peter Maniscalco, a magistrate judge in St. Louis County, presented the Major Case Squad concept to 135 law enforcement officers in Missouri and Illinois.
The representatives voted unanimously to approve the concept. The squad became active in May 1965 with the selection of 112 of the area's best police investigators.
At first, they had few resources, and they worked cases without overtime.
Today, the squad can select from 450 investigators in 117 police agencies in 13 Missouri and Illinois counties. It resolves more than 80% of its cases, the majority of which are homicides.
Mearl Justus, sheriff in St. Clair County, now heads the squad's board of directors. He recalled when Chief Damos was chairman: "He was a truly professional guy, and he did an outstanding job of holding the squad together, and that was not always easy."
Chief Damos graduated from the old Blewett High School in 1936 and St. Louis University. He retired in 1989.
Damos, James P. at the age of 91, on Saturday, September 10, 2011.
Beloved husband of the late Constance (nee Pliakos) Damos; loving father of Peter J. Damos (Susan) of San Antonio, TX and George J. Damos; dear grandfather of Michael Damos and Carol Damos Hill (Luke); dear great-grandfather of Rieley Damos and Audrey Hill; dear brother of the late Marguerite Damos Welsh, the late Paul Stephen Damos and the late Barbara Damos Anderson; uncle, great-uncle, cousin and friend of many.
Chief James P. Damos, DSN 144, served as Chief of Police for the University City Police Department for 28 years, retiring in 1989. His two sons, Peter and George Damos, both followed their father into law enforcement. Peter started with the Saint Louis County Police Department with a DSN of 1435 and served from 1975 to 1982. Peter went on to serve with the United States Secret Service as a Special Agent; and George Damos, DSN 1584, also served with the Saint Louis County Police Department. Both sons, like their father before them, served with distinction.
Services: Funeral from LUPTON CHAPEL, 7233 Delmar Blvd., University City on Thursday, September 15, 2011 at 9 a.m. to St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, 4967 Forest Park Blvd., St. Louis, for a 10 a.m. service. Interment St. Matthew Cemetery.
Memorial contributions greatly appreciated to The BackStoppers, Inc., P.O. Box 66927, St. Louis, MO 63166. The family will receive friends at LUPTON Chapel on Wednesday, September 14, 2011, from 4 to 8 p.m., with a Trisagion Service being held at 7 p.m.
He went on to a distinguished career in which he helped found the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis and became its first chairman. He was University City's police chief for 28 years. He eventually became the chief of chiefs — president of the International Association of Chiefs of Police.
"I guess I'm about the first president that didn't start out riding in a patrol car," Chief Damos told the Post-Dispatch in 1982.
His family said Monday that James P. Damos died Saturday (Sept. 10, 2011) at Delmar Gardens West in Town and Country of complications from Alzheimer's disease and strokes.
He was 91 and had lived in University City during his career as chief.
Chief Damos was working in his family's movie theater business when then-City Manager Charles T. Henry named him chief.
The appointment of an outsider without police experience ordinarily would have caused resentment in the ranks.
But Chief Damos had what the city manager said the police department needed: management skills. He was a businessman who had served on the city's personnel board and had helped manage the police department's then large force of auxiliary officers.
He was also the department's only college graduate.
He agreed to take the job for two years on the condition that he be allowed to modernize the department.
Chief Damos immediately set about getting training for his force, then of 51 officers. He helped persuade the Legislature to require training for all Missouri police officers.
Chief Damos enlisted help from Clarence Kelley, who had started a major case squad when he was chief in Kansas City. Kelley later became director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
In 1964, Chief Damos and the late Peter Maniscalco, a magistrate judge in St. Louis County, presented the Major Case Squad concept to 135 law enforcement officers in Missouri and Illinois.
The representatives voted unanimously to approve the concept. The squad became active in May 1965 with the selection of 112 of the area's best police investigators.
At first, they had few resources, and they worked cases without overtime.
Today, the squad can select from 450 investigators in 117 police agencies in 13 Missouri and Illinois counties. It resolves more than 80% of its cases, the majority of which are homicides.
Mearl Justus, sheriff in St. Clair County, now heads the squad's board of directors. He recalled when Chief Damos was chairman: "He was a truly professional guy, and he did an outstanding job of holding the squad together, and that was not always easy."
Chief Damos graduated from the old Blewett High School in 1936 and St. Louis University. He retired in 1989.
Damos, James P. at the age of 91, on Saturday, September 10, 2011.
Beloved husband of the late Constance (nee Pliakos) Damos; loving father of Peter J. Damos (Susan) of San Antonio, TX and George J. Damos; dear grandfather of Michael Damos and Carol Damos Hill (Luke); dear great-grandfather of Rieley Damos and Audrey Hill; dear brother of the late Marguerite Damos Welsh, the late Paul Stephen Damos and the late Barbara Damos Anderson; uncle, great-uncle, cousin and friend of many.
Chief James P. Damos, DSN 144, served as Chief of Police for the University City Police Department for 28 years, retiring in 1989. His two sons, Peter and George Damos, both followed their father into law enforcement. Peter started with the Saint Louis County Police Department with a DSN of 1435 and served from 1975 to 1982. Peter went on to serve with the United States Secret Service as a Special Agent; and George Damos, DSN 1584, also served with the Saint Louis County Police Department. Both sons, like their father before them, served with distinction.
Services: Funeral from LUPTON CHAPEL, 7233 Delmar Blvd., University City on Thursday, September 15, 2011 at 9 a.m. to St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, 4967 Forest Park Blvd., St. Louis, for a 10 a.m. service. Interment St. Matthew Cemetery.
Memorial contributions greatly appreciated to The BackStoppers, Inc., P.O. Box 66927, St. Louis, MO 63166. The family will receive friends at LUPTON Chapel on Wednesday, September 14, 2011, from 4 to 8 p.m., with a Trisagion Service being held at 7 p.m.
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