Vince Cowdry

Vince Cowdry Retired St Peters Police Detective

03/01/77 to 03/01/93

I have decided to set things right if someone does activate the QR code on my retirement card. This card is actually issued by me and not my department. The reason for this being, my department apparently changed the policy where I had to have over 20 years in with the Department. I only have 16 years. The new policy that the chief just wrote apparently says that I resigned and didn't retire. In my case, I received a job offer that actually was a godsend. I'll explain all about this.

In 1977 I was hired by the St Peters Police Department. I rose pretty quickly from the rank of patrolman to Detective. In my tenure I distinguish myself as a very proficient Detective. I received many commendations and awards.

I submitted a case to America's Most Wanted and within a week of the show being aired we apprehended the perp.

In 1979 I was the officer of the year for St Peters Police Department.

In the '80s i learned that my partner was a very abusive person. Several times during interviews he would reach across the table and grab the suspect's hair and slam his head into the table.

I also learned he was abusing his wife. She would call me at night to ask me to call her husband to talk about a case we were working just to distract him from harming her. My wife and I coordinated the wife to meet with a counselor.

Numerous times, I would report these continuing incidents to supervision. Not once was there a call to investigate my abusive partner.

Calls from his wife stopped and I felt her husband knew I reported him. I felt threatened and I developed IBS that I sought treatment for.

Out of 3 different chiefs, none initiated an investigation into my abusive partner. I had a female informant, who reported my partner got her pregnant. He allegedly paid for an abortion.

I saw a chance to get away from all the drama he was creating. In 1993, I took a job in corporate security. Did I want to leave? No, but I feared for my mental health and physical wellbeing.

One of my retired partners told me the police department was finally issuing retired police identifications. In speaking with the professional standards officer, he said he would let the chief know. A week later the chief denied my request. He cited that I didn't retire; I resigned. He also said I needed 20 years to qualify. I checked the definition of retirement. Retired from a profession (check ✅) and that I was receiving a pension (check ✅).

So, read this and you feel I should surrender my ID, I will. But I will simply make another.

I have the various diary entries to prove what I have written. What I reported is/was the the department's best kept secret that everyone knew and no one dared to do anything. But I had to leave the profession I loved and was good at.