2018 Team Member of the Month Archives

January 2018

Keith Hendrickson
Chief of Enforcement
Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Control

Keith Hendrickson, Chief of Enforcement within the Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Control (ATC), has been selected as the January, 2018 Employee of the Month for the Department of Public Safety. Keith was cited for his longtime commitment to the division and his steady hand as he led ATC during most of 2017, until the appointment of Acting State Supervisor Dorothy Taylor.

Keith, a 32-year veteran of the Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Control and Chief of Enforcement since 2012, was selected for his outstanding leadership qualities, devotion to ATC and hands-on approach to tackling any issue facing the agency.

In January 2017, Keith was asked to lead ATC until the selection of an acting state supervisor. Keith capably took the helm of the division, working well with and supporting ATC’s 29 employees and providing insight into the workings of the agency to the new Department of Public Safety leadership.

In addition to leading ATC’s licensing, regulatory, excise collection, enforcement and other programs for 10 months, Keith oversaw the hiring of new ATC investigators and their orientation, and the selection and opening of two new ATC district offices, in Kansas City and St. Louis. In 2017, Keith’s duties also included leading the division’s budget efforts and implementing regulatory changes required by recently enacted legislation.

Keith’s more than three decades of experience at ATC means he brings a wealth of knowledge in the complicated and complex area of Missouri alcoholic beverage rules and liquor control laws. This background and Keith’s institutional knowledge were invaluable in assisting Acting State Supervisor Taylor during her transition to the division in November 2017.

Keith’s long history as an ATC agent also allows him to impart his knowledge and experiences to the division’s less-experienced agents.

Congratulations to Keith for his fine work and the example he has set his co-workers throughout the Department of Public Safety!

February 2018

Darrell Taube, Chris Terry and Kevin Klug of the Missouri Department of Public Safety's Missouri State Highway Patrol have been selected as the department’s February 2018 Employees of the Month.

Major, sustained security and law enforcement details require more than troopers. Communications, equipment and logistics are among the areas vital to mission success. For the September 2017 verdict in the Jason Stockley case, Darrell, Chris, and Kevin were responsible for ensuring the necessary resources were available to Patrol members working in St. Louis. Utilizing their experience following civil unrest in Ferguson, they correctly and thoroughly anticipated the supplies needed to maintain operational continuity during this sustained mission. Their experience and foresight ensured that all the needed equipment was available and where it was needed.

Several times, when prepared food ran low, Darrell, Chris, and Kevin even volunteered to grill hamburgers and hotdogs to make sure everyone was fed. Knowing the support side of the detail was taken care of allowed commanders to focus on operational details. Darrell, Chris, and Kevin's work was vital to the success of the St. Louis verdict detail and ultimately the safety of those placed in harm's way.

Congratulations to Darrell, Chris, and Kevin for their fine work and the example they have set for their co-workers throughout the Department of Public Safety!

March 2018

Travis W. Hitchcock
Sergeant
Missouri State Highway Patrol

Sergeant Travis W. Hitchcock, a criminal investigator with the Missouri Department of Public Safety's Missouri State Highway Patrol, has been selected as the department’s March 2018 Employee of the Month.

In 2017, Travis was assigned to investigate a sexual assault complaint in southwest Missouri that involved a single victim whose abuse had allegedly begun more than two decades earlier, when the victim was a young child. Travis worked relentlessly, coordinating the efforts of multiple jurisdictions and built a case resulting in the arrest of a violent sexual predator.

Travis' aggressive, wide-ranging investigation led to the identification of four additional victims previously unknown to authorities. Because of Travis' thoroughness over the months-long investigation, the suspect faces a total of 36 child molestation-related charges in two counties.

Congratulations to Travis for his outstanding efforts and the example he has set for his co-workers throughout the Department of Public Safety!

April 2018

Tiffany Trower
Certified Nursing Assistant
Missouri Veterans Commission

Tiffany Trower, a certified nursing assistant with the Missouri Department of Public Safety's Missouri Veterans Commission, has been selected as the department’s April 2018 Employee of the Month. She cares for Veterans at the Mexico Veterans Home.

Tiffany is a model employee and shining example to how MVC employees care for Veterans with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia diagnoses. Tiffany’s interactions and conversations with the Veterans are personal, kind and loving. She has a unique talent of creating a stable, calm environment no matter what is going on around her, always providing protective oversight.

Tiffany's commitment to care enables her to be an extension of the Veteran – she anticipates needs, draws the Veteran into assisting themselves, often creating important moments of self-care and independence for the Veteran. Tiffany also teaches and shares her skills with other staff with one goal in mind – allowing all Veterans in the Special Needs Unit to be safe, healthy and to live with the dignity they deserve.

Congratulations to Tiffany for her outstanding efforts and the example she has set for her co-workers throughout the Department of Public Safety!

May 2018

David Kessel
Licensing Manager
Missouri Gaming Commission

David Kessel, licensing manager with the Missouri Department of Public Safety’s Missouri Gaming Commission has been selected as the department’s May 2018 Employee of the Month.

David was chosen for the kindness and concern for others that he regularly exhibits. On a cold, blustery day in January, David was returning from lunch when he noticed an elderly man lying in the street near the Gaming Commission headquarters. The man was bleeding from his arms, hands, and knees, apparently from falling to the ground. Despite the frigid temperatures, he had no jacket.

The gentleman did not know how long he had been on the ground. David helped him to the man’s nearby home and escorted him inside. David offered to call 9-1-1, but the man said he would be alright once he warmed up and cleaned his wounds.

Several hours later, David went back to the man’s residence to ensure he was alright. The man thanked David for checking on him and reassured David he felt much better. When MGC Deputy Director Tim McGrail went to the residence to check on the man, he told McGrail how much he appreciated David stopping to help while others had just driven by, despite his yelling and waving for assistance.

David Kessel has been with the Missouri Gaming Commission for 16 years in both the custodian of records and licensing manager positions. He also manages application submissions and billing for applications and licensing.

Congratulations to David for his outstanding work and the example he has set for his co-workers throughout the Department of Public Safety!

*Named Missouri State Employee of the Month for June 2018

June 2018

Mike Massey
Fire Safety Inspector
Division of Fire Safety

Mike Massey, fire safety inspector with the Missouri Department of Public Safety’s Division of Fire Safety, has been selected as the department’s June 2018 Employee of the Month.

Mike Massey, fire safety inspector with the Missouri Department of Public Safety’s Division of Fire Safety, has been selected as the department’s June 2018 Employee of the Month.

As a DFS fire safety inspector in southeast Missouri, Mike conducts about 1,000 fire safety inspections each year at daycares, mental health homes, long-term care facilities and other facilities with vulnerable populations. He also inspects seasonal fireworks stands. As a result, he knows the importance of fire safety firsthand.

That’s why Mike enthusiastically embraced an American Red Cross initiative DFS and other fire service agencies are participating in – Sound the Alarm. It’s an effort to install thousands of free smoke alarms in at-risk communities across the U.S. Studies show that more than 60 percent of deadly U.S. fires occur in homes that do not have working smoke alarms. In Missouri through May in 2018, more than 95 percent of fire deaths investigated by DFS occurred in homes without working smoke alarms.

On Sunday, April 29, Mike volunteered to assist the Cape Girardeau Fire Department in the installation of about 100 smoke alarms in Cape Girardeau homes. In addition, Mike and the Cape Girardeau team tested many existing smoke alarms to ensure they were working properly. They also assisted deaf and hard-of-hearing residents by offering to acquire and install bed shaking devices that awaken residents who cannot hear smoke alarms.

Mike Massey has been with the Division of Fire Safety based in Cape Girardeau for three years. He previously spent almost 35 years in public safety, working in both the fire service and law enforcement.

Congratulations to Mike for his outstanding work to protect his fellow Missourians from the danger of residential fires and the example he has set for his co-workers throughout the Department of Public Safety!

 

July 2018

Kyle Schrage
Trooper

Ruth Hunter
Violent Crime Support Unit Criminal Intelligence Analyst

Samantha Roussel
Violent Crime Support Unit Criminal Intelligence Analyst

Nancy Scheulen
Violent Crime Support Unit Criminal Intelligence Analyst

Missouri State Highway Patrol

Trooper Kyle Schrage, and Violent Crime Support Unit Criminal Intelligence Analysts Ruth Hunter, Samantha Roussel and Nancy Scheulen with the Department of Public Safety’s Missouri State Highway Patrol, have been selected as the department’s July 2018 Employees of the Month.

Working tirelessly as a team, Kyle, Ruth, Samantha and Nancy began investigating a sexual assault case involving a single child victim and expanded it to include nine more victims across four Missouri counties and spanning 37 years. Their painstaking investigative work resulted in a sexual predator being convicted of two felony counts by a Buchanan County jury. After a multi-day trial, the jurors deliberated for only two hours before finding the defendant guilty. Charges are pending in two additional counties.

Ruth, Samantha and Nancy, of the Violent Crime Support Unit, were instrumental in assisting Kyle locate most of the victims and key witnesses, often working with nothing more than a nickname. They also created a timeline and historical profile of the perpetrator that not only assisted in the investigation but were key factors at trial.

Ruth, Samantha and Nancy also created a searchable, electronic case file that multiple prosecuting attorney offices could utilize in prosecuting their cases. They also created visual aids and a timeline used in closing arguments. Several jurors stated the timeline helped them understand the scope of the perpetrator’s crimes.

Congratulations to Kyle, Ruth, Samantha and Nancy for their outstanding work that helped bring justice to so many victims, who had waited so long. All four team members have set a tremendous example for their co-workers throughout the Department of Public Safety.

August 2018

Bradley R. Muck
Trooper
Missouri State Highway Patrol

Bradley R. Muck, a trooper with the Department of Public Safety’s Missouri State Highway Patrol assigned to Troop H, has been selected as the department’s August 2018 Employee of the Month. 

As a member of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Bradley must be prepared to respond to a wide variety of incidents from routine traffic stops to bank robberies and domestic violence calls. In addition, Bradley is one of Troop H’s trained crisis negotiators.

On the night of May 12, 2018, a large disturbance at the Crossroads Correctional Center in Cameron led to a call for assistance from area law enforcement agencies. Bradley was one of the first responders to arrive at the prison.

More than 200 inmates had staged a sit-down protest and refused to return to their housing units. After most surrendered to officers, 78 inmates gained access to the institution’s kitchen, warehouse and factory and began destroying property and structures inside the building. Cameron Police Chief Rick Bashor, who was commander of the incident response team, assigned Bradley to lead negotiations with the inmates.
Bradley, who had only recently attended crisis negotiation training and had never before been called upon as a negotiator, quickly established a positive dialogue with the inmates by telephone. As negotiations continued into the early morning hours, Bradley utilized his negotiations training along with information and guidance from the incident command team, including corrections officials, to keep the inmates engaged in discussions and calmly steer talks toward a resolution.

Around 4 a.m., the inmates agreed to surrender to officers. There were no injuries to staff and no serious injuries to offenders. By presenting a calm and professional demeanor through hours of negotiations and by working under the direction of incident command, Bradley played a critical role in peacefully resolving a tense and dangerous situation.

Bradley was a member of the Patrol’s 100th recruit class, graduating from the Patrol’s Law Enforcement Academy in June 2015. He worked for the Department of Corrections as a correctional case worker from 2012 until entering the Patrol academy in January 2015.

Congratulations to Bradley for his outstanding work and the example of excellence he has set for his co-workers throughout the Department of Public Safety!

September 2018

Aaron Griffin
Sergeant
Missouri State Highway Patrol

Aaron Griffin, a sergeant with the Department of Public Safety’s Missouri State Highway Patrol ─ Training Division, has been selected the department’s September 2018 Employee of the Month.

Aaron is a forward-thinking instructor at the Patrol's Law Enforcement Academy, who continuously works to improve training and officer safety. His research determined the traditional approach to vehicle stop training was far too basic. Determined to improve training in what is one of the highest-risk areas of policing, Aaron developed an in-depth, three-day course, "Armed Encounters & High-Risk Traffic Stops," to provide officers with the tactics needed to prevail in an armed encounter during a traffic stop.

This year, Aaron began presenting his course to Missouri law enforcement and immediately received high praise from officers. "My eyes have been opened," said a student from the Patrol’s St. Louis Special Patrol Unit." Another student said, "This is the best training I've ever had." Aaron’s commitment to officer safety and innovative thinking resulted in a new course that will impact generations of officers.

October 2018

Shayne Talburt
Corporal
Missouri State Highway Patrol

Jonathan Wilson
Corporal
Missouri State Highway Patrol

Jonathan T. Wilson and Shayne K. Talburt, corporals with the Department of Public Safety's Missouri State Highway Patrol — Troop E, have been selected as the department's October 2018 Employees of the Month.

On May 26, 2018, both officers were patrolling the Current River in Ripley County. Jonathan observed a family in distress in the water.Their inner tubes, which had been linked together, had come loose and flipped over. All seven people – two adults and five children – were thrown into the water.

A five-year-old girl was tangled in a rope and appeared lifeless. The man was in distress after extricating a second child from a tangled root ball, which then broke loose, separating him from the children. The current had pulled the woman downstream, away from the group, and she was exhausted and in distress.

Jonathan began rescuing the children and called Shayne for assistance. When Jonathan retrieved the five-year-old, she immediately coughed up water and began breathing on her own. Meanwhile, because of the weight and current, his boat was taking on water.

Upon his arrival, Shayne took the five children into his boat, allowing Jonathan to travel downstream to rescue the two adults. The woman and her five-year-old daughter were treated at a local hospital. The mother is convinced the officers’ actions saved several lives.

*Named Missouri State Employees of the Month for November 2018

November 2018

Ryan Lesh
Fire Investigator
Division of Fire Safety

Ryan Lesh, Fire Investigator with the Division of Fire Safety, has been selected as the Department of Public Safety November 2018 Employee of the Month.

On Sept. 9, 2018, Ryan was at his home in Byrnes Mill, in Jefferson County, when he heard what sounded like an explosion. He immediately went to investigate, quickly arriving on the scene of a house explosion. Without hesitation, Ryan began searching for anyone who might have been injured in the rubble of the single-family home.

He spotted a neighbor, who, while attempting to rescue a woman injured in the explosion, had himself become trapped in the debris. Together, Ryan and an off-duty Kirkwood firefighter rescued both the neighbor and the woman, who had been in the house during the explosion. The victims were under several feet of burning debris.

Ryan and the off-duty firefighter got the woman and the neighbor out of the burning structure before fire crews and EMS had arrived on the scene. Ryan’s swift and selfless action in response to a house explosion helped save at least one life. Unfortunately, the woman’s husband was killed in the explosion and fire.

Ryan joined the Division of Fire Safety in February 2017, after serving in the United States Air Force for eight years and rising to the rank of staff sergeant. In the Air Force, Ryan gained valuable experience as a military police officer.

Congratulations to Ryan for his life-saving effort and the outstanding example he’s set for his co-workers throughout the Department of Public Safety!

*Named Missouri State Employees of the Month for December 2018

December 2018

Darryl Rockfield
Floodplain Engineering & Mapping Section Manager
State Emergency Management Agency

Konrad Hughes
GIS Specialist
State Emergency Management Agency

Darryl Rockfield and Konrad Hughes of the Missouri State Emergency Management Agency have been selected as the December 2018 Employees of the Month for the Department of Public Safety.

Flooding is the most common and costly type of disaster in the state of Missouri. Thanks to Darryl and Konrad’s collaborative efforts, the SEMA Floodplain Mapping Portal went live in September. This new collective hub of resources for floodplain management is the first of its kind in the nation and assists local jurisdictions by combining advanced mapping technology with a user-friendly interface.

As SEMA’s Floodplain Engineering & Mapping Section Manager, Darryl understood the strong need for floodplain administrators across the state to access multiple resources quickly and efficiently. Darryl took the initiative and created a catalog of their daily duties and interactions.

Konrad, SEMA’s Geographic Information System (GIS) Specialist, began development and built the foundation of the mapping portal.

Working as a team, Darryl and Konrad brought all the elements together into a highly effective public-facing portal.

Missouri’s floodplain administrators play a key role in flood mitigation efforts and responsible development across the state. Because of Darryl and Konrad’s collective efforts, the SEMA Floodplain Mapping Portal has become a go-to resource benefitting floodplain administrators and communities statewide.