DPS Team Members of the Month
May Sworn Team Member of the Month
Eric A. Goans
Trooper
Missouri State Highway Patrol
May Non-Sworn Team Member of the Month
Sean Matteson
Senior Veterans Service Officer
Missouri Veterans Commission
Trooper Eric A. Goans, of Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop I, is the DPS Sworn Team Member of the Month for May 2025 for his vigilance and thoroughness during what could have been a routine traffic stop for excessive speed.
In May 2024, Eric stopped a driver for traveling at 99 miles an hour on Interstate 44 in Laclede County. He observed multiple clues that led him to investigate further – a handgun, the driver’s nervousness, alarmingly vague answers to his questions. Eric requested that the driver accompany him to his patrol vehicle for further investigation. Through thorough questioning, he learned the driver was convinced the CIA had assassinated her husband, the government was hunting her, and that she had a desire to “[k]ill people that are waging a war” on her life.
A consent to search the vehicle led to the discovery of a semi-automatic rifle, loaded magazines for the rifle and handgun, a trauma first aid kit and medical supplies and a two- to-three day supply of food. Eric arrested the driver and transported her to jail, where she was placed on a 24-hour hold.
Eric’s professionalism and commitment caused him to go much further than simply issuing a traffic citation. Instead, by investigating, he stopped a dangerous person with the means, motivation and state of mind that could have led to a mass shooting.
Sean Matteson, a Senior Veterans Service Officer in the Missouri Veterans Commission’s St. Robert office, is the DPS Non-Sworn Team Member of the Month for May 2025. Sean was chosen for his deep commitment to serving veterans, particularly through training new veterans service officers and his work to improve MVC’s process for appealing claims that are denied by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
The St. Robert Veterans Service Office recently had two new VSOs come aboard after two of the four positions were vacant. As the most experienced VSO, Sean patiently trained the two new VSOs, which typically takes three to four months, and continues to advise them as they gain more experience.
Sean also undertook a review of old cases of appeals of veteran benefit denials that had gone before the Department of Veterans Affairs and found some appeals had been submitted without any evidence to support the claim. He then recommended that MVC implement a vetting process that uses senior VSOs and MVC leadership to review and validate appeals before they are filed. The Veterans Service Program is now reviewing Sean’s recommended training for this process and plans to implement it in the near future.
Sean's dedication to serving veterans, his positive attitude and his willingness to take on additional work make him a role model of the entire MVC team!
Congratulations to all the 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.