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Colonel Keathley has four agency strategies he intends to focus on for the future of the Patrol.

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On September 1, 2006, Colonel James F. Keathley was appointed superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol following the retirement of Colonel Roger D. Stottlemyre. Colonel Keathley was employed by the Patrol as a weight inspector on March 1, 1977, and then was appointed to the 50th Patrol Recruit Class in 1979. He has lived in Caruthersville, Sikeston, Marble Hill, and Jefferson City.

Colonel Keathley believes deeply in the Patrol's mission, which is to serve and protect all people by enforcing laws and providing services to ensure a safe and secure environment. However with his appointment and the support of his new staff, the methods used to carry out the Patrol's mission will vary. Colonel Keathley and his staff conveyed this message to each and every Patrol employee during the month of October at troop meetings held around our state.

Colonel Keathley has four agency strategies he intends to focus on for the future of the Patrol. Training within the Patrol will also mirror his strategies:

Traffic Enforcement -- Reduce Fatalities and Injuries -- Aggressive drivers cause accidents and have a negative impact on safe drivers. Drunk drivers kill over 250 people each year in Missouri. There is no tolerance for drunk or impaired driving. Seat belt compliance in Missouri has gone down by 2.3%. The Patrol will continue the zero tolerance for seat belt violators. Over 100 lives could be saved each year if everyone would wear a seat belt. Speed enforcement, identifying criminals during traffic stops, and construction zone/work zone enforcement are all important methods to protecting the motoring public and our highway workers. The mere presence of a trooper on our highways has a positive effect on traffic safety and driver awareness.

Crimes Against Persons and Property -- We intend to increase our Division of Drug and Crime Control officer compliment to provide better service in fighting and investigating crime. We will continue to encourage our officers to look beyond the initial traffic stop for other criminal activity. Quality traffic stops result in criminal arrests, and we will continue our cooperative efforts with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to better protect our citizens.

Homeland Security -- Homeland Security requires an understanding and participation in the intelligence gathering and disseminating process. Continued exercise in preparedness, command level accountability, and statewide situational awareness are a must in today's world. Missouri's 32,000 miles of roadways and bridges are key economic assets, as our state's transportation system is the heartland of our nation's infrastructure. It is the Highway Patrol's responsibility to safeguard this vital system.

The Missouri Information Analysis Center (MIAC) under Colonel Keathley's direction is now staffed 24/7 and is our state's fusion center. All public safety information and intelligence is monitored and disseminated to the proper agencies and personnel from the MIAC 24 hours a day.

Departmental Management -- "I am extremely honored and humbled to be selected by Governor Matt Blunt to lead this great agency. For 75 years, the Missouri State Highway Patrol has served and protected the citizens of Missouri. I pledge this continued commitment during my tenure as superintendent," said Colonel Keathley. "I promise all Patrol employees and Missouri citizens I will work diligently to continue to make this organization an agency that is progressive, accountable, trusted, and respected. The Patrol's budget is primarily from the highway fund, appropriated by the general assembly from a portion of the 17 cents per gallon sales tax on gasoline, driver's license/registration fees, and sales tax on motor vehicles. I pledge to Missourians that the Patrol will show accountability when planning for and spending these precious tax dollars."

Colonel Keathley's business plan and departmental management philosophy is designed to reflect accountability and efficiency at all levels within the agency. "Our decisions are based on positive answers from the following questions: Is it moral? Is it legal? Is it ethical? Does it make business sense and does it make common sense? Will it assist us in completing our mission?" Colonel Keathley shared this message along with his leadership style with his commanders and later with all Patrol employees, following his appointment to head the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

The cornerstone of the Patrol's enforcement efforts has always been and will continue to be traffic safety and enforcement. Again, our four strategic issues are: traffic safety, crimes against persons and property, homeland security, and department management. Every Patrol employee contributes to at least one of these strategies during each workday. "I sincerely appreciate the ongoing efforts of all Patrol employees to work in unison to make the Missouri State Highway Patrol the premier state law enforcement agency in the country."