2019 Team Member of the Month Archives

R. Michael Greenan, of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, has been selected as the Department of Public Safety December 2019 Sworn Employee of the Month. Michael is a Corporal, who serves as Troop G Property Control Supervisor.

Michael was selected for his immediate response, quick and thorough investigative work, and bravery, which led to the capture and charges being filed against a suspect in a Texas County murder in October.

On Oct. 10, 2019, despite not being assigned to enforcement-related duties, Michael quickly responded when he heard a call for a man in a ditch in Texas County. The victim, who had been shot, died as he was being transported to a hospital. An area school district went on lockdown as a result of the killing. Information Michael gathered at the scene led to a potential suspect in the killing. Michael then traveled to Howell County, where he conducted more interviews and investigated additional leads.

Michael then came across a vehicle driven by the suspect. Michael quickly took the suspect into custody after a short foot-pursuit. Michael continued to investigate and interview potential witnesses. That afternoon, he obtained first degree murder and unlawful use of a weapon warrants for 22-year-old Michael A. Nugent of Willow Springs.

Michael’s rapid response and his interviewing and investigative skills quickly resulted in murder charges being filed against the suspect. His quick apprehension also led to the school district lifting its lockdown order.

Congratulations, Michael! You have set an outstanding example for your fellow team members throughout the Department of Public Safety!

Jason Stephens, of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, has been selected as the Department of Public Safety December 2019 Non-Sworn Employee of the Month. Jason is a Communications Operator Trainee at Troop D in Springfield.

Jason is being recognized for going above and beyond his assigned work responsibilities and the care and concern with which he responded to a call for help from a member of the public concerning a scam that would cost a family more than $9,000.

In August, Jason was working at the front desk of Troop D headquarters. He received a call from an elderly woman who said her husband had shipped $9,300 in cash to a person they did not know. The couple had been instructed to hide the cash in a magazine and ship it to a person in Maryland using UPS.

The scam victims were from outside the Troop D region and their money was headed to another state, but the woman was desperate for assistance. She had tried repeatedly to reach someone at UPS, with no success. Jason helped the caller get the UPS tracking number for the package. He then obtained the telephone number for the UPS receiving location. Utilizing this phone number, the woman was able to reach a UPS employee in Maryland, stop delivery of the package, and get the money returned.

Jason also reported how the elderly couple had been preyed upon to the local sheriff’s office in an attempt to begin an investigation.

Jason had taken a broad view of the role of a Highway Patrol Communications Operator. Acting decisively and on his own because of concern for the elderly victims, he had taken the time to understand the caller’s situation, he tracked the package, and then provided the caller with the necessary information to stop delivery and recover the family’s money.

Thank you, Jason, for your successful work to assist vulnerable victims who had been taken advantage of. You have set an excellent example of resourceful customer service for your teammates throughout the Department of Public Safety!

Shelby Lage, of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, has been selected as the Department of Public Safety November 2019 Non-Sworn Employee of the Month. Shelby is a Criminal Intelligence Analyst in the Missouri Information and Analysis Center.

Shelby is being recognized for her incredible work ethic, attention to detail, and dedication during this summer’s Operation HOPE (Helping Oppressed People Escape). Operation HOPE was a three-day statewide effort to ensure the safety and well-being of Missouri foster children.

More than 100 federal, state and local law enforcement officers, and members of other organizations were involved in this massive effort that located and recovered 23 runaways, rescuing many from abhorrent conditions.  

Beginning on Aug. 6, Shelby voluntarily traveled across the state as an essential part of the Operation HOPE team. She was always among the first to arrive at the operation command posts and did not leave until operations concluded for the night. Working with such a large number of investigative teams, along with requests for information and leads on all the cases would have overwhelmed most people. However, Shelby was calm, professional and highly organized throughout the operation.

Shelby made sure that all follow-up work was competed and everyone got the care and attention they deserved. Shelby’s work was not only exemplary, she played a vital role in this large operation that successfully recovered 23 children. 

Thank you, Shelby, for your outstanding work to protect Missouri’s young people. You’ve set a remarkable example of public service for your teammates throughout the Department of Public Safety!

Joshua L. Dunmire, of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, has been selected as the Department of Public Safety October 2019 Sworn Employee of the Month. Joshua is a Trooper assigned to Troop I, Zone 9, Crawford County.

Joshua, a member of the Patrol since 2013, was selected for his strong work ethic and dedication to duty, which have made a major impact in reducing crime in Missouri. 

On March 18, 2019, Joshua stopped a car for traffic violations while working a special assignment on Interstate 70 in Saline County. While talking with the driver, Joshua realized the driver's itinerary was implausible and suspected criminal activity. Joshua developed probable cause and conducted a search of the vehicle. As a result, 14.5 pounds of raw marijuana, 47 vacuum-sealed packages of THC oil cartridges, 4,700 THC vape cartridges (10 pounds of THC oil), about four pounds of THC-infused edibles, and about one pound of marijuana cigars laced with hashish were seized.

On March 29, 2019, Joshua stopped a vehicle on Interstate 44 in Crawford County. Circumstances related to the traffic stop led Joshua to ask for and receive consent to search the vehicle. As a result, almost one pound of Ecstasy pills, $1,200 cash, and 21 grams of marijuana were seized.

During the month of March 2019, Joshua made 33 criminal arrests, including 23 drug arrests. He also arrested six motorists for driving while intoxicated and made nine warrant arrests.

Congratulations, Joshua! You have set an outstanding example for your fellow team members throughout the Department of Public Safety!

Abby Howard, of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, has been selected as the Department of Public Safety October 2019 Non-Sworn Employee of the Month. Abby is a Communications Operator II in Troop H and has been with the Patrol for four years.
 
Abby was selected for her life-saving actions when a delivery person collapsed in a box store. On Aug. 2, 2019, after working her overnight shift at Troop H Headquarters, Abby went shopping for school supplies for her children at the Walmart Supercenter in St. Joseph. When a man delivering Pepsi products collapsed, Abby immediately left her cart and belongings and went to his aid.

Abby determined the man was unresponsive and called 9-1-1. Emergency personnel gave her instructions over the phone, helping Abby administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation to the victim. She performed CPR for about 10 minutes until paramedics arrived and relieved her. The victim was transported to Mosaic Hospital. He responded to treatment and was released to recuperate at home after being hospitalized for nine days.

Doctors told the victim’s family that the initial first aid Abby provided saved the man's life.

Congratulations, Abby, for your outstanding commitment to public safety – on duty and off – and the example you have set for other team members throughout the Department of Public Safety!

Lori Blatter and Linda Olsen, of the State Emergency Management Agency, have been selected as the Department of Public Safety September 2019 Non-Sworn Employees of the Month. 

During historic flooding in 2019, which led to two federal disaster declarations, Lori and Linda displayed tireless dedication to affected Missouri communities across the state. Lori and Linda traveled much of the state, often working nights and weekends, to assist National Flood Insurance Program-participating communities deal with what became Missouri’s longest-lasting flood event in state history. They attended community meetings to answer questions from residents and local leaders; they acted as liaisons between participating Missouri communities and the NFIP.

In addition, Lori and Linda participated in many Multi-Agency Resource Center that were held in flooding-impacted communities. There they assisted with NFIP compliance questions and provided information about the NFIP claims process.

Whenever NFIP-participating communities are affected by flooding, SEMA’s Floodplain Management Section must quickly and efficiently carry out a series of critical tasks to ensure that insured residents receive the assistance to which they’re entitled and so that NFIP program regulations are followed. SEMA was able to accomplish this in 2019 because Lori and Linda had built such a strong program foundation in advance, and had become subject matter experts on the NFIP.

Congratulations, Lori and Linda, for your outstanding efforts and the example you have set for your co-workers throughout the Department of Public Safety!

Barbara M. Littrell, of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, has been selected as the Department of Public Safety September 2019 Sworn Employee of the Month. Barbara, a nine-year Patrol veteran, is an investigator with the Division of Drug and Crime Control in Troop B.

Barbara was selected for her extremely thorough and relentless work to reunite a father and his missing daughter.

In July 2013, a woman gave birth to a daughter in Boone County, Missouri. The father was Tyler Bozeman. Days after the child’s birth, the mother left the state and cut off all contact with Bozeman. Bozeman spent years trying to locate his daughter. In 2015, a Boone County court granted Bozeman full custody of the child.

In 2016, Bozeman contacted the Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control about his daughter; Barbara was assigned to the case. Beginning with virtually no leads, Barbara would devote much of the next three years to attempting to locate the child. In May 2018, she obtained an arrest warrant for the mother for child abduction. Still unaware of the girl’s location, Barbara reached out to the U.S. Marshals Service, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and other agencies. 

Barbara finally obtained a search warrant for the Boone County residence of one of the mother's relatives. During a June 2019 search, information was obtained connecting mother and child to rural North Carolina. Barbara hurriedly coordinated law enforcement efforts in North Carolina; shortly thereafter, investigators in Cherokee County, N.C. arrested the mother and recovered the child. The mother had been using an assumed name for years.

On June 13, 2019, Bozeman and his daughter were reunited. She would turn six-years-old the following month.
Because of Barbara’s tireless, indefatigable investigative efforts over a three-year period, a father and daughter were reunited. If not for Barbara’s determination, they might never have met.

Congratulations, Barbara! You have set an outstanding example for your co-workers throughout the Department of Public Safety.

Ron Broxton, of the State Emergency Management Agency, has been selected as the Department of Public Safety August 2019 Non-Sworn Employee of the Month. 

For more than five years, Ron has served as SEMA’s Recovery Division Manager, a critical position each time Missouri is impacted by a natural disaster. Ron is solely responsible for coordinating the collection of data and preparing the official request – a highly structured, technical document – for the state to receive a Presidential Disaster Declaration. A disaster declaration typically means tens of millions of dollars in federal assistance will become available to help Missouri communities recover from everything from flooding to ice storms.

In 2019, Missouri has dealt with multiple rounds of river flooding, flash flooding and tornadoes and severe storms. As a result, the state received two different disaster declarations for flooding and severe storms within two months based on Ron’s documentation. Presidential disasters were declared for Missouri on May 20 and July 9.

Despite this demanding task, Ron makes himself available to all local jurisdictions with questions and to support their requests for inclusion in disaster declarations. He routinely alters or cancels family activities to meet the demands of this critical position.

Ron’s knowledge and understanding of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s many recovery and mitigation programs also make him an invaluable asset to SEMA. Ron manages SEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program, Flood Mapping Section and Disaster Mitigation Section. 

Congratulations, Ron, for your outstanding efforts and the example you have set for your co-workers throughout the Department of Public Safety!

*Named Missouri State Employee of the Month for September 2019

Blake D. Wunderlich, of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, has been selected as the Department of Public Safety August 2019 Sworn Employee of the Month. Blake, a corporal in Troop E in Poplar Bluff, is assigned to investigating and interdicting violent criminals, including gang members, who are often involved in dangerous confrontations with rival gang factions. These confrontations also endanger innocent bystanders.

Blake was selected for his attention to detail, investigative abilities and willingness to insert himself into dangerous situations to reduce violent crime.  

On Oct. 20, 2018, while patrolling in an area of Charleston, Mo. with high violent crime rates, Blake stopped a vehicle with four men inside. Blake’s suspicion of criminal activity led him to search the vehicle and the discovery of a stolen handgun. All four occupants of the vehicle, who are suspected gang members, were arrested for various offenses. One of them, Davian Taylor was indicted federally for a weapons offense, and is still at large.

Blake worked with the Charleston Department of Public Safety and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Violent Offender Task Force

The investigation is still ongoing, but has already resulted in a second federal indictment against another man in the vehicle. Blake’s thoroughness in this case took a gun out of the hands of a convict and made Charleston safer.

Congratulations, Blake! You have set an outstanding example for your co-workers throughout the Department of Public Safety.

Kevin Virgin has been selected as the Department of Public Safety July 2019 Non-Sworn Employee of the Month. Kevin is the Statewide Law Enforcement Mutual Aid Coordinator in the Missouri Office of Homeland Security.

Kevin, a Marine veteran with 16 years of law enforcement experience, excels in his day-to-day responsibilities of working with law enforcement agencies across the state to strengthen coordination, collaboration and statewide law enforcement mutual assistance planning.

An Eldon resident, Kevin is being recognized for his outstanding efforts in response to the May 22 tornado that struck Eldon, causing widespread destruction. As severe storms swept across the state that night, Kevin was communicating with law enforcement contacts about conditions and resource needs. He then shared, in real-time, important information he was gathering with the State Emergency Operations Center.

Kevin’s role changed to first responder and an on-scene coordinator after tornado sirens sounded in Eldon. After sheltering in his own home, which was not damaged, he headed out to assess the damage around town. At times riding with Eldon Police Chief Brian Kidwell, Kevin requested fire service mutual aid resources to assist with search and rescue operations. Seven surrounding departments would respond and support local responders.

Kevin also requested Missouri State Highway Patrol assistance, and troopers quickly arrived and helped secure the tornado impact zone and assisted with traffic control.

He also stressed the urgent need for utility crews, not just to restore power, but to clear downed power lines and utility poles, which were slowing response operations.

Kevin then worked alongside first responders through the night, providing valuable support.

Congratulations, Kevin, for your outstanding efforts and the example you have set for your co-workers throughout the Department of Public Safety!

John Mapes, an Agent with the Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Control, has been selected as the Department of Public Safety July 2019 Sworn Employee of the Month.

John, a 10-year law enforcement veteran, is being recognized for his fine investigative work, which led to regulatory action halting the sale of unregistered wines that endangered the public.

As an ATC Agent, John’s duties include conducting inspections of licensed alcohol retailers, which includes checking to ensure alcohol products are properly labeled and registered, as required by state and federal law. Registration requires lab testing to help ensure public safety.

In March, while conducting a routine retail inspection, John found wine bottles that were not properly labeled. John initiated an investigation, seized the unregistered wine bottles and placed them in the ATC evidence room. The following month, one of the glass wine bottles exploded, spraying shattered glass all over the evidence room.

Understanding the imminent risk to the public, John quickly contacted the wine manufacturer and obtained a list of retailers selling the wine, to get the bottles off the shelves. He then assisted in getting warnings out to the public through a news release and social media posts.

As the investigation continued, ATC learned of other instances of the manufacturer’s wines exploding. More than 15 unregistered products were discovered.

The Department of Health and Senior Services and federal regulators joined the investigation. Unregistered products were embargoed and destroyed. The ATC probe widened and alleged the manufacturer had continued to sell unregistered wines. In June, the Missouri Attorney General went to court to block the wine manufacturer from continuing to operate, alleging it was a public nuisance, and seeking restitution for retailers and consumers who had purchased the wines. 

Congratulations, John, for advancing ATC’s efforts to protect the public and the outstanding example you have set for your co-workers throughout the Department of Public Safety!

Tina Schirmer, a Unit Manager with the Missouri Veterans Commission, has been selected as the Department of Public Safety June 2019 Non-Sworn Employee of the Month. 

Tina, who works at MVC’s Cape Girardeau Veterans Home, recently acted quickly and heroically during a potential emergency situation. A veteran was being dropped off by a friend in the home’s parking lot and was briefly left unattended in the truck. The veteran, who was a special care unit veteran, moved into the driver's seat and began driving the vehicle erratically.

Tina witnessed the situation from the other side of the parking lot and, understanding the danger, immediately went to the veteran’s aid. Despite the risk of harm to herself, Tina hopped into the truck, managed to put the vehicle in park and removed the keys. Tina’s action prevented the veteran from harming himself or anyone else in the area.

It was another example of how Tina keeps a watchful eye at the Cape Girardeau Veterans Home, motivated by her dedication and compassion for the veterans in the home’s care.

Congratulations, Tina for your outstanding efforts and the example you have set for your co-workers throughout the Department of Public Safety!

Keaton L. Ebersold, with the Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop H, St. Joseph, has been selected as the Department of Public Safety June 2019 Sworn Employee of the Month. Keaton is a trooper assigned to Troop H, Zone 1 (Atchison and Holt counties)

Keaton was chosen for his decisive and courageous actions.

On Jan. 22, 2019, Keaton responded to a possible rolling domestic case on I-29 in Atchison County. The Rock Port Police Department was also at the scene. A truck driver exited the vehicle with his hands up saying a woman in the cab forced him at gunpoint to drive north after he had stopped to assist a motorist at a traffic crash.

Keaton went to the passenger side; the Rock Port officer approached the driver side. The woman had her left arm around a small child and held a flare gun pointed at the child’s head in her right hand. Keaton opened the passenger door and attempted to speak with the woman. The suspect pointed the flare gun at Keaton as he attempted to speak with her, before pointing it back toward the child.

Then, as the Rock Port officer spoke to the suspect, the woman lowered the flare gun slightly. Keaton immediately lunged inside the vehicle and wrapped his left hand around the hammer of the flare gun to lock it in place. He gained control of the flare gun and threw it out of the truck.

After a lengthy struggle, the woman was taken into custody and the child was safely removed from the truck. The suspect was not injured. Keaton sustained minor cuts to his hand during the altercation

Congratulations, Keaton! You have set an outstanding example for your co-workers throughout the Department of Public Safety.

*Named Missouri State Employee of the Month for July 2019

Dawn Urban, with the Division of Fire Safety, has been selected as the Department of Public Safety May 2019 Non-Sworn Employee of the Month.

Dawn has been an accountant with the Division of Fire Safety since 2001, and has taken on greater responsibilities and been promoted because of her strong skillset, attention to detail and team attitude.

Recently, when there were vacancies in the division’s Boiler and Pressure Vessel Program, Dawn stepped in to handle accounting responsibilities, assist field staff, and answer calls from the public and industry partners. Dawn did all these things without missing a beat with her own responsibilities as DFS administrative accountant.

Because of previous experience in the Boiler and Pressure Vessel Program, Dawn was able to hit the ground running, but she was almost immediately saddled with two large, extremely detailed and time sensitive high-level special projects. Dawn was unfazed, combed through the numbers, corrected inaccuracies and reformulated information that could have been confusing.

In her own position, Dawn has reorganized employee expense account filing and management of the division’s vehicles. In short, Dawn is described as the complete team player – hard working, a critical thinker with a positive attitude that raises everyone’s game! 

Congratulations, Dawn! You have set an outstanding example for your co-workers throughout the Department of Public Safety

John J. West, with the Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop E, Poplar Bluff, has been selected as the Department of Public Safety May 2019 Sworn Employee of the Month. John is a corporal assigned to Troop E, Zone 1 (Butler and Ripley counties).

John was chosen for his initiative, resourcefulness and professionalism, which likely saved a woman’s life.

On Feb. 8, 2019, John overheard the Poplar Bluff Police Department dispatch a call regarding an armed subject inside a residence. He then heard that Poplar Bluff officers arrived at the scene and shortly afterward those officers advised that shots had been fired.

John responded and, equipped with his first aid kit, entered the residence. He found one person deceased and two others injured. John and a Poplar Bluff officer began treating the more seriously injured patient by applying direct pressure, creating a makeshift tourniquet, because the tourniquet in the first-aid kit was not large enough, and packing a gunshot wound in the neck of an injured woman.

John then assisted paramedics move the patient into an ambulance. The patient might have bled to death if not for John’s forethought and swift action.

Congratulations, John! You have set an outstanding example for your co-workers throughout the Department of Public Safety.

Kasey L. Green, with the Missouri State Highway Patrol's Training Academy, has been selected as the Department of Public Safety April 2019 Non-Sworn Employee of the Month.

Since 2016, Kasey has been the food service manager for the training academy kitchen, which serves meals to thousands of students each year – both Patrol recruits and others from around the state attending academy training classes.

Kasey is being recognized for the management techniques, efficiencies and healthy diet options he has brought to the academy food service. By closely tracking food usage, preference and expenses, the food service was able to reduce food expenditures by 33 percent within two years.

While bringing a variety of options to the menu, Kasey has continued to reduce unit costs.

Kasey knows his staff and relies on their strengths. He leads by example, striving to improve the productivity, performance, knowledge, and abilities of his employees.

Congratulations, Kasey! You have set an outstanding example for your co-workers throughout the Department of Public Safety.

Bill Albus, an Investigator with the Division of Fire Safety, has been selected as the Department of Public Safety April 2019 Sworn Employee of the Month.

Bill, a 28-year Division of Fire Safety veteran, has conducted thousands of fire cause and origin investigations during his career. They have included serial arsons, homicides, and, the most difficult cases, child fatalities. His knowledge, experience and reputation are unmatched, and despite his seniority, he willingly assists other investigators during scheduled off days.

A training officer for many years, Bill has been working to pass on his expertise and highly professional approach to the job to the next generation off fire investigators.

Bill also serves his community as a dedicated volunteer firefighter with the Little Dixie Fire Protection District, rising to the rank of Assistant Fire Chief during his 40 years there. A member of the Fire Fighters Association of Missouri, Bill has faithfully served as a volunteer during the Fallen Fire Fighters Memorial Weekend services since their inception.

Prior to joining the Division of Fire Safety, Bill worked for the Audrain County Sheriff’s Office and the Mexico Department of Public Safety  for a total of 10 years.

Fire Investigator Bill Albus has set an exemplary example of public service for his fellow Department of Public Safety employees.

Tim Kempker and Liz Leuckel, with the Office of the Director’s Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Unit, have been selected as the Department of Public Safety's March 2019 Non-Sworn Employees of the Month.

Tim and Liz administer the Law Enforcement Support Office (LESO) Program, which gets valuable surplus U.S. Department of Defense equipment to Missouri law enforcement agencies to help them better serve their communities. They’re being recognized for their outstanding efforts, efficiency and commitment to serving our local law enforcement partners.

The LESO Program allows Missouri law enforcement agencies to acquire useful law enforcement and emergency response equipment they would never be able to afford due to budget constraints. But responding to the 300 Missouri agencies now utilizing the program and complying with complicated federal oversight requirements takes long hours, patience and attention to detail. Tim and Liz meet all of these expectations while working in an off-site office of DPS.

Largely self-trained, Tim and Liz have administered the LESO Program for less than two years but continue to perform exceedingly well managing an inventory that now exceeds 6,300 pieces of property and $26 million in value.

Their efforts make Tim and Liz outstanding models for other DPS employees to emulate!

Gary E. Gundy, a Trooper with the Missouri State Highway Patrol, has been selected as the Department of Public Safety’s March 2019 Sworn Employee of the Month.

Gary is a road trooper assigned to central Missouri’s Troop F. He was chosen for the excellence he demonstrated during four separate high-stress incidents he handled over a one-week period in November, including capturing a suspected bank robber.

While off duty, Gary stopped on I-70 to check on what first appeared to be a medical emergency in a vehicle. It turned out to be a domestic assault in progress. Gary captured the fleeing suspect, subdued him and held him until police arrived.

Four days later, Gary was working a crash on I-70 when a multi-vehicle crash occurred, killing four people. Gary handled control of the scene, rerouting traffic, and the initial investigation with professionalism.

The next day, while handling paperwork from the crash, Gary learned of an armed bank robbery, responded, and quickly located and apprehended a suspect – who was half his age – after a foot pursuit.

One day later, Gary responded to a crash involving a commercial vehicle hauling car batteries. He handled the investigation and remained in contact with the Department of Natural Resources, tow company, and the contractor cleaning up the hazardous materials, even when off-duty.

Congratulations to Gary for the outstanding example he’s set for his co-workers throughout the Department of Public Safety!

Patti Tye, an Administrative Office Support Assistant at the State Emergency Management Agency, has been selected as the Department of Public Safety's February 2019 Non-Sworn Employee of the Month.

Patti, who is assigned to the Missouri Emergency Response Commission, was chosen for her “get-it-done” attitude and problem-solving abilities.

Federal law requires many businesses and facilities that handle hazardous materials to file an annual Emergency and Hazardous Chemical Inventory called a Tier II Report. They must be filed in the online system by March 1 to provide first responders and the public with information about potential hazards.

To reduce past confusion about the Tier II online reporting process, Patti went to work and wrote in-depth, step-by-step filing instructions, including visuals. She then worked to create video tutorials, using her extensive knowledge of the system to walk users through the entire process. Patti appeared onscreen as part of two instructional videos and assisted with final production – one for first-time filers and another for returning users.

In the past, the MERC has been inundated with questions and issues as Tier II reporters attempted to complete the online reporting process. This year, because of Patti’s efforts, call volume dropped dramatically. The video tutorials also allowed the MERC team to focus its efforts on customer service, and meant the MERC was better able to serve Missourians.

Congratulations to Patti for the outstanding example she’s set for her co-workers throughout the Department of Public Safety!

Ashley Klempke, a Trooper with the Missouri State Highway Patrol, has been selected as the Department of Public Safety's February 2019 Sworn Employee of the Month.

Ashley, who is a road trooper in central Missouri’s Troop F, was chosen for the determination, initiative and compassion with which she approaches her responsibilities as a law enforcement officer and protector of the public.

In the early morning hours of October 2018, Ashley responded to a report of two young girls walking along a highway in Cole County. The girls were dressed only in pajamas and had no shoes. While other agencies were skeptical of the girls’ allegations of long-term abuse, Ashley insisted on conducting a thorough investigation, including a medical evaluation.

The medical evaluations supported the girls’ claims of severe abuse, as did forensic interviews and a search warrant executed at their residence. As a result of Ashley’s effort, a total of six children were placed in protective custody and both parents were criminally charged.

Ashley carried out a very thorough investigation, including 16 interviews and the execution of multiple search warrants. If not for Ashley’s dedication, perseverance and compassion, the young victims would still be subjected to abuse.

Ashley’s pursuit of justice in this case also led to the Missouri State Troopers’ Association “adopting” the two girls for Christmas. They enjoyed a pizza party and donated presents for the holidays.

Congratulations to Ashley for the outstanding example she’s set for her co-workers throughout the Department of Public Safety!

*Named Missouri State Employee of the Month for March 2019

Daren Dorris, a maintenance technician with the Department of Public Safety's Missouri Veterans Commission, has been selected as the department's January 2019 Non-Sworn Employee of the Month.

Daren, who works at the St. Louis Missouri Veterans Home, was selected for his outstanding work ethic, leadership and "do-it-all" abilities as a maintenance department technician. He has demonstrated proficiency in many areas of maintenance at the St. Louis Home, including plumbing, floor installation, painting, and wall repairs.

Recently after the St. Louis Home sustained tornado damage, Daren quickly went to work – securing shingles, ridge caps, and installing a network of tarps as a stopgap measure to prevent further damage to more than 40 areas of the roof at the facility.

Daren also frequently comes to work outside normal working hours to complete essential repairs. He has conducted after-hours repairs to the kitchen area which prevented downtime to the dietary department. He also worked late nights to test fire suppression systems and participate as a member of the wheelchair audit team to ensure Veterans are both safe and as comfortable as possible.

Daren has been an employee in the maintenance department at the Missouri Veterans Home – St. Louis since 2005.

Congratulations to Daren for the outstanding example he’s set for his co-workers throughout the Department of Public Safety!

David L. Johnson, a trooper with the Department of Public Safety's Missouri State Highway Patrol — Troop D, has been selected as the department's January 2019 Sworn Employee of the Month.

In June 2018, David attended specialized training involving interdiction methods to protect children. Within the next three months, he arrested five suspects for charges involving possession of child pornography, failing to register as a sex offender, and violating terms of their sentence.

In one case, David stopped a car for following too close on Missouri Highway 13 in Polk County. His interviewing technique during the traffic stop led to the arrest of the driver for possessing child pornography and failure to register as a sex offender.

In another incident, while off-duty with his family, he observed suspicious behavior by a subject in a vehicle at the same park. After he returned to work, David followed up with the registered owner, identified him as the driver of the vehicle, and found he was a registered sex offender who was restricted from being at a public park. This same suspect had initially failed to list his vehicle in his sex offender registry information.

Since June, the Patrol has conducted the 16-hour Interdiction for the Protection of Children training in all nine troops. It concentrates on identifying signs during a traffic stop that a child might be in danger. A total of 307 troopers have completed the training. Since being trained, troopers have initiated a total of 22 investigations.

David recognizes there are many nuances to this type of investigative method and continues to refine his technique.

Congratulations to David for the outstanding example he’s set for his co-workers throughout the Department of Public Safety!