Metropolitan Police Department – City of St. Louis
The current Seal of the Metropolitan Police Department
The current Seal of the Metropolitan Police Department
The current patch of the Metropolitan Police Department
The current patch of the Metropolitan Police Department
SLMPD officer badge, with number omitted.
SLMPD officer badge, with number omitted.
Flag of City of St. Louis
Flag of City of St. Louis
Common nameMetropolitan Police Department
AbbreviationSLMPD , MPDSL
MottoOfficium moris principatum et aequi Omnibus (Latin)
Service, Integrity, Leadership, and Fair Treatment to All
Agency overview
Formed1808 (1808)[1]
EmployeesDecrease 1,458.0 full-time (2022) [2]
Annual budgetUS$220,000,000 [FY 2023][3]
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdictionSt. Louis, Missouri, United States
Jurisdiction of the Metropolitan Police Department
Size65.99 square miles (170.9 km2) (total) (land)
Population294,890 (2021)[4]
Legal jurisdictionCity of St.Louis
Governing bodyPublic Safety Department - City of St. Louis
General nature
Operational structure
Headquarters1915 Olive Downtown West, St. Louis
Police OfficersIncrease1000(2022)[3]
Corrections personnel and Civilian membersDecrease 462 (2021)[3]
Director of the Public Safety Department - City of St. Louis responsible
  • Charles Coyle
Agency executives
Parent agencyPublic Safety Department - City of St. Louis
Bureaus
4
  • Bureau of Community Policing
  • Bureau of Auxiliary Services
  • Bureau of Investigative Services
  • Bureau of Support Operations
Patrol Divisions
3
  • South Patrol
  • Central Patrol
  • North Patrol
Facilities
Stations3 Patrol Stations, 6 sub-stations
Justice CentersCity Justice Center 200 S.Tucker Blvd. St. Louis, Missouri
Marked and Unmarked vehicles2000+
Helicopter/Airplanes6 Helicopter, 1 Fixed Wing
Horses14
K-9's20
Notables
Anniversary
    • August 7, 1808 (1808-08-07)
    • (216 years ago)
Website
Metropolitan Police Department official website
[5]

The Metropolitan Police Department – City of St. Louis (also known as the SLMPD or Metro Police) is the primary law enforcement agency for the U.S. city of St. Louis.

According to the Mapping Police Violence dataset, SLMPD has the highest police use of deadly force per capita.[6][7] The SLMPD union has strongly resisted attempts to establish independent oversight of police misconduct.[6] When Kimberly Gardner, the top prosecutor in St. Louis, sought to establish a unit within her office to independently investigate police misconduct, the leader of the SLMPD union said Gardner should be removed "by force or by choice."[6]

History

The Metropolitan Police Department was established in 1808, five years after St. Louis became part of the United States. The department was created with only four officers, who received no pay. Able-bodied men age 18 and older were required to patrol for four months of the year. This was the only police system for the next 10 years. Refusal to serve on patrol carried a fine of $1.[8]

In 2013, CALEA recognized the Metropolitan Police Department with it distinguished Tri-Arc Award. The Tri-Arc Award is reserved for those police agencies that have successfully accredited their law enforcement services, police academy and communications division.[9]

The SLMPD is a division in the Public Safety Department - City of St. Louis. With approximately 1,343 officers and 462 civilian staff, it is the 37th largest municipal police department in the United States. The department serves an area of 69 square miles (180 km2) and a population of over 294,890 people. Established on August 7, 1808, the SLMPD is one of the oldest police departments in the United States. The Metropolitan Police is the second largest municipal police agency in Missouri, based on number of employees, city population, and geographic area served.

Fallen officers

From April 28, 1836, to August 29, 2020, the Officer Down Memorial Page reported that 173 officers in the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department have died in the line of duty.[10]

Demographics

The composition of the department's total personnel, according to the 2020 annual report, was:[11]

  • Sex — Male: 83.54%, Female: 16.46%
  • Race — White: 66.0%, African-American/Black: 30%, Other: 3.51%

Salary

Starting salary for a Metropolitan police officer is $54,000, increasing to a maximum of $90,387.[12]

Union representation

Officers are represented by the St. Louis Police Officers Association (SLPOA). SLPOA employs author and former Arnold police officer Jeff Roorda as business manager. In the 2017 city mayoral election, incumbent Lyda Krewson called for Roorda to be fired due to social media comments directed at candidate Tishaura Jones and declared that he would not be welcomed in her office if elected.[13]

The St. Louis Ethical Society of Police (ESOP), formerly known as St. Louis Black Police Officers Association until 1975, represents African American police officers by providing legal counsel and other benefits; however, the SLPOA is the only recognized bargaining unit for officers.[14]

Controversies

Officers with the SLMPD have been accused of several incidents of alleged police misconduct,[15][16] obstruction of justice,[15][17] violations of civil rights,[18] and racial prejudice.[19][20] Several of these controversial incidents have resulted in criminal charges against SLMPD officers, and some cases have resulted in guilty pleas.

Shooting of Anthony Lamar Smith (2017)

See: Shooting of Anthony Lamar Smith

Assault of undercover officer Luther Hall (2018)

Three St. Louis police officers from its Civil Disobedience Team were charged with felony assault against undercover police officer Luther Hall during the 2017 St. Louis protests. Officer Hall, according to the November 2018 indictment, had been extensively assaulted by the three officers. According to the prosecutors, officers Christopher Myers, Randy Hays, and Dustin Boone used excessive force in the form of kicking Hall and beating him with their police batons. Hall stated that the officers smashed his cell phone and broke a camera he had used to document the protests.[21] Hall's injuries as a result of the assault included an injured tailbone, two herniated discs, and a jaw injury that prevented Hall from eating, resulting in a twenty-pound weight loss.[22] Prosecutors obtained text messages from the officers involved, which revealed the officers' excitement at the prospect of brutalizing protesters. Officer Boone allegedly texted "it’s gonna be a lot of fun beating the hell out of those shitheads once the sun goes down and nobody can tell us apart!!!!” and “Did everyone see the protesters getting FUCKED UP in the galleria????? That was awesome.”[23]

A fourth police officer, Bailey Colletta, was charged with providing false testimony to a grand jury.[24] Colletta pled guilty to giving false testimony to cover up the attack on Hall, and admitted she had lied to the FBI and to a federal grand jury.[25]

All four officers were suspended without pay.[25]

Officer Hays, who allegedly had texted "going rogue does feel good", pled guilty to assault.[26] Hays admitted that on the evening of September 17, although Hays did not witness anything probable cause to arrest Hall, Hays and other officers arrested Hall. During the arrest, Hall was compliant and pinned to the ground, with Officer Boone's knee on Hall's shoulder and continually pushing down Hall's head while telling him not to look at them; during this time, officers kicked Hall in the face and beat him with a baton.[27]

An indictment released in December 2019 revealed that a fifth officer, Steve Korte, was also charged for violently beating Hall, and then lying to the FBI about his involvement. He was placed on administrative leave without pay. Officer Korte was later unanimously found not guilty by the jury, after evidence was shown in trial proving he was nowhere near Luther Hall when he was attacked.[28] Officer Korte was later reinstated by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department.[27]

Hall filed a federal civil rights lawsuit in September 2019 against the police and against the city.[29]

"Exclusion List" controversy (2019–2020)

A controversy ensued in 2019 regarding the existence of a list created by circuit attorney Kimberly M. Gardner's office of 28 Metropolitan Department officers that were to be excluded from acting as witnesses in future prosecutions due to an alleged history of misconduct.[30] In late September 2020, fifteen more officers were added to the list. This would indicate about five percent of the sworn officers of the department are listed. The names of those on the list has not been released to the public.[31]

"Russian Roulette" incident (2019)

On January 24, police arrived at the residence of SLMPD officer Nathaniel Hendren following reports of gunshots, upon arrival police found 24-year-old officer Katlyn Alix fatally shot in the chest, following an alleged game of Russian roulette.[32] St. Louis circuit attorney Kimberly Gardner criticized the investigation, stating that the department was obstructing the investigation of the shooting, claiming investigators refused to allow a sample of Officer Hendren's blood be tested for alcohol and other substances.[33][34][35] St. Louis Metropolitan Police Commissioner John Hayden Jr. responded to criticism of the investigation as unfounded.[36]

Plain View Project findings (2019)

In June 2019 officers and employees from numerous police departments in the United States were found to have participated in a number of private groups on Facebook that shared content that was described as racist,[37] violent, and Islamophobic.[38] This information was published online by the Plain View Project, which had viewed and documented the social-media accounts of 2,900 officers from eight separate departments, finding twenty percent of those users posted material that was determined to meet the threshold of being offensive.[39] At least 22 officers in the department were found to have participated in the closed groups, St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kimberly M. Gardner stated that these officers would be added to a list of officers who have been determined to be unable to provide witness testimony in criminal prosecutions.[40]

Office of the Police Commissioner

The Police Commissioner serves as the senior sworn member of the SLMPD. Prior to 1806, the position was known as the chief inspector and as the chief of police before thahe circumstances."[41]t. The Commissioner is the overall person in charge of the police department.

Colonel Robert J. Tracy is the 36th individual to hold the post as Police Commissioner.[42]

Rank structure

Title Insignia Badge color Notes
Police Commissioner
Gold with Black Letters The Police Commissioner is the person in charge of running the entire police department. The Police Commissioner is appointed by the Mayor. Highest member in the Metropolitan Police Department.
Assistant Police Commissioner
Gold & Black The Assistant Police Commissioner is appointed by the Police Commissioner . The Assistant Police Commissioner is the commanding officer of an office.
Deputy Chief
Gold & Black Deputy Chiefs are appointed by the Police Commissioner. Deputy Chiefs are the second highest members in the Metropolitan Police Department.
Major
Gold Majors are appointed by the Police Commissioner.
Captain
Gold Captains are appointed by the Police Commissioner.
Lieutenant
Gold Lieutenants are assigned to geographic patrol and detective divisions and are responsible for supervising patrol sergeants, police officers and detectives who carry out day-to-day, routine crime suppression and investigative functions
Sergeant
Sil-Ray w/ Gol-Ray panels Sergeants are responsible for the direct supervision of their patrol division and the conduct, appearance and performance of personnel assigned under their command.
Police Officer/Detective No Insignia Sil-Ray Police Officers/Detectives Perform duties within a specific area to protect life and property, and enforce laws and ordinances using tactful and courteous treatment of the public and conscientious and efficient performance of duties.
Probationary Police Officer No Insignia Following graduation from the academy, officers receive the title Probationary Police Officer (PPO) for twelve months until being promoted to Police Officer.
Police Cadet No Insignia None The goal of the program is to provide interested individuals between the ages of 18 and 20½ with paid, on the job training and exposure to various police department units; the opportunity to earn course credit; and the foundation to be successful and well-prepared upon entering the St. Louis Police Academy once turning 20½.

Police Officer (Trainee) is the initial rank of oncoming Metropolitan Police officers, held while undergoing training at the Metropolitan Police Academy.[43]

Police Commissioner

Police Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Department – City of St. Louis is an office held by the highest-ranking member of the Metropolitan Police Department. St. Louis has had 36 police chiefs (including interim chiefs) since 1861. For a full list of past and current police commissioners, visit the Commissioner of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department page.

Lieutenant Colonel

Lieutenant Colonels command the Bureaus of Investigative Services, Support Operations, and Community Policing and Auxiliary Services.

  • Lieutenant Colonel Renee Kriesmann, Commander, Bureau of Operations
  • Lieutenant Colonel Michael Sack, Office of the Police Commissioner

Majors

The rank of Major is the third-highest rank in the Department, reporting directly to a Lieutenant Colonel. Each Major serves as a member of the Senior Command staff and assists each Lieutenant Colonel in managing civilian and commissioned personnel within their assigned areas.

  • Major Renee Kriesmann, Commander of Bureau of Community Policing
  • Major Shawn Dace, Commander of Bureau of Auxiliary Services
  • Major Eric Larson, Commander of Bureau of Support Operations
  • Major Ryan Cousins, Commander of the Bureau of Investigative Services
  • Major Janice Bockstruck, Commander of the Bureau of Specialized Enforcement

Police Officer

All potential candidates for the position of Police Officer must undergo a written examination, oral board panel and review, physical agility testing, psychological screening, drug testing and intensive background investigation. The number of candidates accepted is less than 25 percent of overall applicants. New officers are hired as probationary employees at the rank of Police Trainee. Upon successful completion of the six-month police academy, they are appointed as a probationary Police Officer. Upon successful completion of 3 months of field training and an additional 1-year probationary period, they attain their full rank.

Police Fleet

A Chevrolet Tahoe of SLMPD's MetroLink patrol unit

The department utilizes a variety of vehicles, including the Ford Police Interceptor, Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor (CVPI), the Dodge Charger, the Chevrolet Tahoe, the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and 2500 series, the Chevrolet Impala 9C1, the Chevrolet Caprice, and the Ford F-150 and F-250. Both regularly marked and slicktop vehicles are used frequently. Each officer is issued the Beretta 92D 9mm handgun which has been standard issue since 1992. As of 2017 it was reported that the department would be getting new 9mm Beretta pistols to replace the currently issued aging 92D.[44]

Bureaus

The department is divided into five bureaus which are typically commanded by a Major. The bureaus fit under four umbrellas: Crime Control Strategies, Support Operations, and Professional Standards and Operations. Bureaus are often subdivided into smaller divisions and units

BureauCommanderDescriptionSubdivisions
Bureau of Community PolicingMajor Renee KriesmannThe Bureau of Community Policing is the largest bureau within the department.The Bureau of Community Policing comprises six districts which are grouped into the North, South and Central patrols and the Housing Unit.
Bureau of Crime Control StrategiesMajor Ryan CousinsThe Bureau of Crime Control Strategies is responsible for investigating crimes and preventing them.The Bureau of Crime Control Strategies comprises Homicide, Bomb and Arson , Sex Crimes/Child Abuse, Domestic Abuse Response Team (DART) and Circuit Attorney Invest/

Court Liaison.

Bureau of Support OperationsMajor Eric LarsonThe Bureau of Support Operations is responsible for supporting the uniformed police officers and other personnel within the department.The Bureau of Support Services comprises Planning & Research and Private Security and CALEA, Asset Removal, Laboratory/Identification, Emergency Management, Special Projects , Cadet Program, Fleet Services.
Bureau of Professional StandardsMajor Shawn DaceThe Bureau of Professional Standards is responsible for investigating personnel who may have violated department procedures and regulations.The Professional Standards Bureau has members who investigate personnel who violate the regulations and procedures of the department.
Bureau of Specialized EnforcementMajor Janice BockstruckThe Bureau of Specialized Enforcement is responsible for providing specialized enforcement services to the public.The Bureau of Specialized Enforcement comprises Special Operations Investigators, Traffic/Mounted Patrol, Drug Enforcement & Intervention, Mobile Reserve, SWAT, Canine, Aviation,Park Rangers, Public Transportation, MCSAP.

Bureau of Community Policing

The Bureau of Community Policing is led by Major Renee Kriesmann

The City of St. Louis is divided geographically into three area patrol stations and six police districts and 6 substations. Each patrol division is commanded by a major and each district is commanded by a captain.[45][46]

South Patrol Division

Division number Division name Areas served Commander Population
1stSouth PatrolBevo Mill, Boulevard Heights, Carondelet, Carondelet Park, Holly Hills, Mount Pleasant, Patch, Princeton Heights and portions of Dutchtown and South Hampton.[47]Captain Latricia Allen63,829
2ndSouth PatrolBotanical Gardens, Cheltenham, Clayton/Tamm, Clifton Heights, Ellendale, Forest Park, Forest Park Southeast, Franz Park, Hi-Point, Kings Oak, Lindenwood Park, McRee Town, North Hampton, Shaw, Southwest Garden, St. Louis Hills, The Hill, Tiffany, Tower Grove Park, Tower Grove South, Wilmore Park, Wydown/Skinker and portions of South Hampton.[48]Captain Michael Mueller73,128

Central Patrol Division

Division number Division name Areas served Commander Population
3rdCentral PatrolBenton Park, Benton Park West, Compton Heights, Fox Park, Gravois Park, Kosciusko, Lafayette Square, LaSalle, and Marine Villa, McKinley Heights, Peabody–Darst–Webbe, Soulard, The Gate District, Tower Grove East and Portions of Dutchtown.[49]Lieutenant Donna Garrett47,090
4thCentral PatrolCarr Square, Columbus Square, Covenant Blu-Grand Center, Downtown, Downtown West, Fairgrounds Park, Hyde Park, Jeff-Vander-Lou, Midtown, Old North St. Louis, St. Louis Place and Portions of College Hill Fairgrounds and Near North Riverfront[50]Captain Pierre Benoist37,758

North Patrol Division

District number District name Areas served Commander Population
5thNorth PatrolAcademy, Central West End, DeBaliviere Place, Fountain Park, Hamilton Heights, Kingshighway West, Lewis Place, Skinker/DeBaliviere, The Ville, Vandeventer, Visitation Park, Wells/Goodfellow, West End and portions of the Greater Ville and Kingsway East.[51]Captain Christi Marks51,615
6thNorth PatrolBaden , Mark Twain, Mark Twain/I-70 Industrial, North Point, North Riverfront, O'Fallon , O’Fallon Park, Penrose, Penrose Park, Riverview, Walnut Park East, Walnut Park West and portions of College Hill, Fairground , Greater Ville, Kingsway East and Near North Riverfront.[52]Captain Donnell Moore37,853

Television

The homicide detectives of SLMPD will be featured in A&E's reality series The First 48.[53]

See also

References

  1. "The St.Louis Police Department: Then and Now". St.Louis Police Museum. Retrieved November 29, 2014.
  2. Public Safety: Departmental Responsibilities 2019
  3. 1 2 3 "Public Safety: Annual Operating Plan" (PDF). Budget Division. July 3, 2019. p. 3. Retrieved July 3, 2019.
  4. for St Louis, Missouri in 2021
  5. "Chief: St. Louis police budget gap can be met without layoffs". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. February 16, 2012. Retrieved October 1, 2012.
  6. 1 2 3 Scheiber, Noam; Stockman, Farah; Goodman, J. David (June 6, 2020). "How Police Unions Became Such Powerful Opponents to Reform Efforts". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 7, 2020.
  7. "Police Accountability Tool". Mapping Police Violence. Retrieved June 7, 2020.
  8. "Department History" (PDF). SLMPD.org.
  9. "Department CALEA TRI-ARC Award". calea.org. November 8, 2023.
  10. "Fallen Officers". Officer Down Memorial Page.
  11. "2020 Annual Report" (PDF). SLMPD.org.
  12. "Work For the City". stlouis-mo.gov. Retrieved September 18, 2019.
  13. Lippmann, Rachel (February 17, 2017). "Krewson demands St. Louis police union fire Roorda over Facebook post". news.stlpublicradio.org. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
  14. "Police organizations in St. Louis have separate predominantly white and black organizations". Daily Kos. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
  15. 1 2 Byers, Robert Patrick, Christine (December 2018). "St. Louis cops accused of beating colleague and covering it up appear in court; officials quiet". stltoday.com. Retrieved February 1, 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  16. Friedersdorf, Conor (December 3, 2018). "Sadism in the St. Louis Police Department". The Atlantic. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  17. Stack, Liam (January 30, 2019). "St. Louis Prosecutor Accuses Police of Obstructing Inquiry Into Killing of Officer". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  18. Kilgore, Ed (November 29, 2018). "4 St. Louis Police Officers Indicted on Federal Civil Rights Charges". Intelligencer. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
  19. Neuman, Scott (August 10, 2014). "St. Louis Police: Black Teen Shot In Altercation With Officers". NPR. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  20. Cox, Eric. "St. Louis lieutenant accused of making racist Facebook post". KMOV.com. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  21. "'Rogue' Cop Randy Hays Pleads Guilty in Beating of Undercover St. Louis Police Officer", Riverfront Times, Doyle Murphy, November 8, 2019.
  22. Byers, Christine (November 30, 2018). "Undercover officer who was beaten had extensive injuries, has not returned to work". stltoday.com. Retrieved July 17, 2019.
  23. "Sadism in the St. Louis Police Department", The Atlantic, Conor Friedersdorf, December 3, 2018.
  24. "St. Louis cops accused of beating colleague and covering it up appear in court; officials quiet". stltoday.com. December 2018. Retrieved July 17, 2019.
  25. 1 2 "St. Louis officer pleads guilty to covering up attack on fellow officer during Stockley protests", KMOV, Lauren Trager, September 6, 2019.
  26. "Ex-St. Louis cop pleads guilty in beating of fellow officer after allegedly saying, 'Going rogue feels good'", Fox News, Bradford Betz.
  27. 1 2 "Fifth officer charged in beatdown of undercover cop at protest", The St. Louis American, Rebecca Rivas, December 17, 2019.
  28. "No convictions in case of undercover officer beaten during 2017 protest". March 29, 2021.
  29. Patrick, Robert (September 17, 2019) Undercover St. Louis cop sues city, police over his violent arrest during protests St. Louis Post-Dispatch
  30. Kinsaul, Russell. "Mayor Krewson speaks out on 'exclusion list' controversy". KMOV.com.
  31. "Another 15 St. Louis police officers added to top prosecutor's exclusion list". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. September 26, 2020. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
  32. Mervosh, Sarah (January 26, 2019). "St. Louis Officer Charged in Fatal Russian Roulette Shooting of Another Officer, Authorities Say". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
  33. Stack, Liam (January 30, 2019). "St. Louis Prosecutor Accuses Police of Obstructing Inquiry Into Killing of Officer". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
  34. Byers, Robert Patrick, Christine (December 2018). "St. Louis cops accused of beating colleague and covering it up appear in court; officials quiet". stltoday.com. Retrieved February 2, 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  35. Murphy, Doyle. "Russian Roulette Shooting of St. Louis Cop Would Be 'Intentional Act,' Judge Says". Riverfront Times. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
  36. Eric Levenson (January 31, 2019). "St. Louis Police chief fires back at circuit attorney's criticism in Russian roulette killing". CNN. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
  37. Lou, Michelle; Jones, Julia, (June 19, 2019) Philadelphia, St. Louis police departments roiled by racist and hateful Facebook posts CNN
  38. Schlinkmann, Mark; Rice, Rachel (June 4, 2019) Police investigate racist and anti-Muslim Facebook posts linked to St. Louis officers St. Louis Post-Dispatch
  39. "Cops Across The US Have Been Exposed Posting Racist And Violent Things On Facebook. Here's The Proof". BuzzFeed News. Retrieved July 17, 2019.
  40. Michelle Lou and Julia Jones (June 19, 2019). "Philadelphia, St. Louis police departments roiled by racist and hateful Facebook posts". CNN. Retrieved July 17, 2019.
  41. https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/9/0d/90d55413-0099-53bb-9d98-f9ea217b7387/60b16c5af1442.pdf.pdf
  42. "Robert Tracy Named Police Commissioner". KSDK. January 9, 2023.
  43. "SLMPD Careers". SLMPD.org.
  44. "St. Louis Police Sells Thompson Submachine Guns". www.shootingillustrated.com.
  45. "Contact SLMPD". www.slmpd.org. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  46. "SLMPD Your Neighborhood". slmpd.org.
  47. "SLMPD District 1". slmpd.org.
  48. "SLMPD District 2". slmpd.org.
  49. "SLMPD District 3". slmpd.org.
  50. "SLMPD District 4". slmpd.org.
  51. "SLMPD District 5". slmpd.org.
  52. "SLMPD District 6". slmpd.org.
  53. "First 48 - St Louis City Police".

38°37′55.038″N 90°12′27.7488″W / 38.63195500°N 90.207708000°W / 38.63195500; -90.207708000

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.