2024 Team Member of the Month Archives

Chris E. Leach, a Corporal in Troop E of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, is the March 2024 DPS Sworn Team Member of the Month for his swift action to save the life of a motorist.

On the morning of Oct. 17, 2023, Chris was on patrol on Route B in Butler County when he noticed a pickup truck stopped on the shoulder of the road. Chris activated his emergency lights, approached the vehicle, and found the 82-year-old driver slumped over the steering wheel. He was not able to move his right arm or leg and was drooling. Chris put the vehicle into park because the driver was not able to. He then requested an ambulance and contacted the driver’s wife to explain what had occurred. Butler County EMS transported the driver to Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center.

The medical center later advised that because Chris had acted quickly, medical personnel had been able to administer lifesaving treatment and increase the chances of recovery. Four days later, the driver came to Troop E headquarters and reported to Chris’ supervisor that he had pulled his vehicle over when he began experiencing stroke-like symptoms with the hope that a trooper would find him. He said, “Corporal Leach is a credit to your organization and the reason I’m alive.”

Quick, reliable emergency communications make a tremendous difference no matter the emergency. Yet, when 911 calls were transferred to the Patrol from local agencies, the Patrol was not receiving the basic 911 data, including location and Caller ID, from each call. This forced Patrol communication officers to question callers for the same information already provided to the local Public Safety Answering Point.

In Fiscal Year 2023, the Patrol received funding to allow it to become a secondary PSAP and receive the call location, Caller ID and all the information already provided to 911. But the communications system had to be designed, built and successfully implemented. Section Chief James Parks took the primary role of project manager; Section Chief Brad Coffey had the lead in getting the necessary equipment set up and integrated into the existing systems in place in the troops; and Technical Support Manager Chris Wilde took the lead in integrating the existing phone system into the new 911 call-handling system.

James, Brad and Chris each had separate pieces of this complex project but they worked seamlessly together. The project was also a success because of how smoothly they worked with each of their teams and the input and expertise they sought out from everyone involved in each facet of the communications system, from telecommunication officers to call-handling vendors.

The system now in place eliminates the need for callers to repeat information, expedites responses and means better outcomes when people call 911.

Thomas L. Hall, a Sergeant in Troop D of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, is the February 2024 DPS Sworn Team Member of the Month.

On Sept. 18, 2023, Thomas was working stationary traffic enforcement on I-44 in Greene County, when he observed a rented box truck traveling well over the speed limit. After stopping the vehicle, the driver claimed that he was moving his personal belongings from Arizona to Michigan. Further investigation revealed the driver had made the same trip just days earlier. The driver’s statements became contradictory and suspicious.

The driver consented to a search of the truck, during which Thomas found a total of 1,668 pounds of processed hydroponic marijuana in vacuum-sealed bundles. It is believed to be one of the largest roadside seizures of hydroponic marijuana in Missouri, with a potential street value of $5 million. Information gathered by the Patrol linked the shipment to illegal marijuana growing operations in at least two states. I-44 is a major thoroughfare for the shipment of illegal drugs. Thomas’s stalwart attention to his duty prevented almost one ton of illegal drugs from being distributed.

The allegations are mere accusations and not evidence of guilt. Evidence in support of any charges would have to be presented before a court of competent jurisdiction whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

Henry Neurohr, a Senior Safety Inspector in the Division of Fire Safety, is the February 2024 DPS Non-Sworn Team Member of the Month.

Henry was selected for his professionalism, reliability and commitment to the safety of the public, which is demonstrated regularly through his work with local partners to ensure the safety of boilers and pressure vessels.

Henry, who is assigned to the Boiler and Pressure Vessel Safety Unit, was contacted by a local fire marshal about a boiler leaking in a building, which appeared to be a potential hazard. Henry responded the next business day and found the boiler to be in severe disrepair and in danger of catastrophic failure. Henry took the boiler out of service and made recommendations for a certified mechanic to complete work necessary to make the boiler safe. Henry’s prompt actions prevented a potential disaster, protecting those in and around the building.

The local fire marshal reported that this was just one of several instances in which Henry quickly responded and used his vast experience and expertise to avert a serious potential problem.

Corporal Dustin B. Reed, a member of the Missouri State Highway Patrol Division of Drug and Crime Control's Digital Forensics Investigative Unit, is the January 2024 DPS Sworn Team Members of the Month for his dedication and tenacity in solving a child exploitation case.

In June 2023, Dustin received a request from a local law enforcement agency for assistance identifying a suspect in a child exploitation case. Indiana State Police officers conducting a separate investigation had found a text conversation between their suspect and a person with a phone with a Missouri area code. Dustin’s investigation was stymied numerous times: the phone was a burner phone that could not be tracked and there were multiple email accounts that turned out to be fictitious. However, Dustin did not relent. Eventually, a suspect was tracked down and a search of his cellphone uncovered child pornography files. Dustin continued to investigate and obtained a search warrant for the suspect’s residence, which led to the discovery of thousands of files of child pornography on electronic devices.

The suspect was indicted on federal charges. The charges are mere accusations and not evidence of guilt. Evidence in support of the charges must be presented before a court of competent jurisdiction whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

Brian Weishahn, Auditor at the Missouri Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Control, is the January 2024 DPS Non-Sworn Team Member of the Month. Brian was selected because of his strong work ethic, efficiency and the impeccable quality of his work.

When Brian began working at ATC in September 2022, he had to quickly learn the intricacies of the auditing position and delve into an accumulation of reports from wine direct shippers. He proved to be a quick study with the ability to manage these responsibilities.

Brian had soon processed hundreds of audits and his work resulted in almost 450 violation reports involving out-of-state wine direct shippers. The detail and precision of his work also made the disciplinary process easy when administrative action against licensees was necessary.

Brian’s dedication and work with licensees, particularly related to out-of-state wine direct shippers, has resulted in greater compliance among shippers and reduced their future administrative costs. It has also increased state tax collections.