Missouri State Highway Patrol

The Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) is the highway patrol agency for Missouri and has jurisdiction all across the state. It is a division of the Missouri Department of Public Safety. Colonel Eric T. Olson has been serving as the 24th superintendent since March 15, 2019.[3]

Missouri State Highway Patrol
Patch of Missouri State Highway Patrol
Patch of Missouri State Highway Patrol
AbbreviationMSHP
MottoTogether Protecting Missouri's Citizens
Simul protegens Missouri scriptor Cives (Latin)
Agency overview
FormedApril 24, 1931 (1931-04-24)
Employees2,336.00 (as of 2021)[1]
Annual budget$366,805,718 (2021)
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdictionMissouri, U.S.
Missouri State Highway Patrol Troops
Size69,704 square miles (180,530 km2)
Population6,083,672 (2016)[2]
Legal jurisdictionMissouri Statewide
Governing bodyMissouri Department of Public Safety
General nature
Operational structure
Headquarters1510 East Elm Street Jefferson City, MO 65102
Troopers1,550 (as of 2020)[1]
Civilian employees1,289 (as of 2020)[1]
Director of MO DPS responsible
  • Sandy K. Karsten
Agency executives
Parent agencyMissouri Department of Public Safety
Facilities
Troops9
Dogs11 German Shepherds
Notables
Anniversary
  • April 24, 1931
Website
MSHP Website

In 1992, MSHP became the 10th state law enforcement agency to receive accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA).

Purpose

State laws pertaining to the Highway Patrol including its creation, powers, structure, mission and duties are specified in Chapter 43 of Missouri Revised Statutes (RSMo).[4] According to Chapter 43.025 RSMo: "The primary purpose of the highway patrol is to enforce the traffic laws and promote safety upon the highways. In addition the Missouri State Highway Patrol has responsibility in criminal interdiction which involves the suppression of marijuana, cocaine, and narcotics on the state's roads and highways including the Missouri Interstate System. As near as practicable all personnel of the patrol shall be used for carrying out these purposes." The MSHP has a criminal investigation division that investigates crimes statewide such as murder, robbery, burglary, rape and financial crimes.

Missouri State Highway Patrol officers (circa 1910)

Organization & Troops
A state trooper during the Ferguson unrest, September 2014

General Headquarters (GHQ) and the Law Enforcement Academy are located in Jefferson City, Missouri, the state capital.

The state is divided into nine Troops, with Troop headquarters and communications centers located in the following cities:

In addition, three of the Troops maintain service centers:

MSHP districts with their constituent troops and scale complexes
Troop A (Lee's Summit (Kansas City)[5] Troop B: (Macon)[6] Troop C:(Weldon Spring (St. Louis)[7] Troop D: (Springfield)[8] Troop E: (Poplar Bluff)[9] Troop F: (Jefferson City)[10] Troop G: (Willow Springs)[11] Troop H: (St. Joseph)[12] Troop I: (Rolla)[13]
Troop A serves 13 counties: Bates, Benton, Carroll, Cass,Clay, Henry, Jackson, Johnson, Lafayette, Pettis, Platte, Ray and Saline. Troop B serves 16 counties: Adair, Chariton, Clark, Knox, Lewis, Linn, Macon, Marion, Monroe, Putnam, Ralls and Randolph, Schuyler, Scotland, Shelby, Sullivan. Troop C serves 11 counties: Franklin, Jefferson, Lincoln, Perry, Pike, Saint Charles, St. Francois, Saint Louis, Ste. Genevieve, Warren and Washington. Troop D serves 18 counties: Barry, Barton, Cedar, Christian, Dade, Dallas, Greene, Hickory, Jasper, Lawrence, McDonald and Newton, Polk, Scotland, Shelby, Sullivan. Troop E serves 13 counties: Bollinger, Bulter, Dunklin, Iron, Madison, Mississippi, Cape Girardeau, New Madrid, Pemiscot, Ripley, Scott and Stoddard, Wayne. Troop F serves 13 counties: Audrain, Boone, Callaway, Camden, Cole, Cooper, Gasconade, Howard, Miller, Moniteau, Montgomery and Morgan, Osage.

Badge and rank structure

The Missouri State Highway Patrol is one of only five State Patrol forces that do not wear a badge on their uniform shirts. The Missouri State Highway Patrol uses a paramilitary rank structure and has the following ranks:[14]

Title Insignia Notes
Superintendent (rank of Colonel)
The Superintendent holds the rank of Colonel and is appointed by the Governor of Missouri. The Superintendent must be confirmed by the Missouri Senate
Assistant Superintendent (rank of Lieutenant Colonel)
The Assistant Superintendent holds the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and reports directly to the Superintendent (Colonel). The Lieutenant Colonel has authority over the bureau commanders and is appointed by the Colonel.
Major
Each of the six Majors is responsible for command of a bureau within the Highway Patrol and they are appointed by the Colonel.
Captain
A captain is generally a commander of one of the nine troops or many divisions within the agency.
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is the assistant commander of a troop or division.
Master Sergeant
A Master Sergeant is the supervisor of a group of troopers, corporals, and/or sergeants.
Sergeant
A Sergeant serves as a specialist or other non-supervisory capacity.
Corporal
Corporals are the first-line supervisors and are usually assigned as road supervisors within troops. In the absence of a Master Sergeant, they may act as the supervisor.
Trooper No Insignia Candidates successfully completing the academy and field training are appointed as troopers.
Trooper Cadet No Insignia The American Legion Trooper Cadet program provides an experience for young individuals who are passionate about our state and are interested in a career in law enforcement.

State Trooper (Recruit) is the initial rank of oncoming Missouri State Highway Patrol, held while undergoing training at the Missouri State Highway Patrol Law Enforcement Academy.[15]

Vehicles
A Dodge Charger police car in MSHP service.

The MSHP utilizes a variety of vehicles, including but not limited to, the Dodge Charger, Ford Police Interceptor Utility (Explorer), Ford F-150 and 250 series, Chevrolet Tahoe PPV, and the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and 2500 series. Both fully marked and semi-marked vehicles are used frequently. Colors include but not limited to: white, tan, blue, silver, black, gray, and maroon.

Weapons

Lethal Options:

Less Lethal Options:

Fallen Officers

31 Troopers have been killed while on duty since 1931 with one Highway Patrol member dying in World War II.[16][17]

The members are as follows:

Rank Name Date of Death Cause of Death Age Location
SergeantBenjamin Oliver Booth06-14-1933Shot and killed along with Boone County Sheriff Roger Wilson while manning a roadblock in an attempt to catch 2 bank robbers35Intersection of U.S. Highway 40 and U.S. Highway 63; just north of his residence in Columbia, Missouri
TrooperFred L. Walker12-03-1941Shot and killed while transporting 2 car thieves to jail; he failed to find a pistol on them and was shot going down the road33Near Ste. Genevieve and Bloomdale in Ste. Genevieve County
TrooperVictor O. Dosing12-07-1941Shot and killed in a cafe/apartment while helping Trooper Sam Graham, local officer John Love, and Justice of the Peace A.F. Stubbs arrest an Army Private wanted for murder34In the Coffee Pot Cafe one mile south of Galloway, Missouri and near Springfield, Missouri
TrooperJames D. Ellis10-16-1942Killed in a Japanese prisoner-of-war camp; the only Missouri State Highway Patrol Trooper to die in the military29Manila, Philippines
TrooperCharles P. Corbin09-15-1943Killed while on patrol with Public Service Commission Inspector Ed Bilyeau; a tractor trailer came into his lane and hit him head-on while on a narrow bridge27On U.S. Highway 71 north of Carthage, Missouri
TrooperRoss S. Creach12-12-1943Struck and killed by a speeding car while helping a tow truck get a tractor trailer out of a ditch24U.S. Highway 36, 5.5 miles west of Shelbina, Missouri in Shelby County
TrooperJohn N. Greim07-13-1945Killed in a plane crash during a pursuit along with the plane's owner32Just over the Missouri-Arkansas line near Corning, Arkansas
TrooperWayne W. Allman10-27-1955Killed in a car crash while en route to another crash34Intersection of Missouri State Route 35 and Missouri State Route B
TrooperJesse R. Jenkins10-14-1969Shot and killed during a court sentencing hearing29In the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office in Montgomery City, Missouri
TrooperGary W. Snodgrass02-21-1970Killed in a single car crash after losing control in a curve24On Missouri Highway 32; 7 miles east of Salem, Missouri in Dent County
TrooperWilliam R. Brandt06-12-1970Killed when tornado-like winds put his car into a bridge abutment23U.S. Highway 36 near Macon, Missouri
TrooperDennis H. Marriott06-13-1981Died from injuries sustained after being hit by a car during a traffic stop on 06-01-198136U.S. Highway 54 in Jefferson City, Missouri in Cole County
TrooperJames M. Froemsdorf03-02-1985Shot and killed while taking a wanted man to jail; the suspect got his hand free and stole Froemsdorf's gun35On I-55 near Brewer, Missouri
TrooperJimmie E. Linegar04-15-1985Shot and killed while on a traffic stop with Trooper Allen D. Hines31At the intersection of U.S. Highway 65 and Missouri Highway 86 south of Branson, Missouri
TrooperRussell W. Harper02-08-1987Shot and killed while on a traffic stop45East of U.S. Highway 65 and U.S. Highway 60 near Farm Route 189 in Greene County, Missouri
CorporalHenry C. Bruns02-16-1987Killed after the vehicle in which he was a passenger, lost control on the icy roadway and hit a bridge abutment41Missouri Highway 6 in Buchanan County
TrooperRobert J. Kolilis11-21-1988Struck and killed by a truck while investigating 2 stopped cars on the side of the road24On Missouri Route M in Washington County near Irondale, Missouri
CorporalMichael E. Webster10-02-1993Struck and killed by a drunk driver while on a traffic stop33On U.S. Highway 40 in Blue Springs, Missouri in Jackson County
SergeantRandy V. Sullivan02-17-1996Killed in a single car wreck after losing control and hitting trees while trying to pull over a speeding car40On Missouri Highway 72 in Madison County, 8 miles west of Fredericktown, Missouri
SergeantDavid C. May05-17-1999Killed in a helicopter crash while having a photographer take pictures of the ongoing local Special Olympics41Behind the Union Planter's Bank in Poplar Bluff, Missouri in Butler County
SergeantRobert G. Kimberling10-06-1999Shot and killed after pulling a suspect over who didn't pay for gas43On I-29 in St. Joseph, Missouri in Buchanan County
SergeantRobert A. Guilliams02-16-2001Killed after losing control in the rain while responding to a car crash41On I-55 in Pemiscot County approx. 16 miles north of the Missouri-Arkansas state line
TrooperKelly N. Poynter01-18-2002Struck and killed by a drunk driver while helping out at a car wreck27U.S. Highway 63 in Texas County; 2 miles south of Houston, Missouri
TrooperMichael L. Newton05-22-2003Struck by a truck and killed while sitting in his car with a driver he had pulled over25On I-70 near the 47 mile marker in Lafayette County
SergeantCarl D. "DeWayne" Graham, Jr.03-20-2005Shot and killed after an ambush at his residence as he just got home37Van Buren in Carter County, Missouri
TrooperRalph C. Tatoian04-20-2005Killed in a single car crash while responding to a manhunt for an armed bank robber in the Franklin County who shot at deputies in Gasconade County32On I-44 in Franklin County
CorporalJohn A. "Jay" Sampietro, Jr.08-17-2005Struck and killed by a vehicle while directing traffic at a car crash scene36On I-44 near Stafford in Webster County, Missouri
TrooperDonald K. "Kevin" Floyd11-22-2005Struck and killed by a truck while on a traffic stop45U.S Highway 60 approx. one mile east of Missouri Route MM in Texas County, Missouri
CorporalDennis E. Engelhard12-25-2009Struck and killed by a truck on the icy roadway while investigating an earlier crash49On I-44 east of Eureka, Missouri
SergeantJoseph G. Schuengel10-15-2010Killed in a helicopter crash47Near the intersection of Clarkson Road and Kehr Mills Road in St. Louis County
TrooperFrederick F. Guthrie, Jr.08-01-2011Drowned along with his K9, Reed, when they were swept away by high water while working Missouri River flood duty46In the area of Big Lake near Missouri Highway 118 and Missouri Highway 111 in Holt County, Missouri
K9Reed08-01-2011Drowned along with his handler, Trooper Frederick F. Guthrie, Jr., when they were swept away by high water while working Missouri River flood dutyN/AIn the area of Big Lake near Missouri Highway 118 and Missouri Highway 111 in Holt County, Missouri
TrooperJames M. Bava08-28-2015Killed in a single-car crash while trying to pursue a motorcycle25On Missouri Route FF, just east of Audrain County Road 977 in Audrain County, Missouri

Superintendents

The Missouri State Highway Patrol is headed by the Superintendent of the Highway Patrol, who is nominated by the Governor of Missouri and confirmed by the Missouri State Senate. The Superintendent of the Highway Patrol commands more than 1,356 troopers and 1,87 civilian support staff who help provide a full range of policing and public safety services to Missourian on behalf of the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

Superintendent Term began & Term Ended
Lewis Ellis1931–1933
B. Marvin Casteel1933–1939
Albert D. Sheppard (acting)1939–1940
William J. Ramsey (acting)1940–1941
M. Stanley Ginn1941–1944
Otis L. Wallis (acting)1944–1945
Hugh H. Waggoner1945–1949
David E. Harrison1949–1953
Hugh H. Waggoner1953–1957
Hugh H. Waggoner1957–1965
E.I. (Mike) Hockaday1965–1973
Sam S. Smith1973-1977
William A. Dolan (acting)1977-1977
Alvin (Al) R. Lubker1976–1981
Allen S. Whitmer1981–1982
Howard J. Hoffman1982–1988
John H. Ford1988–1989[18]
Clarence E. (Mel) Fisher1989–1993[18]
Fred M. Mills1993–1997[19]
Weldon L. Wilhoit1997–2001[19]
Roger D. Stottlemyre2001–2006[20]
James F. Keathley2006–2010[20]
Ronald K. Replogle2010–2015
J. Bret Johnson2015–2017
Sandra K. Karsten2017–2018
Eric T. Olson (acting)2018–2019
Eric T. Olson2019-present


See also

References
  1. USDOJ Statistics Archived 2008-11-20 at the Wayback Machine
  2. Bureau, US Census. "Search Results". www.census.gov.
  3. "MSHP News Release". notes.mshp.dps.mo.gov.
  4. "Missouri Revisor of Statutes - Revised Statutes of Missouri, RSMo, Missouri Law, MO Law". revisor.mo.gov.
  5. Staff. "Troop A". Missouri State Highway Patrol. Archived from the original on December 30, 2018. Retrieved May 31, 2012.
  6. Staff. "Troop B". Missouri State Highway Patrol. Retrieved May 31, 2012.
  7. Staff. "Troop C". Missouri State Highway Patrol. Retrieved May 31, 2012.
  8. Staff. "Troop D". Missouri State Highway Patrol. Retrieved May 31, 2012.
  9. Staff. "Troop E". Missouri State Highway Patrol. Retrieved May 31, 2012.
  10. Staff. "Troop F". Missouri State Highway Patrol. Retrieved May 31, 2012.
  11. Staff. "Troop G". Missouri State Highway Patrol. Retrieved May 31, 2012.
  12. Staff. "Troop H". Missouri State Highway Patrol. Retrieved May 31, 2012.
  13. Staff. "Troop I". Missouri State Highway Patrol. Retrieved May 31, 2012.
  14. Kidd, R. Spencer (2012). Uniforms of the U.S. State Police & Highway Patrols. lulu.com. p. 11. ISBN 978-1-4717-7729-5. OCLC 929822564.
  15. "MSHP Academy". mshp.dps.missouri.gov.
  16. "Ultimate Sacrifice". www.mshp.dps.missouri.gov.
  17. "Missouri State Highway Patrol, MO". The Officer Down Memorial Page (ODMP).
  18. "Patrol History by Decade - 1980-1989" (PDF). Missouri State Highway Patrol.
  19. "Patrol History by Decade - 1990-1999" (PDF). Missouri State Highway Patrol.
  20. "Patrol History by Decade - 2000-2009" (PDF). Missouri State Highway Patrol.
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