Department of Public Safety News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 19, 2011

Missouri State Highway Patrol technology initiatives win two prestigious Governor's Awards for Quality and Productivity

Online services and technology improvements are makng a difference in quality and efficiency of services provided to Missouri citizens
Missouri Department of Public Safety Acting Director Andrea Spillars announces that the Missouri State Highway Patrol has been awarded two 2011 Governor's Awards for Quality and Productivity.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol was selected for awards in the Efficiency/Process Improvement and Technology in Government categories. There are a total of four categories eligible for awards.
The Highway Patrol's new online criminal history background check system, called the Missouri Automated Criminal History Site (MACHS), was selected for the Efficiency/Process Improvement award. A group of 19 Patrol team members developed and launched the system in early February, and in the first three months of use it processed more than 121,500 record checks electronically. More than 90 percent of these record checks were completed and returned to the user within seconds, requiring no action by any Patrol employee.   Prior to the launch of MACHS, background check requests had to be mailed to the Patrol or requested in person at the Missouri State Highway Patrol General Headquarters in Jefferson City. Responses to these requests could sometimes take several weeks. MACHS has not only allowed for more timely responses to background checks, but has also reduced postage expenses, eased the process for the public, and allowed the Patrol and staff who were previously required to oversee manual background checks to perform other duties.
The Patrol's Missouri Criminal Justice Modernization Project (MCJMP) was selected for the Technology in Government award. A group of 22 Patrol team members worked together to simultaneously replace major information technology systems, including computer-aided dispatch, records management, and managing criminal history information. The launch of MCJMP greatly reduced the amount of paperwork and data entry that road troopers must do, allowing them to devote more time to patrolling. It also reduced costs previously associated with operating these systems.
"The Department of Public Safety and the Missouri State Highway Patrol are committed to providing the highest level of service to the citizens of Missouri," said DPS Acting Director Spillars. "This includes operating efficiently, harnessing technology to make Missourians safer and continually improving customer service. I commend Colonel Ron Replogle and all the winning team members for these two prestigious awards and for the outstanding work they do protecting the public each day.”
"Modernizing, embracing technology and improving our service to Missourians are things we strive for every day at the Highway Patrol," said Colonel Replogle, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol. "I want to thank all the troopers and civilian team members for their outstanding effort. This is much deserved recognition for many hours of hard work.”
The 2011 Governor's Awards for Quality and Productivity were presented to the winning teams at a ceremony at the Capitol Rotunda on Oct. 19. The other awards categories and winners are: Customer Service –Missouri State Treasurer's Office for its online unclaimed property program; Innovation Award –Department of Mental Health for its psychiatric inpatient redesign program.  
The Governor's Awards for Quality and Productivity were established in 1988 to recognize service excellence, efficiency, innovation, technology, process improvement, and employee development in Missouri State Government. Any team made up of two or more individuals employed by the State of Missouri who successfully complete a project that exemplifies the purpose of the Governor's Awards for Quality and Productivity may submit a nomination. A selection committee of state executives evaluates each nomination, and awards are presented in four categories, which are Customer Service, Efficiency/Process Improvement, Innovation and Technology in Government.

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For more information, call 573-751-5432 or e-mail mike.oconnell@dps.mo.gov