DPS Team Members of the Month
July Sworn Team Member of the Month
Ryan A. Lilly
Trooper
Missouri State Highway Patrol
July Non-Sworn Team Member of the Month
Jamie L. McKinnon
Lead Administrative Support Assistant
Missouri State Highway Patrol
Trooper Ryan Lilly, of Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop C, is the DPS Sworn Team Member of the Month for July 2026 for his decisive and fearless action to intercept and stop a wrong-way driver.
At about 4:50 a.m. on April 5, 2026, Ryan was nearing the end of his overnight shift when Troop C broadcast a wrong-way driver in the area of Highway 21 and Highway A in Jefferson County. Recognizing the extreme danger to the public, Ryan immediately responded to the area. With the driver traveling south on northbound Highway 21, Ryan positioned his vehicle in the northbound lanes of Highway 21 and activated his emergency equipment and maneuvered his vehicle in a serpentine-like manner to signal the driver to stop. Instead, the driver traveled off the left shoulder of northbound Highway 21 to try to go around Ryan.
As the vehicle passed, Ryan intentionally struck the left rear of the vehicle in a controlled strike, causing it to travel through the median and come to a stop off the left side of southbound Highway 21. The driver was arrested for DWI, failure to yield to an emergency vehicle and driving the wrong direction on a divided highway.
There was no training for such a maneuver, and he had one chance to pull it off. Ryan literally placed himself in harm’s way to protect the public and prevent a potentially fatal crash. His selfless action reflects the highest ideals of public service.
Jamie McKinnon, the Lead Administrative Support Assistant at Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop I, is the DPS Non-Sworn Team Member of the Month for July 2026 for her skillful and tireless work training troopers on a new application that is essential for doing their jobs.
Jamie was instrumental in the success of the Patrol’s Missouri Automated Reporting System (MARS) when it was deployed in Troop I on a pilot basis because of her hands-on approach, patience, and investment of her own time in mastering the app. Though it is not part of her job description, on her own initiative Jamie learned the ins and outs of the new app, all its screens and processes, and how troopers would use it. This is not unusual. Jamie routinely invests her own time in making sure the team succeeds. She regularly reaches out to troopers by phone or text outside normal hours to make sure things are running smoothly.
Jamie’s unfailingly positive attitude and energy promote a high morale, team-oriented atmosphere throughout the troop.
Congratulations to both Team Members of the Month! You have set an outstanding example for your co-workers throughout the Department of Public Safety.
The Missouri Department of Public Safety. Many Missions. One Team.