Hillsboro Police Chief Steve Meinberg announces retirement, is set to leave July 16
The city of Hillsboro is searching for a new police chief after Steve Meinberg announced plans to retire on July 16.
That date is significant for the chief, having begun his law enforcement career on July 16, 1980, after serving in the U.S. Air Force from 1976-1980.
Meinberg, 68, has been the Hillsboro Police chief for five and a half years, having initially accepted a temporary position of police administrator after numerous problems in the department came to light. At one point, Hillsboro officials considered eliminating the department and contracting with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office to provide the city with police services.
Eventually, Meinberg was named Hillsboro’s chief, and during his tenure there, he supervised a review of the department’s policies and procedures; put in place a more effective evidence management system; and supervised the remodeling and enlargement of the Police Station.
Hillsboro Mayor Buddy Russell praised Meinberg for turning the department around.
“Chief Meinberg was exactly who we needed at that time, given what the job was,” Russell said. “He has laid a real strong foundation for the future and we’re lucky to have had him.”
Meinberg said he is most proud of his interaction with Hillsboro’s residents, officers and businesses to retain the town’s “small town feel” while providing the city with effective law enforcement.
“It has really been a group effort to keep a low crime rate and maintain a great quality of life,” he said.
Meinberg has worked for 44 years in law enforcement, starting as a patrolman with the Crystal City Police Department in 1980. After rising to the rank of detective lieutenant, in 1989, Meinberg became police chief for the city of Nixa. He returned to Jefferson County in 1993 to serve as undersheriff to Sheriff Oliver “Glenn” Boyer for 24 years, retiring in 2016.
Meinberg was the valedictorian of his police academy class and holds two associate degrees from Jefferson College. He graduated summa cum laude from Missouri Baptist University.
A graduate of the FBI National Academy, Meinberg served as a deputy commander with the St. Louis Area Major Case Squad and is an instructor at the Jefferson College Law Enforcement Academy. In addition, he serves on the Jefferson College Board of Trustees and has held numerous civic and volunteer positions throughout his career.
Meinberg announced his impending retirement at the June 3 Hillsboro Board of Alderpersons meeting.
He and his wife, Sue, live in Imperial. They have two children, Max and Katarina, and three grandchildren.
Meinberg said he has no concrete plans for retirement other than to keep busy.
“I’ll probably volunteer,” he said. “We’ll do some traveling. I’ll continue with the Jefferson College Board of Trustees.”