Missouri State Highway Patrol

The Missouri State Highway Patrol is the highway patrol agency for Missouri and has jurisdiction anywhere within the state.

Missouri State Highway Patrol
Coat of Arms State of Missouri
Abbreviation	MSHP
Motto	Together Protecting Missouri's Citizens Simul protegens Missouri scriptor Cives (Latin)
Agency overview
Formed	April 24, 1931 (1931-04-24) (89 years ago)
Employees	2,400 (as of 2017)[1]
Annual budget	$19,135,729 (2020)
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdiction	Missouri, U.S.
Missouri State Highway Patrol Troops
Size	69,704 square miles (180,530 km^2)
Population	6,083,672 (2016)[2]
Legal jurisdiction	Statewide
Governing body	Missouri Department of Public Safety
General nature	Civilian police
Operational structure
Headquarters	1510 East Elm Street Jefferson City, MO 65102
Troopers	1,450 (as of 2020)[1]
Civilians	1,189 (as of 2020)[1]
Director of MO DPS responsible	Sandy K. Karsten
Agency executives	Col. Eric T. Olson [3], Superintendent Lt. Col. Malik Henderson, Assistant Superintendent
Parent agency	Missouri Department of Public Safety
Facilities
Troops	9
Dogs	11 German Shepherds
Notables
Anniversary	April 24, 1931
Website
MSHP Website

In 1992, MSHP became the 10th state law enforcement agency to receive accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA).

Colonel Eric T. Olson has been serving as the 24th Superintendent since March 15, 2019. He was confirmed by the Missouri Senate on March 14, 2019.[3]

The Missouri State Highway Patrol is a division of the Missouri Department of Public Safety.

Purpose

State laws pertaining to the Highway Patrol including its creation, powers, structure, mission and duties are specified in Chapter 43 of Missouri Revised Statutes (RSMo).[4] According to Chapter 43.025 RSMo: "The primary purpose of the highway patrol is to enforce the traffic laws and promote safety upon the highways. In addition the Missouri State Highway Patrol has responsibility in criminal interdiction which involves the suppression of marijuana, cocaine, and narcotics on the state's roads and highways including the Missouri Interstate System. As near as practicable all personnel of the patrol shall be used for carrying out these purposes." The MSHP has a criminal investigation division that investigates crimes statewide such as murder, robbery, burglary, rape and financial crimes.

Missouri State Highway Patrol officers (circa 1910)

Organization

A state trooper during the Ferguson unrest, September 2014

General Headquarters (GHQ) and the Law Enforcement Academy are located in Jefferson City, Missouri, the state capital.

The state is divided into nine Troops, with Troop headquarters and communications centers located in the following cities:

• Troop A: Lee's Summit (Kansas City)
• Troop B: Macon
• Troop C: Weldon Spring (St. Louis)
• Troop D: Springfield
• Troop E: Poplar Bluff
• Troop F: Jefferson City
• Troop G: Willow Springs
• Troop H: St. Joseph
• Troop I: Rolla

In addition, three of the Troops maintain service centers:

• Troop C: Park Hills
• Troop D: Carthage
• Troop E: Sikeston
• Recruiting & Community Outreach Division is housed in the MSHP General Headquarters in Jefferson City, Missouri.

MSHP districts with their constituent troops and scale complexes

Troop A (Lee's Summit (Kansas City))[5]	Troop B: (Macon)[6]	Troop C:(Weldon Spring (St. Louis)[7]	Troop D: (Springfield)[8]	Troop E: (Poplar Bluff)[9]	Troop F: (Jefferson City)[10]	Troop G: (Willow Springs)[11]	Troop H: (St. Joseph)[12]	Troop I: (Rolla)[13]

Vehicles

A Dodge Charger police car in MSHP service.

The MSHP utilizes a variety of vehicles, including but not limited to, the Dodge Charger, Ford Police Interceptor (Taurus), Ford Police Interceptor Utility (Explorer), Ford F-150 and 250 series, Chevrolet Tahoe PPV, the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and 2500 series, Chevrolet Impala 9C1. Both fully marked and semi-marked vehicles are used frequently. Colors include but not limited to: white, tan, blue, silver, black, gray, and maroon.

Weapons

Lethal Options:

• Glock 17 GEN 5 9mm (As of late 2018)
• Glock 22 .40 S&W (phased out as of late 2018)
• Colt AR-15A1 (M16A1) 5.56x45mm
• Remington Model 870 12 Gauge

Less Lethal Options:

• Pepper Spray (OC Spray)
• ASP Baton
• Taser

Command Staff

Bureau	Title	Name
Missouri State Highway Patrol	Superintendent - Colonel	Eric T. Olson
Patrol's Professional Standards	Lieutenant Colonel	Malik A. Henderson
Field Operations Bureau	Major	Gregory K. Smith
Criminal Investigation Bureau	Major	Sarah L. Eberhard
Administrative Services Bureau	Major	Vince S. Rice
Support Services Bureau	Major	Michael A. Turner
Technical Services Bureau	Major	David A. Flannigan
Executive Services Bureau	Major	Lance M. MacLaughlin

[14]

• Superintendent The Missouri State Highway Patrol is under the command of Colonel Eric T. Olson, who was appointed Superintendent effective March 14, 2019. The Superintendent is supported by the Assistant Superintendent and Bureau Commanders.
• Assistant Superintendent Lieutenant Colonel Malik A. Henderson serves as the assistant superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol. In addition to acting in the superintendent’s absence and at his request, Lieutenant Colonel Henderson has direct oversight over the Professional Standards Division, Public Information, and Education Division, the Office of Community Engagement, and Outreach, and the Patrol’s legal counsel.[14]
• Major Gregory K. Smith commands the Patrol's Field Operations Bureau, which has authority over the Patrol's nine Troops, the Aircraft Division and the Water Patrol Division.
• Major Sarah L. Eberhard oversees the Criminal Investigation Bureau, which has authority over the Crime Laboratory, Drug and Crime Control, Gaming, Governor's Security, and MIAC divisions.[14]
• Major Vince S. Rice commander of the Administrative Services Bureau, which has authority over the Career Recruitment, Human Resources, and Training divisions and coordinates their activities with the troops.[14]
• Major Michael A. Turner is commander of the Support Services Bureau, which directs the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement, Driver Examination, Motor Vehicle Inspection and Fleet and Facilities divisions and coordinates their activities with the troops. Major Turner is also responsible for capitol improvements.[14]
• Major David A. Flannigan responsible for the Technical Services Bureau, which directs the Criminal Justice Information Services, Communications and Patrol Records divisions and coordinates their activities with the troops.[14]
• Major Lance M. MacLaughlin oversight of the Executive Services Bureau, which directs the Budget and Procurement Division, Research and Development Division, and legislative liaison.[14]

Field Operations Bureau

• Commander Major Gregory K. Smith

• Captain Norman A. Murphy

• Lieutenant Michael A. Halford

• Lieutenant Brian L. Daniel

• Tamie Quigley - Special Assistant

• Gretchen Vislay - Crime Victim Advocate

Criminal Investigation Bureau

• Captain Kyle D. Marquart works under the direction of the Commander Major Sarah L. Eberhard.

Water Patrol Division

• Division Director: Captain Matt Walz

• Assistant Division Director: Lieutenant Mike Petlansky

Recruiting & Community Outreach Division

• Division Director: Captain Benjamin C. Jones works under the direction of commander of the Administrative Services Bureau.[15][16]

The Recruiting and Community Outreach Division under the Administrative Services Bureau, General Headquarters, Jefferson City, MO

Fallen Officers

31 Troopers have been killed while on duty since 1931 with one Highway Patrol member dying in World War II.[17][18]

The members are as follows:

Rank	Name	Date of Death	Cause of Death	Age	Location
Sergeant	Benjamin Oliver Booth	06-14-1933	Shot and killed along with Boone County Sheriff Roger Wilson while manning a roadblock in an attempt to catch 2 bank robbers	35	Intersection of U.S. Highway 40 and U.S. Highway 63; just north of his residence in Columbia, Missouri
Trooper	Fred L. Walker	12-03-1941	Shot and killed while transporting 2 car thieves to jail; he failed to find a pistol on them and was shot going down the road	33	Near Ste. Genevieve and Bloomdale in Ste. Genevieve County
Trooper	Victor O. Dosing	12-07-1941	Shot and killed in a cafe/apartment while helping Trooper Sam Graham, local officer John Love, and Justice of the Peace A.F. Stubbs arrest an Army Private wanted for murder	34	In the Coffee Pot Cafe one mile south of Galloway, Missouri and near Springfield, Missouri
Trooper	James D. Ellis	10-16-1942	Killed in a Japanese prisoner-of-war camp; the only Missouri State Highway Patrol Trooper to die in the military	29	Manila, Philippines
Trooper	Charles P. Corbin	09-15-1943	Killed while on patrol with Public Service Commission Inspector Ed Bilyeau; a tractor trailer came into his lane and hit him head-on while on a narrow bridge	27	On U.S. Highway 71 north of Carthage, Missouri
Trooper	Ross S. Creach	12-12-1943	Struck and killed by a speeding car while helping a tow truck get a tractor trailer out of a ditch	24	U.S. Highway 36, 5.5 miles west of Shelbina, Missouri in Shelby County
Trooper	John N. Greim	07-13-1945	Killed in a plane crash during a pursuit along with the plane's owner	32	Just over the Missouri-Arkansas line near Corning, Arkansas
Trooper	Wayne W. Allman	10-27-1955	Killed in a car crash while en route to another crash	34	Intersection of Missouri State Route 35 and Missouri State Route B
Trooper	Jesse R. Jenkins	10-14-1969	Shot and killed during a court sentencing hearing	29	In the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office in Montgomery City, Missouri
Trooper	Gary W. Snodgrass	02-21-1970	Killed in a single car crash after losing control in a curve	24	On Missouri Highway 36; 7 miles east of Salem, Missouri in Dent County
Trooper	William R. Brandt	06-12-1970	Killed when tornado-like winds put his car into a bridge abutment	23	U.S. Highway 36 near Macon, Missouri
Trooper	Dennis H. Marriott	06-13-1981	Died from injuries sustained after being hit by a car during a traffic stop on 06-01-1981	36	U.S. Highway 54 in Jefferson City, Missouri in Cole County
Trooper	James M. Froemsdorf	03-02-1985	Shot and killed while taking a wanted man to jail; the suspect got his hand free and stole Froemsdorf's gun	35	On I-55 near Brewer, Missouri
Trooper	Jimmie E. Linegar	04-15-1985	Shot and killed while on a traffic stop with Trooper Allen D. Hines	31	At the intersection of U.S. Highway 65 and Missouri Highway 86 south of Branson, Missouri
Trooper	Russell W. Harper	02-08-1987	Shot and killed while on a traffic stop	45	East of U.S. Highway 65 and U.S. Highway 60 near Farm Route 189 in Greene County, Missouri
Corporal	Henry C. Bruns	02-16-1987	Killed after the vehicle in which he was a passenger, lost control on the icy roadway and hit a bridge abutment	41	Missouri Highway 6 in Buchanan County
Trooper	Robert J. Kolilis	11-21-1988	Struck and killed by a truck while investigating 2 stopped cars on the side of the road	24	On Missouri Route M in Washington County near Irondale, Missouri
Corporal	Michael E. Webster	10-02-1993	Struck and killed by a drunk driver while on a traffic stop	33	On U.S. Highway 40 in Blue Springs, Missouri in Jackson County
Sergeant	Randy V. Sullivan	02-17-1996	Killed in a single car wreck after losing control and hitting trees while trying to pull over a speeding car	40	On Missouri Highway 72 in Madison County, 8 miles west of Fredericktown, Missouri
Sergeant	David C. May	05-17-1999	Killed in a helicopter crash while having a photographer take pictures of the ongoing local Special Olympics	41	Behind the Union Planter's Bank in Poplar Bluff, Missouri in Butler County
Sergeant	Robert G. Kimberling	10-06-1999	Shot and killed after pulling a suspect over who didn't pay for gas	43	On I-29 in St. Joseph, Missouri in Buchanan County
Sergeant	Robert A. Guilliams	02-16-2001	Killed after losing control in the rain while responding to a car crash	41	On I-55 in Pemiscot County approx. 16 miles north of the Missouri-Arkansas state line
Trooper	Kelly N. Poynter	01-18-2002	Struck and killed by a drunk driver while helping out at a car wreck	27	U.S. Highway 63 in Texas County; 2 miles south of Houston, Missouri
Trooper	Michael L. Newton	05-22-2003	Struck by a truck and killed while sitting in his car with a driver he had pulled over	25	On I-70 near the 47 mile marker in Lafayette County
Sergeant	Carl D. "DeWayne" Graham, Jr.	03-20-2005	Shot and killed after an ambush at his residence as he just got home	37	Van Buren in Carter County, Missouri
Trooper	Ralph C. Tatoian	04-20-2005	Killed in a single car crash while responding to a manhunt for an armed bank robber in the Franklin County who shot at deputies in Gasconade County	32	On I-44 in Franklin County
Corporal	John A. "Jay" Sampietro, Jr.	08-17-2005	Struck and killed by a vehicle while directing traffic at a car crash scene	36	On I-44 near Stafford in Webster County, Missouri
Trooper	Donald K. "Kevin" Floyd	11-22-2005	Struck and killed by a truck while on a traffic stop	45	U.S Highway 60 approx. one mile east of Missouri Route MM in Texas County, Missouri
Corporal	Dennis E. Engelhard	12-25-2009	Struck and killed by a truck on the icy roadway while investigating an earlier crash	49	On I-44 east of Eureka, Missouri
Sergeant	Joseph G. Schuengel	10-15-2010	Killed in a helicopter crash	47	Near the intersection of Clarkson Road and Kehr Mills Road in St. Louis County
Trooper	Frederick F. Guthrie, Jr.	08-01-2011	Drowned along with his K9, Reed, when they were swept away by high water while working Missouri River flood duty	46	In the area of Big Lake near Missouri Highway 118 and Missouri Highway 111 in Holt County, Missouri
K9	Reed	08-01-2011	Drowned along with his handler, Trooper Frederick F. Guthrie, Jr., when they were swept away by high water while working Missouri River flood duty	N/A	In the area of Big Lake near Missouri Highway 118 and Missouri Highway 111 in Holt County, Missouri
Trooper	James M. Bava	08-28-2015	Killed in a single-car crash while trying to pursue a motorcycle	25	On Missouri Route FF, just east of Audrain County Road 977 in Audrain County, Missouri

Badge and rank structure

The Missouri State Highway Patrol is one of only five State Patrols forces that do not wear a badge on their uniform shirts.[19]

Title	Insignia	Notes
Superintendent (rank of Colonel)		Appointed by the Governor of Missouri. must be confirmed by the Missouri Senate
Assistant Superintendent (ranks of Lieutenant Colonel)		Lieutenant Colonel report directly to the Superintendent and have authority over the units.
Major		Majors are responsible for a command within the Highway Patrol.
Captain		A captain is a troop commander in the Field Operations Bureau or a division commander in one of the other bureaus.
Lieutenant		A lieutenant is the assistant commander of a division/unit.
Master Sergeant		A Master Sergeant acts a zone sergeant commanding a group of troopers.
Sergeant		who supervises an entire Patrol shift of there Dist
Corporal		Corporals are the first-line supervisors and are usually assigned as road supervisors within barracks. In the absence of a sergeant, they may act as the duty officer.
Trooper	No Insignia	Candidates successfully completing the academy and field training are appointed as troopers.
Trooper Cadet	No Insignia	The trooper cadet program provides needed support and a clear pathway for those who are passionate about our state and are interested in a career in law enforcement.

State Trooper (Recruit) is the initial rank of oncoming Missouri State Highway Patrol, held while undergoing training at the Missouri State Highway Patrol Law Enforcement Academy.[20]

List of Superintendents

Superintendent	Term began & Term Ended
Lewis Ellis	1931–1935
B. Marvin Castee	1936–1939
William J. Ramsey	1940–1941
M. Stanley Ginn	1941–1945
Otis L. Wallis	1945–1945
Hugh H. Waggoner	1945–1948
David E. Harrison	1948–1953
Hugh H. Waggoner	1953–1957
Hugh H. Waggoner	1957–1964
E.I. (Mike) Hockaday	1969–1973
Sam S. Smith	1973-1977
Al R. Lubker	1976–1977
William A. Dolan	1977–1981
Allen S. Whitmer	1981–1982
Howard J. Hoffman	1982–1988
John H. Ford	1988–1989 [21]
Clarence E. (Mel) Fisher	1989–1993 [21]
Fred M. Mills	1993–1997 [22]
Weldon L. Wilhoit	1997–2001 [22]
Roger D. Stottlemyre	2001–2006 [23]
James F. Keathley	2006–2010 [23]
Ronald K. Replogle	2010–2015
J. Bret Johnson	2015–2017
Sandra K. Karsten	2017–2018
Eric T. Olson	2019–Present

See also

• List of law enforcement agencies in Missouri
• State police
• State patrol
• Highway patrol

References

1. USDOJ Statistics Archived 2008-11-20 at the Wayback Machine
2. Bureau, US Census. "Search Results". www.census.gov.
3. "MSHP News Release". notes.mshp.dps.mo.gov.
4. "Missouri Revisor of Statutes - Revised Statutes of Missouri, RSMo, Missouri Law, MO Law". revisor.mo.gov.
5. Staff. "Troop A". Missouri State Highway Patrol. Archived from the original on December 30, 2018. Retrieved May 31, 2012.
6. Staff. "Troop B:". Missouri State Highway Patrol. Retrieved May 31, 2012.
7. Staff. "Troop C". Missouri State Highway Patrol. Retrieved May 31, 2012.
8. Staff. "Troop D". Missouri State Highway Patrol. Retrieved May 31, 2012.
9. Staff. "Troop E". Missouri State Highway Patrol. Retrieved May 31, 2012.
10. Staff. "Troop F". Missouri State Highway Patrol. Retrieved May 31, 2012.
11. Staff. "Troop G". Missouri State Highway Patrol. Retrieved May 31, 2012.
12. Staff. "Troop H". Missouri State Highway Patrol. Retrieved May 31, 2012.
13. Staff. "Troop I". Missouri State Highway Patrol. Retrieved May 31, 2012.
14. "Command Staff". www.mshp.dps.missouri.gov.
15. "Recruiting and Community Outreach Division". www.mshp.dps.missouri.gov.
16. "Patrol creates Office of Community Engagement and Outreach". Hannibal Courier - Post - Hannibal, MO.
17. "Ultimate Sacrifice". www.mshp.dps.missouri.gov.
18. "Missouri State Highway Patrol, MO". The Officer Down Memorial Page (ODMP).
19. Kidd, R. Spencer (2012). Uniforms of the U.S. State Police & Highway Patrols. lulu.com. p. 11. ISBN 978-1-4717-7729-5. OCLC 929822564.
20. "MSHP Academy". mshp.dps.missouri.gov.
21. "Patrol History by Decade - 1980-1989" (PDF). Missouri State Highway Patrol.
22. "Patrol History by Decade - 1990-1999" (PDF). Missouri State Highway Patrol.
23. "Patrol History by Decade - 2000-2009" (PDF). Missouri State Highway Patrol.

External links

• Missouri State Highway Patrol web site
• Missouri State Highway Patrol History
• Missouri Department Of Public Safety
• Publications by or about the Missouri State Highway Patrol at Internet Archive.

Police appointments
Preceded by Sandy K. Karsten	Highway Patrol Superintendent 2019–Present	Succeeded by incumbent