Historical May 1991 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
One afternoon in February a group of kids was causing mischief around the Four Corners.
When the police were called we were greatly surprised to find Captain Brocato of the Seventh District answer the call personally.
After introducing himself to us, he and the officer with him went to talk to the kids.
Some drifted away but some stayed to talk and laugh.
It soon became clear that Captain Brocato had diffused the anger and hostility that the kids had shown earlier. Since that time the Captain has appeared at events on the Four Corners as well as at St. Roch’s and can also be seen walking about the neighborhood.
His territory, the Seventh District, is bounded on the south by Lindell, on the north by Natural Bridge, on the east by Kingshighway, and on the west by the City Limits.
It is the city’s second largest district and has 130 people serving its needs. Captain Brocato is a strong believer in policemen getting out of their patrol cars and getting to know people.
With his Irish face and merry blue eyes he reminds us of the “Irish cop” walking his beat in an earlier era, an image that seems reassuring and familiar. Capt. Brocato grew up in a small town where his father was the town marshal, which led directly to his interest in police work.
After he came out of the Navy, he joined the St. Louis Police Department. Since then he has been highly decorated, receiving a Meritorious Service Citation in 1967 for an incident in which he and another officer dove in the Mississippi River to save a woman who fell off an excursion boat.
He also graduated from the F.B.I. Academy in 1982 after being one of a select group of officers chosen to attend it.
During his years as an officer his assignments have included the Fourth. Fifth, and Sixth Districts as well as the Police Academy, Bureau of Investigation. and Bureau of Field Operations.
He was promoted to captain in 1987.
His family consists of Joan, his wife of twenty seven years, and his son David who is twenty four, a career officer in the Air Force and just returned from Operation Desert Storm. Captain Brocato took over the Seventh District earlier this year, replacing Captain Everett Page who was reassigned to Area One in south St. Louis. Captain Brocato says. “After twenty nine years on the St. Louis Police Department, I realize I have one of my toughest assignments. trying to replace Captain Page.
To be successful I need two things: your cooperation and your prayers.” The Seventh District Police Relations Organization will hold its May meeting at St. Roch’s on May 7th at 7:00 P.M. Lt. Russell Crews, Commander of the Police Evidence Dept., will explain how police technicians secure evidence. Captain Brocato welcomes everyone to the meeting.
Original photograph caption
Capt.Wayne Brocato.Photographer not credited.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, May 1991.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1991_05.pdf, printed page(s) 3; PDF page(s) 3.
