Building on Our Team's 2023 Accomplishments in 2024

Department of Public Safety highlights 2024 accomplishments to advance public safety in Missouri

JEFFERSON CITY – In 2024, the Missouri Department of Public Safety team continued to innovate to deliver improved programs and services in a changing public safety environment. As always, DPS’s exceptional team members worked closely with our public safety partners to respond to evolving needs, always driven by our commitment to serving Missourians with integrity. Here is a look at some of the accomplishments achieved in 2024.

Missouri Blue Scholarship

Since it was introduced in October 2022, the Missouri Blue Scholarship fund has awarded over $3.3 million to 739 law enforcement recruits, allowing more Missourians to join the ranks of law enforcement in the state. The unique scholarship pays up to $5,000 for Missouri law enforcement recruits to attend a licensed state basic training academy. In its first year, Fiscal Year 2023, all of the $1 million in funding was expended. Because of the success of the scholarship program, it has been funded at $2 million per year ever since. In December 2024, there were almost 200 additional new Blue Scholarship applicants to be considered once the applicants’ training begins.

Department of Public Safety First Responders Health & Wellness Conference

In 2024, the DPS Director’s Office organized Missouri’s first-ever comprehensive health and wellness conference for first responders – law enforcement, fire service, EMS, telecommunicators and chaplains from first responder agencies. The two-day pilot conference, held Oct. 24-25, was designed to build resilience among those who meet the challenge of protecting over 6 million Missourians. There was no charge to attendees or their agencies for the conference – it included lodging and meals – to encourage attendance by a wide range of responder disciplines and agencies large and small from across the state. Sessions included Self-Development and Emotional Intelligence for First Responders; Sleep, Fatigue, Health, Safety and Performance; Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy; and Surviving a First-Responder Marriage. The conference attracted over 250 attendees, who rated it very highly: 84% would recommend the conference to a friend or colleague; 81% were extremely satisfied with the conference content; and 86% were extremely satisfied with the speakers. A second conference is planned for September 2025.

The conference was another example of DPS’s support for first responder mental health and wellness because of the pressures they face in their jobs. In 2022, DPS partnered with the Warrrior’s Rest Foundation to provide free one-, two-, and three-day Critical Incident Stress Management training to any Missouri first responder interested in peer support training. Funded through $1.5 million in appropriations in fiscal years 2022-24, the continuing program has reached almost 1,100 responders through Dec. 13, 2024.

Using License Plate Readers to Capture Hardened Criminals and Protect Communities

In 2022, at Governor Parson’s instruction to take full advantage of license plate readers (LPR) in the fight against crime and terrorism, DPS directed state and federal funding to position LPRs around the Missouri State Capitol and in 15 Mid-Missouri counties that had not had LPRs previously. These 43 LPRs were linked, and additional funding was used to expand the network of LPR-information sharing among Missouri law enforcement agencies already utilizing LPRs. Next, funding for additional LPRs and networking was provided to multi-jurisdictional drug task forces across the state. DPS has also provided funding for other law enforcement agencies to acquire additional LPRs through the federal Homeland Security Grant Program, Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) and other federal and state programs. These efforts have been instrumental in solving crimes, reducing criminal activity and apprehending hardened criminals – including multiple murder and robbery suspects as well as a suspect in a carjacking in which the life of a young child was threatened. LPRs are high-speed computer-controlled cameras that automatically capture license plate numbers and vehicle images. To build interoperability among LPR systems, DPS funded development of an LPR query mechanism for the Missouri Uniform Law Enforcement System (MULES) to enable law enforcement agencies to search LPR systems across the state regardless of manufacturer and quickly track the past movements of vehicles associated with criminal activity.

In late 2024, DPS was providing funding for LPRs in 16 additional counties that will result in coverage of most interstates and highways entering Missouri. Separately, through November 2024, DPS has approved 219 law enforcement agency requests to place LPRs on state rights of way.

Missouri Disaster Medical Assistance Team and Highway Patrol Provide Lifesaving Care at Kansas City Super Bowl Parade

When shots rang out and gunshot victims cried for help at the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl celebration, the Missouri State Highway Patrol and State Emergency Management Agency’s Missouri Disaster Medical Assistance Team were there to respond

Forty-seven Patrol members from Troop A and Troop H were assisting the Kansas City Police Department at the parade and rally. Sergeant Ryan Smith, Corporal Emilio Villanueva, and troopers Aaron Booker, Christopher Kottwitz and Matthew Neely all responded immediately after shots rang out at the rally and their actions helped save lives, protected the public and assisted in the apprehension of a suspected shooter.

• Ryan Smith located a medical bag and assisted in treating a man who had been shot multiple times;
• Emilio Villanueva used the small medical kit he wears on his ankle to control a shooting victim’s bleeding and plugged a wound with his finger until he was relieved by medical personnel;
• Aaron Booker assisted both Sergeant Smith and Corporal Villanueva tending to men who had been shot;
• Christopher Kottwitz spotted and chased one of the shooting suspects on foot, based on a witness description, leading to the man being taken into custody; and
• Matthew Neely searched for suspects, located a discarded gun, and, as he conducted interviews, captured body-camera video that was used to positively identify a suspect, who was later apprehended.

MO DMAT-1 had been pre-positioned for the Feb. 14, 2024 event thanks to in-depth planning and strong local partnerships. At the request of the Kansas City Fire Department, the team had set up mobile medical units inside and outside Union Station as part of the advance operational plan for the event. When the mass shooting ensued, 33 MO DMAT-1 team members worked jointly with KCFD, the Patrol and other law enforcement and local medical personnel to quickly retrieve victims from the crowd and get them to the nearest medical tent where they were triaged, treated and stabilized for transport to the closest hospitals. MO DMAT-1 treated a total of 14 gunshot victims, including the victim with fatal injuries. In a letter of commendation, the Region 7 Administrator of the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) said the team’s performance was one of many examples of MO DMAT-1’s expert training and swift response that undoubtedly saved lives that day. MO DMAT-1 members responding that day were Craig Armstrong, Matthew Aumiller, Sean Aylward, Deb Baysinger, Stephen Beauter, Brad Berhorst, Scott Brasher, David Brown, Traci Brown, Sativa Chernicky, Collette Culver, Jason Gagnepain, Billy Gardner, Tim Hickman, Tim Johnson, Joseph Keary, Erin Keith, Kevin King, Carrie Lewis, Lindsey Mericle, Marta Norman, Kevin Oliver, Kyler Oliver, Anthony Ramirez, Katherine Randolph, Trish Ruth, Thomas Sanders, Jim Smith, Troy Stottlemyre, Michael Updegrave, Jennifer Watts, Ben Whited and Beverly Winkert.

MOSWIN Team Expedites Radio Coverage Restoration following Destructive Tornado

On Sunday evening of Memorial Day weekend, an EF-2 tornado moved through the Mountain View, Mo., area. DPS’s Missouri Statewide Interoperability Network team received alarms for a power failure from the MOSWIN site north of Mountain View, but the site’s backup power did not activate. A Missouri State Highway Patrol field technician immediately responded to the site and confirmed it had been struck by an EF-2 tornado. The tower was still standing but the equipment shelter had been destroyed and the extensive radio equipment was a total loss. Radio communication relying on the tower was lost. Mountain View Police switched to backup communications for the night. Early the following morning, May 27, Memorial Day, MOSWIN team members Roger Strope, Kevin Hall and David Sterman along with the Patrol’s Eric Presser responded from Jefferson City with a MOSWIN trailer site equipped with a 95-foot antenna mast and on-board generator and re-established full MOSWIN communications in Mountain View and partial coverage in the surrounding area less than 24 hours after the tornado struck. The MOSWIN team coordinated with State Emergency Management Agency team members who had responded to the area to conduct damage assessments and estimate repair costs in anticipation of a federal disaster declaration, which was received. The trailer site, which was connected to commercial power after three days, supported communications for five weeks while the Mountain View tower site was restored to full operation.

Office Of Homeland Security Builds Cybersecurity Resilience Through Customized Training

In 2024, the DPS Office of Homeland Security Cybersecurity team reached more stakeholders than ever before through tabletop exercises and sharing best practices as local governments of all sizes, school systems and other partners faced growing threats from cyberattacks involving ransomware, phishing scams, social engineering and data breaches. Enhancing resilience among smaller organizations is extremely important because they often have limited IT budgets, outdated systems and increasingly rely on digital platforms. With a total of 18 tabletop exercises and four Incident Response Planning (IRP) workshops, the Cybersecurity team engaged with key stakeholders in education, the public sector, business and healthcare. These interactive sessions not only bolster sector-specific contingency planning, they build a collaborative environment for sharing best practices and strengthening cross-sector partnerships. Participants from each sector receive customized guidance on cybersecurity best practices specific to their needs.

New Troop A Headquarters Will Replace Antiquated 56-Year-Old Building

Construction has been underway throughout 2024 to complete a new Troop A Headquarters in Lee’s Summit to replace the outdated 56-year-old existing headquarters, which has deteriorated over the years and is far too small to meet current work requirements. The location near Missouri 291 and US-50 is plagued by traffic congestion and crashes and removal of the building will allow for a redesign of roadway to improve traffic flow and safety as well as business development in Lee’s Summit. The new headquarters on 4.1 acres at 600 NE Colbern Road will provide approximately 8,000 square feet of additional workspace for Patrol sworn and non-sworn team members who serve 13 counties in the Kansas City area. The approximately $15.3 million project is being funded with $7.3 million in State Highway Funds and $8.1 million from the City of Lee’s Summit. Ground was broken on Nov. 29, 2024. The project is expected to be completed by March 2025.

SEMA Participates in Regional Mass Fatality Exercise at St. Louis Lambert International Airport

In June 2024, SEMA and several state and local response partners conducted a full-scale mass fatality exercise at St. Louis Lambert International Airport. The exercise included a simulated plane crash, deployment of the Missouri Mortuary Operations Response Team (MO MORT-1) and Disaster Portable Morgue Unit (DPMU), a Victim Identification Center (VIC), ante-mortem interviews of family and friends, forensic examination of remains and data input using SEMA’s Victim Identification Program (VIP) software. Over 100 people from over 10 agencies participated in the exercise, including: SEMA, Missouri State Highway Patrol, MO DMAT-1, MO MORT-1, Missouri Department of Mental Health, St. Louis Lambert International Airport, St. Louis Office of the Medical Examiner, St. Charles County Office of the Regional Medical Examiner, Missouri Disaster Response System, Warren County Emergency Management Agency, Ozark Center and Neptune Society.

Through November 2024, SEMA led or sponsored a total of 41 exercises across Missouri – ranging from continuity of operations seminars and National Weather Service drills to cybersecurity tabletops and the mass fatality exercise – that included over 1,500 first responders, emergency managers, non-governmental organizations and business participants. SEMA also offered over 145 training courses for 1,900 first responders, emergency managers, and non-governmental organizations in the first 11 months of 2024.

DFS Establishes 80-Hour Fire Investigator Course

On Feb. 26, 2024, the Division of Fire Safety began teaching a new 80-hour Fire Investigator pilot course that was a hybrid of 40 hours of online learning and 40 hours of hands-on practical skills. After completing the online portion of the course, on April 15, students from across the state gathered at DFS headquarters in Jefferson City for the realistic practical-skills training, including two days of training in providing courtroom testimony. This included students being examined by two attorneys with significant experience in arson prosecution to be prepared for testifying in criminal trials. Upon successful course completion, written examination, and skills evaluation, students become certified Fire Investigators.

The course was designed as a hybrid to maximize participation and reduce expenses for fire service agencies at a time when qualified fire investigators are in high demand. It took approximate 18 months of research and planning that involved members of the Division’s Training and Certification Unit, Investigations Unit, and three subject matter experts in the field of criminal prosecution, to update the division’s course to the most current NFPA standard. Following a second pilot class in the fall, the course was finalized and is part of the permanent DFS offerings. The third class graduated on Dec. 6, 2024.

Missouri Capitol Police Utilizes New Capitol Weapons Detection System

In March 2024, an advanced weapons detection system called Evolv was implemented at the Capitol’s main public entrance, the south checkpoint. Missouri Capitol Police, working with the Office of Administration, had begun researching employing modern technology for the Capitol entrances in spring 2023 to strengthen security and speed admission to the Capitol. Utilizing the Evolv platform – which uses artificial intelligence and sensors to distinguish between weapons and everyday items – and MCP’s well-trained officers has greatly reduced lines and wait times to enter the Capitol. In the first seven months after implementation, only about 19% of 109,000 visitors required additional screening. Previously, 100% of visitors and their belongings had to be screened, significantly delaying entry. Staffed by experienced officers, the new system can handle up to 2,000 visitors through a single entrance per hour with minimal wait times. MCP officers are now able to greet visitors and have more positive interactions. The enhanced technology has freed more MCP officers to conduct proactive policing throughout Capitol Complex buildings. A portable Evolv model was acquired for the Governor’s Mansion in October 2024 and is utilized for both indoor and outdoor events, like the Dec. 6, 2024 candlelight tours of the mansion. It has resulted in similar shorter wait times to enter the mansion.

Patrol Team Provides Peer Support to MoDOT After Colleague’s Tragic Death

After MoDOT Senior Maintenance Worker Jay Bone was tragically killed in a work zone on Sept. 24, 2024, MoDOT’s Kansas City District Engineer reached out to Troop A. He had heard of the Patrol’s Peer DEFENSE Team, which is trained to provide critical incident support following line of duty deaths and other workplace tragedies. On Sept. 26, a team of four troopers, and a mental health professional from the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, who had all experienced similar tragedies, met with 29 of Jay Bone’s MoDOT colleagues. With great sensitivity, the team conducted a debriefing, which allowed everyone to understand the tragic events of Sept. 24, and facilitated a discussion in which all MoDOT team members could express their emotions, understand how individuals process tragedies differently, and begin the healing process. MoDOT leadership reported the session was extremely helpful for its team members and that the DEFENSE Team had a great understanding of each detail of the process, including holding the gathering in a Sedalia church, as opposed to a MoDOT facility. In 2024, the Patrol DEFENSE Team responded 63 times to support groups affected by tragic events, which includes Patrol and non-Patrol groups. The DEFENSE Team also made over 300 individual contacts in 2024. Since its 2016 inception, the DEFENSE Team has responded to support groups 334 times and has made individual contact with over 2,650 people.

Highway Patrol Body-Worn Camera Initiative Reaches 95% of Enforcement Officers

In 2024, the Highway Patrol’s new body-worn camera and in-car and in-boat video system reached 95% completion. The system includes over 700 troopers and commercial vehicle officers along with Missouri Capitol Police officers, whose primary duty is enforcement activities. The cloud-based system allows video to automatically be offloaded from the officers’ vehicles and to easily share videos with prosecutors, eliminating the need for copying videos. The system has processed over 800 terabytes of data or around 890,000 individual videos since implementation began in May 2023. The remaining 5% of troopers will receive the new system once their higher mileage vehicles are replaced and the new system can be installed.

Patrol Sergeant Chase Stallcup Nonviolently Ends Confrontation with Gunman

On Feb. 11, 2024, Patrol Master Sergeant Chase Stallcup responded to a crash scene in Christian County involving an intoxicated driver who was armed and suicidal. Before Stallcup arrived, the gunman had pointed his gun at a Good Samaritan who had stopped to help. Taking a defensive position, Stallcup initiated a dialogue with the gunman who was extremely volatile and threatened to shoot Stallcup and himself. He then pointed his gun at Stallcup, turned around, fired one round, placed the gun on the trunk of his vehicle and approached Stallcup with clenched fists. Maintaining an extremely calm demeanor in a high stress situation, Stallcup was able to take the gunman into custody solely through verbal commands, and then transported him to a hospital for psychiatric care.

Cold Case Investigation Leads to Arrest and Charge in 25-Year-Old Killing

On Aug. 30, 2024, 69-year-old Wesley Marler was indicted for first-degree assault in connection with the 1989 death of Jimmie Wade Martin in Bonne Terre, Mo. The case had been reopened by the Highway Patrol Division of Drug and Crime Control and the St. Francois County Sheriff’s Office in December 2020, following the development of new leads in the killing. The sheriff’s office and Patrol investigators conducted an exhaustive four-year investigation. In October 1989, Martin had been mortally wounded in front of a St. Francois County residence and later died. Marler is being held in the St. Francois County Jail in lieu of $500,000 bond. The charge is a mere accusation and not evidence of guilt. Evidence in support of the charge must be presented before a court of competent jurisdiction whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

Persistence in Investigation Leads to Arrest and Charge Against Convicted Arsonist

In July 2020, Captain Chad Hildebrand responded to a fire at Harmony Baptist Church in Johnson County and quickly determined the fire had been set. Surveillance video showed a white vehicle and a single male suspect. Hildebrand put in long hours on the case for months as he followed countless leads and conducted interviews, resulting in the identification of a suspect, whom Hildebrand had previously arrested in other arson cases in the area. However, he was unable to file charges because of a lack of cooperation from a witness. Hildebrand never let the case go, and on July 4, 2024 – with one year before the statute of limitation would end – a video appeal and news release with local authorities generated new interest in the case. Hildebrand reinterviewed the key witness, who this time agreed to cooperate and supplied essential evidence, leading to the arrest of the original suspect and an arson charge being filed. The charge is a mere accusation and not evidence of guilt. Evidence in support of the charge must be presented before a court of competent jurisdiction whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

Missouri Capitol Police Plays Central Role in Missouri Capitol Terrorism Response Exercise

On Sept. 25, 2024, after months of planning, Missouri Capitol Police and other first responders took part in a full-scale exercise based on the discovery of a suspicious package in the Capitol. The exercise, organized by the State Emergency Management Agency, involved 59 responders from law enforcement, fire, medical, emergency management, and dispatch agencies. The exercise scenario centered on a backpack in a Capitol basement hearing room, which led to sealing off access to that room, surrounding rooms and a hallway. As the scenario unfolded, the Jefferson City Fire Department responded in hazmat suits and a package inside the backpack was determined to contain simulated ricin, a deadly toxin. The exercise after action report is still being prepared but the initial “hotwash” indicated Missouri Capitol Police and other response personnel followed standard operating procedures, communicated and coordinated well, and met the exercise objectives. In addition to MCP, participating agencies were: DPS, SEMA, MSHP, Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Office of Administration, Cole County Sheriff’s Office, Cole County EMS, Jefferson City Fire Department, Jefferson City Dispatch, Missouri House Security, Missouri Senate Security, U.S. Department of Homeland Security/Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), FBI, and FEMA.

Veterans Commission’s Free Will Clinic Serves Over 1,800 Veterans and Spouses Since 2022

In 2024, the Missouri Veteran Commission’s free Will Clinic initiative served 436 veterans and their spouses and executed over 1,691 wills, trusts and other legal documents. The initiative began in 2022, when the need for wills, trusts and other end of life documents for many Missouri veterans became apparent. The project began with the Harry S Truman VA Hospital and the Missouri Veterans Commission and has developed into a partnership with volunteer attorneys from across the state, who draw up wills, trusts, advanced directives, healthcare power of attorneys, and beneficiary deeds free of charge for veterans and their families. The clinics are held throughout the state, including at Missouri Veterans Homes and veterans organizations, with a focus on more rural areas in 2024. Since its inception, the initiative has served 1,872 veterans and spouses and executed 1,627 wills/trusts, 1,404 advanced directives, 1,558 healthcare POAs, 1,490 financial POAs, and 747 beneficiary deeds, for a total of 6,826 documents.

ATC Streamlines Violation Resolution Process through Settlement Agreements

In 2024, the Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Control fully implemented a streamlined procedure for resolving common liquor license violations by providing the licensees with the option of accepting the administrative action determined to be appropriate by the ATC State Supervisor. Accepting the settlement agreement offered by ATC means that no informal conference before the state supervisor is necessary to resolve the administrative case. From Jan. 1 to Nov. 31, 2024, 166 of 201 settlement offers were accepted, for an 83% acceptance rate. This reduced potential informal conferences before the ATC State Supervisor from 238 to just 72 during the period, a 70% reduction. The new process is highly efficient and maximizes the time the state supervisor and staff can devote to licensing and customer service issues.

Outdoor Range Means Cohesive, Comprehensive Firearms Training for Recruits and Troopers

In December 2020, the Missouri State Highway Patrol opened the first Jefferson City outdoor firing range in the organization’s 89-year history. Before the opening of the $2.3 million facility constructed on state-owned property on Highway 179, troopers used ranges owned by other state or local law enforcement agencies as far away as the Camden County Sheriff’s Office, as availability permitted. The travel involved meant lost time, scheduling could be difficult, and training had to be adjusted based on the capabilities of each borrowed facility.

In 2024, the three-range facility, which accommodates rifles, shotguns and pistols, was utilized by the Patrol for recruit and SWAT and other specialized trooper training and annual qualifying. The range has also proven to be a convenient and well-suited facility for Missouri Capitol Police, Division of Fire Safety, Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Control, Missouri Department of Conservation, Missouri Division of Family Services, Jefferson City Police Department and the Cole County Sheriff’s Office, as well as other agencies receiving training at the Patrol’s Law Enforcement Training Academy. Outside agencies pay a fee to use the range.

Two of the ranges have a maximum firing distance of 60 yards and one has a maximum distance of 165 yards. They can each simultaneously accommodate up to 15 shooters. There is also a concrete/ballistic “shoot house” for tactical training in room clearing and building searches with live ammunition. It includes a walkway above the house’s rooms so instructors can observe training from outside the line of fire. The range also includes a 40-person capacity classroom, a bomb disposal area and ample parking.

MGC - Missouri Gaming Commission and Highway Patrol Work together to Open Land-based Casino in Caruthersville

On Nov. 1, 2024, the Missouri Gaming Commission granted final approval for Century Casino in Caruthersville to open its doors as the state’s second permanent land-based casino. The new facility replaced a temporary land-based structure and the riverboat casino that operated on the Mississippi River for almost 30 years but was vulnerable to flooding and high-water levels. MGC staff and the Highway Patrol Gaming Division spent months working with casino staff on many compliance issues, maintaining surveillance, verifying counting room requirements, etc. The new 26,000 square-foot casino has 599 slot machines and nine live table games, a 50% increase in gaming positions compared to the temporary casino.