History of Division of Drug and Crime Control

Overview

On September 28, 1983, the Division of Drug and Crime Control was established after the 82nd Missouri General Assembly passed Senate Bill 294 and Governor Christopher S. Bond signed it into law. Before the signing of this bill, the primary focus of the Highway Patrol was to enforce traffic laws and to promote safety upon Missouri highways. The adoption of this bill changed the focus of the Patrol to include investigations of any suspected crime or criminal activity within the state. The 36 officers assigned to the Patrol's Criminal Investigation Division were reassigned to the Division of Drug and Crime Control, located at General Headquarters in Jefferson City. Prior to 1983, and the signing of Senate Bill 294, all criminal investigations were assigned to Intelligence and Investigations, Explosive Ordnance Disposal, and the Narcotics sections. There were usually two troopers in each troop assigned to criminal investigations.

1969

Prior to the creation of the Division of Drug and Crime Control, the Criminal Division handled investigative functions. Twenty-two officers were assigned to, or worked with, the Criminal Division during the first year of operation. Unit members were involved in an assortment of investigative assignments such as theft, burglary, robbery, polygraph examination, kidnapping, and murder. The Criminal Division contained the Motor Vehicle Theft and Information Section and the Criminal Records Section. The Criminal Records Section was removed from the Criminal Division in 1983.

1970

A Narcotics Unit was organized within the Intelligence and Investigation Section of the Criminal Division. Original members were instrumental in setting the standard for the success of the unit with their ability to infiltrate the structure of the illegal drug trade. The first undercover weapons issued were the Beretta Model 93 9mm semi- automatic pistols. The division also issued the High Standard 22 Magnum 2 shot Derringer and the AMT Back-up .380-caliber semi-automatic pistol. The Derringer and the .380 were initially issued in 1980, and the Beretta was issued sometime in the 1970s. These weapons were issued and used by the narcotics officers into the early 1990s.

1971

The Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit was formed. Members of this unit were tasked with assisting other agencies with explosions, arson investigations, explosives disposal, and the training programs related to these investigations.

1973

Established in 1973, the Executive Security Unit provided security for the governor and his family. The unit also provided security for visiting dignitaries and an acting governor when the governor was out of state. This unit later became known as the Governor's Security Division, but remained in the Criminal Bureau.

1982

During the 1970s and 1980s, most of the undercover officers remained in covert positions and many infiltrated criminal organizations. In 1982, the Criminal Investigation Bureau had established a covert business in Londell, MO, near the Franklin County and Jefferson County line. This business was called Road Hog's Auto Body and Sales. Members actually worked out of this fictitious chop shop.

1983

The 82nd Missouri General Assembly passed Senate Bill 294, on September 28, 1983, and Governor Christopher S. Bond signed it into law, creating the Division of Drug and Crime Control. Before the signing of this bill, the primary focus of the Highway Patrol had been to enforce traffic laws and to promote safety upon Missouri's highways. With the signing of Senate Bill 294, the Patrol's mission officially encompassed investigations of any suspected crime or criminal activity within the state.

Prior to the creation of the Division of Drug and Crime Control, the Criminal Division handled investigative functions. Investigative assignments included theft, burglary, robbery, polygraph examination, kidnapping, and murder. The Criminal Division contained the Motor Vehicle Theft and Information Section and the Criminal Records Section. The Criminal Records Section was removed from the Criminal Division with the creation of the DDCC.

Prior to the signing of Senate Bill 294, there were a total of 36 officers assigned to the Patrol's Criminal Investigation Division, consisting of only four sections: Executive Security, Intelligence and Investigations, Narcotics, and Motor Vehicle Theft and Information. At this time, the Division of Drug and Crime Control was structured with a central supervision concept and placed under the supervision of the assistant superintendent.

The Narcotics Section consisted of Patrol officers who conducted both overt and covert narcotic investigations. The investigations were made at the request of police departments, sheriff's departments, and federal agencies, but the number of investigation requests that were honored was restricted by labor and budgetary limitations. Marijuana was the major drug investigated by the Division of Drug and Crime Control at this point in time.

The Criminal Intelligence Section acted as an exchange for information regarding suspected criminal activity and information on specific individuals. This exchange of information was made with local, state, and federal agencies. This section also monitored all incoming reports that were criminal in nature. The work of this section remains much the same today, but with the technological advancement of computers and communications, this section's ability to query, gather, and disseminate information has revolutionized the ability for agencies to conduct investigations with greater ease and cooperation.

The Motor Vehicle Theft and Information Section of the Division of Drug and Crime Control provided a service to all law enforcement agencies in Missouri and throughout the nation by furnishing a variety of vehicle information. This section is located inside the Harry S. Truman State Office Building in Jefferson City, MO. During the first year, the Department of Revenue received and checked over one million title applications. Twelve stolen vehicles were recovered, 22 counterfeit titles were discovered, and 14 altered titles were seized because of their work.

The Criminal Investigation and Polygraph Section provided specialized investigative assistance to the Patrol's road officers, police departments, sheriff's departments, and federal agencies within their assigned areas.

The Executive Security Unit handled security for Missouri's governor and first family. In 1983, the unit would become the Governor's Security Division within the newly created Criminal Investigation Bureau.

1984

The Technical Services Section was established. This section provided electronic investigative assistance to all law enforcement agencies. It assisted investigators with the preservation of audio and video evidence and provides training, installation, and servicing of electronic equipment. This section also conducted electronic countermeasure investigations throughout the state. The division also increased its manpower to the Criminal Investigation and Polygraph Section to 26 members, five of which were assigned to polygraphs. The section's name was changed to the Field Investigators & Polygraph Examiners Section. One year later (1985), the Explosives Disposal Unit (now Bomb Squad) joined the section.

1985

Two members of the Highway Patrol were killed in the line of duty within a period of approximately six weeks. Division of Drug and Crime Control officers were involved in both investigations. Trooper James M. Froemsdorf was shot and killed on March 2, with his own gun in Perry County. Jerome Mallet was convicted and later executed (July 2001). Trooper Jimmie E. Linegar and Trooper Allen Hines were involved in a shooting with David C. Tate. Hines survived the shooting, while Trooper Jimmie Linegar became the 13th member of the Patrol to be killed in the line of duty. The work completed during the Linegar investigation was instrumental in the Christian Identity Covenant Sword and Arm of the Lord Compound raid in Northern Arkansas, which was later closed because of that investigation. David Tate was convicted and sentenced to life in the Missouri State Penitentiary.

The most notable changes to the division were the addition of the Missing Persons Section and the Lottery and Gaming Section. House Bill 366 called for the Patrol to be the central repository for all missing persons. Governor John Ashcroft signed this bill into law on July 19, 1985. Governor Ashcroft also signed Senate Bill 44 creating the Missouri State Lottery. This bill gave the Division of Drug and Crime Control authority to make investigations relative to gaming operations.

1986

The division investigated the Michael Wayne Jackson manhunt in 1986. Jackson was wanted in connection for several murders, abductions, thefts, and other acts of violence. Jackson killed himself in a barn in rural Warren County before he could be apprehended. The manhunt lasted for 11 days in September near Wright City, MO.

On September 9, 1986, a Pettis County deputy found the bodies of four men who had been murdered at the Marshall Junction Conservation Area in rural Saline County. The Troop A DDCC Unit assisted with the case. Donald E. Reese was questioned about the crimes and subsequently confessed. Reese later took police to the area where he had hidden the victims' wallets and the murder weapon. Reese received the death penalty, and his sentence was carried out in August 1997.

Troopers completed a yearlong undercover narcotics investigation into the El Forasteros Motorcycle gang. Members infiltrated the infamous gang and were able to make cases on many of the leaders. Nine members of the El Forasteros were eventually charged and sent to prison on drug and weapons-related offenses.

1987

Marijuana was still the most investigated drug the division worked. However, with the emergence of crack cocaine and the stronghold the Columbian drug cartel held over the illegal drug trade, cocaine was quickly becoming a priority for the Narcotics Section. Nearly 7,000 pounds of processed marijuana was seized, and 214 arrests were made because of investigations in the division. During a raid in St. Francois County, over 712 acres of land, a house, a mobile home, a boat, 30 weapons, 21 vehicles, and $11,469.34 were seized. A suspected clandestine methamphetamine drug lab was discovered during the search. Operation Cash Crop and the "Bad Weed" hotline were implemented.

February 8, 1987, Trooper Russell W. Harper was shot and killed by Glennon Paul Sweet. Trooper Harper was an 18-year-veteran of the Patrol who was shot and killed after pulling over a pickup truck east of Springfield. After an intensive investigation by the Patrol and Division of Drug and Crime Control investigators, Sweet was identified as the killer. He was discovered in a house just west of Springfield on February 10. Glennon Paul Sweet was found guilty of first-degree murder on December 12, 1987, and was later sentenced to death. Sweet was executed for the murder of Trooper Russell Harper in 1998.

1988

Cocaine has now become the most investigated drug by the Narcotics Section, making cannabis investigations second for the first time in the history of the Division. Eighty-seven cocaine related investigations were developed, followed by 71 cannabis and 69 stimulants.

The Criminal Intelligence Section became the INTERPOL liaison for the state of Missouri. Now, any member nation requesting investigative information generated from the state of Missouri would contact the Division of Drug and Crime Control. The division began producing the Crime Information Bulletin bimonthly, and distributed it nationwide.

1989

The state's new wiretap law was used for the first time in Missouri history during a murder investigation in Dunklin County. Several members of the Pharaohs motorcycle gang shot and killed a pledging member.

The Division of Drug and Crime Control continued to gain strength. Fifty officers were now assigned to the division. With the drug trade increase, on November 1, 1989, the Narcotics Section doubled in size.

Members assisted in the Raymond William and Faye Della Copeland investigation. The Copeland's were convicted of several grisly murders at their Livingston County farm in Troop H. Numerous male bodies were found buried at their home. Some of their victims were homeless men that the Copeland's located at a mission in Joplin, MO. After bringing the victims to their farm, they were exploited for financial reasons and then murdered. At the time of their convictions, the Copelands were the oldest criminals in the nation to be on death row. Ray died before his sentence could be carried out; however, Faye was paroled and died in January 2004.

1990

For the third consecutive year, cocaine led the Narcotics Section investigations list with nearly 300 new cases developed.

The polygraph examiners conducted 378 examinations.

An anonymous telephone call began an investigation into the Jim Henderson Trucking Company in East Prairie, MO. The investigation resulted in the recovery of 16 stolen trucks or trailers. The investigation spread into the Joplin, MO, area when stolen vehicle parts were recovered there as well.

The Southeast Missouri Drug Task Force was established, and the first drug task force of which the division became a member. Three members of the Narcotics Section were assigned to the task force. The Missouri State Highway Patrol is currently a member of 15 task forces and supervises eight of those task forces.

1991

On December 8, 1991, James Johnson shot and killed four people and wounded another in Moniteau County after a domestic dispute with his wife and daughter. Four of the victims were law enforcement officers. During the three-day manhunt, Johnson took a local woman hostage and later released her. Johnson surrendered on December 10, 1991, without incident. He was executed on January 2, 2002, for those murders. Several members of the Patrol and the Division of Drug and Crime Control assisted in the investigation of the murders and capture.

1992

The division purchased Walther PPK .380-caliber, semi-automatic pistols and began recalling the older undercover weapons, and removing most of the Berettas and AMTs from service. Several of the undercover officers still utilized the High Standard Derringers as back-up weapons because of their ability to be concealed.

The Organized Crime Unit and the Juvenile Section were put into place. The Juvenile Section would become part of the Missing Person's Section and the two remain together today. In that year, 784 juvenile referrals were made to Highway Patrol officers.

The Organized Crime Unit began operations with the mission of organized crime suppression using the concept of coordination and facilitation. Various crimes were investigated that include fraud, money laundering, gambling, and extortion. During the first six months of operation, the Organized Crime Unit collected information on 311 organized crime principles and their associates, and assisted other agencies with 19 investigations.

The Narcotics Section conducted many high-profile drug cases. Many of these cases were the result of the relentless drug interdiction stops made by uniformed Patrol members on Missouri highways. However, the following two cases come to mind as a prelude of the methamphetamine scourge that was to follow for the next 14 years:

� A follow-up investigation was conducted in California, which resulted in the arrest

of six subjects on federal charges for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

At the time of their arrest, eight and one-half pounds of methamphetamine was

seized, two firearms, $28,000, and a 1984 Corvette. The follow-up investigation

was initiated following an undercover buy/bust in Miller County when an

undercover Patrol narcotics officer purchased six ounces of methamphetamine.

� A long-term narcotics investigation was concluded in Greene and Webster

counties. This resulted in the arrest of five subjects on federal charges for

conspiracy to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine. The investigation

was initiated with street level drug purchases of methamphetamine by an

undercover Patrol member, and was culminated with the seizure and dismantling

of the methamphetamine lab in New Jersey. Because of this investigation, 22

pounds of methamphetamine, one pound of marijuana, one stolen vehicle, one

stolen firearm, $308,000, three properties, and nine motor vehicles were seized

in Missouri. An additional 200 pounds of liquid methamphetamine and one

commercial property were seized in New Jersey.

1993

The Riverboat Gaming Unit was formed and placed new demands on the division and the Patrol. Twenty-two gaming officers were assigned to the division and began conducting background investigations. This raised the division's current employee number to 110. One year later, Riverboat Gaming became the Gaming Division and was removed from the Division of Drug and Crime Control.

Corporal Michael E. Webster was killed in the line of duty when a drunk driver struck him while he was conducting a routine traffic stop in Troop A. Members of the Troop A DDCC Unit conducted the investigation and assisted in the arrest and conviction of Nicholas A. Adams.

The Narcotic/Vice Unit conducted 304 drug investigations targeting mid- and upper-level drug dealers. Because of those investigations, cases were made on 483 individuals and nearly $35 million was seized. "Nazi dope" (methamphetamine) was being discovered in the southwest portion of the state. This was obviously a growing trend.

The most notable case the division investigated in 1993 was that of William Webster. This investigation was one of the most complex and sensitive special investigations ever executed by a member of the Patrol. Beginning in late 1992, and extending through September 1993, members of the division were assigned to a task force investigating then-Missouri Attorney General William Webster, the Second Injury Fund, and Webster's campaign expenditures. The case resulted in the former attorney general being sentenced to a federal correction center for two years.

On Tuesday, September 21, 1993, two brothers and one of their 15-year-old sons shot and killed Charles and Grace Lewis at their St. Francois County farm. The suspects removed the bodies to another location in rural Washington County. During the murder, the suspects stole a VCR from the victims' home, which was later sold at a pawn shop in Cuba, MO. A disgruntled family member of the murderers made an anonymous telephone call informing police of the sale of the VCR. That call was eventually traced through the police 9-1-1 telephone system, which led to the arrest and confession of the suspects in this case. The investigation began as a missing persons' case and, at the family's insistence, the Patrol entered the investigation on February 1, 1994. Robert and William Rousan were convicted of murder and are currently incarcerated with the Missouri Department of Corrections. William Rousan was sentenced to death.

1994

The Riverboat Gaming Section was separated from the division and became the Gaming Division.

The MO-Kan Auto Crimes Task Force was formed as an experimental enforcement strategy in a high crime area, supported by law enforcement and the State Farm Insurance Company. Nineteen persons were charged with auto theft-related crimes that year by the task force.

During the evening of Friday, September 16, 1994, Corporal Bobbie Harper, a 31-year veteran of the Patrol, was shot with a high-powered rifle through the kitchen window of his home in McDonald County. I t was not long before the Patrol's investigation focused on the associates of a self-proclaimed minister of the Order of David. Cpl. Harper and three other Missouri state troopers had arrested the minister on a warrant in July 1994. At the time of the shooting, the minister was incarcerated in the McDonald County Jail. An associate from Marshal, AR, was determined to be staying at the minister's sanctuary near Powell, MO. That associate identified himself as an "ambassador" for the "Citizens of the Kingdom of Christ". After the associate was identified as being in the area at the time of the shooting, the investigation revealed he had crept to a location near the Harper residence where he waited for Cpl. Harper to step into view before attempting to assassinate him. The suspect in this case is sought on a McDonald County warrant charging first-degree assault.

1995

The Division of Drug and Crime Control increased its investigators by seven, and created two new units. The Violent Crimes Support Unit began operation, providing support services to law enforcement agencies across the state. The unit provided three fundamental services: unsolved case reviews, active investigation case management services, and professional service funding.

The Accounting Unit was established. The Accounting Unit was responsible for providing assistance and expertise with financial crime investigations. The unit also served the division by processing bills for approval and payment. The unit is the liaison with vendors, and audits investigative funds held by officers assigned to the division.

Division criminal investigators were instrumental in solving the Buncheerapon Nyhuis murder in 1995. Investigators continued to work on the 1988 missing person's case. After her remains were located at the Boy Scout Camp in St. Francois County, the case was solved because of a button from the victim's clothing being found. Her husband, Richard Nyhuis, killed the victim and kept her in the family freezer in St. Charles for some time before disposing of her body. This case was featured in an investigative book and for a syndicated television show.

1996

Methamphetamine played a major part of the investigations performed by the Missouri State Highway Patrol. One hundred and twenty-one clandestine laboratories were seized, which at the time was thought to be an incredible number. However, methamphetamine interdictions and follow-up investigations consumed much of the narcotics officer's time. That year, the Division of Drug and Crime Control made follow- up investigations in Arizona, Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, Minnesota, Ohio, Illinois, Michigan, Pennsylvania, California, Georgia, and Tennessee.

Troopers Alan Sullivan and Travis Bigler, Troop A, were critically injured in a hit and run accident on U.S. Highway 71, south of Butler, MO. Members of the Division of Drug and Crime Control worked tirelessly until the driver responsible for the crash was found. Carl Knolles of Rich Hill, MO, was arrested and convicted for the accident. During this investigation, the Division of Drug and Crime Control utilized the Kansas Highway Patrol's Crash Investigations Unit System to map and organize some of the investigative reports. The use of these investigative tools led to the development of the Missouri State Highway Patrol's own major crash teams.

In December 1996, the office of the National Drug Control Policy, recognizing the methamphetamine threat to the Midwest, established the Midwest High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA). In February 1997, the Midwest HIDTA began to implement its strategy, aimed at measurably reducing and disrupting the importation, distribution, and clandestine manufacturing of methamphetamine. Because of the HIDTA grant, the Missouri State Highway Patrol received three Patrol narcotics officers to provide investigative support to various drug task forces. The initiative also provided one new chemist for the Missouri State Highway Patrol Crime Laboratory, and the Division of Drug and Crime Control was given one crime analyst for improving the collection, analysis, and dissemination of methamphetamine intelligence/information. The Midwest HIDTA office and its employees were housed inside the Division of Drug and Crime Control at General Headquarters.

1997

The Alis Ben Johns manhunt involved the Patrol and several other law enforcement agencies in the state. Over 300 officers took part in the manhunt. Johns was linked to three murders, one arson, car thefts, and several burglaries. The manhunt ended when Missouri State Water Patrol officers cornered Johns in an abandoned cabin. One of those officers wounded Johns during his capture. Johns was found guilty on all three counts of murder. He received a life sentence and the death penalty.

Members assigned to the Organized Crime Unit, infiltrated a splinter cell of the Third Continental Congress, a radical paramilitary organization in Jackson County. They attended numerous meetings where the group conspired to commit acts of terrorism against the United States. The group planned to bomb Fort Hood, Texas, and three other military installations on July 4, 1997. Because of the covert investigation, authorities were able to stop the attacks. Seven members of the group were arrested before any injuries or damage occurred.

1998

The Division of Drug and Crime Control hosted its first National Homicide Seminar on October 24-28, 1998. The seminar had an attendance of 159, representing state, county, and municipal departments from 39 states. The event was hosted at the Westin Crowne Center in Kansas City, MO.

By 1998, the Narcotic/Vice Unit recorded nearly 3,000 incidents and seized 483 clandestine methamphetamine laboratories. Methamphetamine was clearly the Narcotics Section's priority, and terms like, meth, crank, crystal, speed, and ice were becoming familiar terms in the law enforcement community.

The Computer Forensic Unit provides forensic examinations of computers in support of criminal investigations. Files stored on computers used by suspects were retrieved, collected, and preserved as evidence.

1999

Division of Drug and Crime Control assigned several investigators to the National Governor's Association Conference, and to the Pope John Paul II security detail in St. Louis, MO.

On October 6, 1999, Sergeant Robert G. Kimberling was shot and killed during an incident that occurred on Interstate 29 in St. Joseph, MO. Kimberling stopped Jason M. Friske of Madison, Wisconsin, after he had left an area gas station without paying. While returning to his vehicle, Friske opened the door and retrieved a revolver. Friske shot Sergeant Kimberling five times. Sergeant Kimberling was able to return fire three times and strike Friske twice. Unable to stand on his own, Friske used the last bullet in his gun to kill himself. Division of Drug and Crime Control investigators assisted in the investigation.

The Violent Crimes Support Unit and the Troop F investigations team assisted the Boone County and Osage County sheriff's departments in the disappearance and murder of Sheri Lynn Montague. Montague went missing on June 13, 1999. After an exhaustive four-year investigation, four suspects were arrested and convicted for Montague's murder. Montague was a victim in a fraud scheme at the time of her death. She was shot, dismembered, and placed in a sack, then thrown into the Missouri River. Her remains have never been located. Most of the subjects implicated in the gruesome murder are incarcerated in federal prison for the crimes solved by this investigation.

2000

In October 2000, Governor Mel Carnahan's plane crashed in a remote area of Jefferson County. The Division of Drug and Crime Control, the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department, and the FAA conducted a two-week investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash. Killed during the incident were the governor, his son, Randy Carnahan, and the Governor's Chief of Staff Chris Sifford.

In June 2000, the Patrol investigated the murders of two Randolph County sheriff's deputies at the county jail in Huntsville, MO. Tracy Bulington, Michael Tisius, and Roy Vance conspired to free Vance, who at the time was an inmate of the county jail. After the failed escape, Tisius and Bulington fled the area. They were later captured in Troy, Kansas, and brought back to Missouri to face charges.

On May 17, 2000, members of the Patrol and the Ozark County Sheriff's Department arrested Gordon Phillip Winrod, 73, his son, Stephen Winrod, 33, and daughter, Carol Winrod, 27, and charged them with six counts of child abduction. The charges stemmed from the kidnapping of six children from their father in North Dakota in 1994 and 1995. While officers were arresting the three adults, the six children went into the home and secured themselves in an underground bunker. They were not cooperative with the authorities, who were taking measures to ensure their safety. A member of the Troop G investigations unit helped to negotiate with Winrod while he was in jail. The incident took place on May 17, 2000. It was over three days before the children finally agreed to leave the home. Winrod was found guilty of child abduction in early 2001.

2001

The Organized Crime Unit was re-designated as the Organized Crime and Anti- Terrorism Unit in October 2001, following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Two new task forces were established: one located in the St. Louis area, and the other in Kansas City. The primary mission of these task forces was to investigate terrorist organizations and individuals planning or carrying out terrorist acts in the state of Missouri.

The Division of Drug and Crime Control activated the Violent Crimes Support Unit after the terrorist attacks to handle the case management of all the leads and intelligence information dealing with terrorism in Missouri. The Violent Crimes Support Unit developed a database called HEAT (Heartland Enforcement against Terrorism) to capture the data.

2002

The Division of Drug and Crime Control was moved from the Annex Building of the General Headquarters Complex to its current location in Jefferson City.

Members of the Troop G DDCC Unit assisted with the manslaughter investigation of Trooper Kelly Poynter beginning on January 18, 2002, after Tpr. Poynter was struck by a vehicle that was driven by a drunk driver while he was working a traffic crash on U.S. Highway 63, near Houston, MO.

On February 12, 2002, the Violent Crimes Support Unit, Troop F investigators, and the Mid-Missouri Major Case Squad assisted the Howard County and Cooper County sheriff's departments with the murder investigation of Alysa and Janice Owen, of Boonville, MO. The body of Alysa Owen was found in rural Howard County shortly after she was reported missing on February 12. Janice Owen's body was not found until March 27, 2002. The victims were lured from their home and then strangled. Alysa Owen was sexually abused before she was murdered. Eric D. Mize and Angela M. Roll- Mize both have been convicted for their involvement in the murders and are incarcerated in the Missouri Department of Corrections.

On June 10, 2002, in Nodaway County, Lloyd Jeffress, a 71-year-old male from Conception, MO, walked into the Conception Abbey Benedictine Monastery and began firing on the monks living at the monastery. Jeffress killed two of the monks and wounded a third before turning the gun on himself.

The division purchased new firearms for the narcotics officers this year. All remaining Walthers, High Standards, and Berettas were removed from service and replaced with the Glock Model 27, .40-caliber, and the Kel-Tec P-32, .32-caliber, semi- automatic pistols.

The Narcotic Vice Unit conducted 1,232 methamphetamine investigations and seized 794 clandestine methamphetamine laboratory incidents. Missouri also led the nation for lab seizures totaling nearly 3,000 seizures.

2003

During January 2003, the Patrol became involved in the disappearance of Branson Perry, who resided in Skidmore, MO. During that investigation, information was revealed regarding Jack W. Rodgers, of Fulton, MO. With the help of the FBI, Fulton Police Department, and the Callaway County Sheriff's Department, Rodgers was charged and convicted of first-degree assault and practicing medicine without a license for his involvement in crimes in which Rogers preformed sex change operations. The Branson Perry investigation has not been solved.

2004

On November 16, 2004, the Division of Drug and Crime Control assisted the Mexico Public Safety Department with the robbery of the G&D Steak House in Mexico, MO. During the robbery the restaurant owner, Komninos Karellas, was shot and killed by the assailants. The Mid-Missouri Major Case Squad was activated along with the Violent Crimes Support Unit. Lance Berry and Quinton Canton Jr. were later charged and convicted for the robbery and murder of Karellas. Canton was a former employee of the business.

In late 2004, the Troop H Investigations Unit assisted the Nodaway County Sheriff's Department with the Bobbie Jo Stinnet murder in Skidmore, MO. Stinnet was found murdered and her unborn child cut from her womb. The child was located alive in Kansas during the ensuing investigation thanks to the efforts of the Computer Forensics Unit and the Troop H Division of Drug and Crime Control investigators.

By 2004, the Computer Forensic Unit had become one of the division's most important tools in battling fraud, identity theft, and child pornography cases. They received nearly 450 complaints in 2004, which was a 50 percent increase from 2003. The unit worked many cases involving homicides, arsons, and many other violent crimes. Each computer forensic examination takes approximately two weeks. The immense capability for information storage available on computers today makes it very time consuming for officers in their search for evidence.

The Public Information and Education Unit for the Division of Drug and Crime Control was created. This unit was created to assist the command staff of the division with the dissemination of public information pertaining to statewide criminal investigations, and to promote the duties of the division.

2005

This was the most tragic year in history for the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Four members of this organization made the ultimate sacrifice when they were killed in the line of duty.

On March 20, 2005, Sergeant Carl D. Graham Jr., was killed at his residence. A passing motorist found Sgt. Graham. The subject, who ambushed Sgt. Graham outside of his residence in Van Buren, MO, shot, and killed him. On March 29, 2005, Lance Shockley, 28, of Van Buren, MO, was arrested for the murder of Sgt. Carl Dewayne

Graham Jr. Shockley was found guilty of first-degree murder on March 27, 2009. The jury was unable to come to a unanimous decision regarding the sentence. Thus, Judge David Evans made the decision. Shockley was sentenced to death for the murder of Sgt. Graham.

Trooper Ralph C. Tatoian was killed in a traffic crash on Interstate 44 in Franklin County, at 4:45 a.m., on Wednesday, April 20, 2005. Tpr. Tatoian was a member of the Patrol's Special Emergency Response Team, and was responding to assist with a manhunt for an armed burglary suspect who was believed to have shot a Gasconade County deputy sheriff. The burglary suspect was captured, charged, and later convicted in the death of Tor. Tatoian. He was given a life sentence.

A vehicle on Interstate 44 in Webster County struck Corporal John A. "Jay" Sampietro Jr. He was taken to Cox, South Hospital in Springfield, MO, where he later succumbed to his injuries. At the time he was struck, Cpl. Sampietro was directing traffic at the scene of a major crash investigation from an earlier incident. The driver of the vehicle who struck Cpl. Sampietro pled guilty to charges stemming from this investigation and was sentenced to five years supervised probation.

Trooper Donald K. "Kevin" Floyd was killed on September 22, 2005. A vehicle on U.S. Highway 60 in Texas County struck him. Tpr. Floyd was working speed enforcement with one of the Patrol's aircraft, and had stopped an eastbound vehicle for a traffic violation when he was struck by a pickup truck traveling east on U.S. Highway 60.

The Division of Drug and Crime Control was involved in all four investigations, and continues to work diligently on those cases.

The Department of Public Safety utilized federal grant funds to help create the Missouri Information Analysis Center (MIAC) to provide tactical assistance to local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies throughout Missouri. Colonel Roger Stottlemyre made the decision to utilize Patrol criminal intelligence crime analysts to be the initial organizational body. The MIAC consisted of one director and five analysts. Over the years, the MIAC has grown to one director, two assistant directors, nine full- time analysts, and 16 part-time Analysts.

2006

The Missouri State Highway Patrol celebrated its 75th year serving the citizens of Missouri, while the Division of Drug and Crime Control celebrated its 23rd year of existence.

2008

In July, the Fugitive Apprehension Unit was formed. This unit was assigned to work jointly with the Missouri Department of Corrections to apprehend aggravated felons that failed to report to DOC after sentencing, or from work release or furlough programs. The unit consisted of one supervisor assigned to Troop F, Jefferson City, and two investigators assigned to Troop A, Lee's Summit, and Troop C, Weldon Spring.

Two members of the Organized Crime Unit initiated an extremely successful long-term undercover dogfighting investigation. This investigation was initiated upon the discovery of a secretive and highly organized network that was involved in Pit Bull dog fighting, illegal gambling, and narcotics. The 18-month investigation was a coordinated effort of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Drug Administration, and the Missouri Humane Society. The investigation spanned several Midwestern states as far south as Texas. There were over 80 dog-related contacts established, and of those, 39 were undercover contract fights or rolls. There were over 120 identified subjects involved in fight-related activities. On July 8, 2009, federal, state, and local law enforcement officers served 28 federal search warrants, and two state search warrants. As a result of the multi-jurisdictional investigation, 407 pit bull dogs were seized/rescued in Missouri and Illinois, and housed in a temporary shelter in St. Louis. In addition, approximately 100 pit bulls were seized/rescued in other states bringing the total to more than 500 dogs. The undercover operation is undoubtedly one of the most successful in division history, and has been deemed by the Humane Society to be the largest and most successful dog fighting case in U.S. history. Because of this investigation, suspected dogfighters were shut down, and generations of pit bull dogs will not be subjected to these brutal animal contests resulting in torture, harassment, suffering, and death.

2009

In January, the Fugitive Apprehension Unit was disbanded due to budget constraints and the officers were reassigned to other units. In April, the MIAC was removed from the Division of Drug and Crime Control and assigned as its own division. It remains within the Criminal Investigation Bureau.

In August, the Patrol received a $3.4 million recovery grant to fund the Rural Crimes Investigative Unit. This unit works in conjunction with the Governor's Livestock and Farm Protection Task Force, the Livestock Marketing Association, Missouri Farm Bureau, and the Missouri Cattleman's Association. Initially, the unit consisted of six investigators assigned to geographical regions across Missouri, and two information analysts located at the MIAC. The unit has since grown to 10 investigators.

On June 9, 2009, a Benton County couple and their 15-year-old granddaughter

were found shot to death in their residence in Cole Camp, MO. A major case squad was

convened consisting of 15 law enforcement agencies including DDCC criminal

investigators and Violent Crimes Support Unit criminal intelligence analysts. Information

was developed regarding a family member being a possible suspect. Utilizing cell phone

records and DNA collected from the crime scene, officers challenged the suspect's alibi.

Due to the cooperative efforts of multiple agencies coordinated by VCSU, the

investigation was brought to a swift conclusion, giving the close-knit community a sense

of justice and security.

On December 25, 2009, Corporal Dennis E. Engelhard was struck by a vehicle on Interstate 44 east of Eureka, MO, while he was conducting a traffic crash investigation. The driver lost control of his vehicle on the ice-covered roadway and struck him as he was standing behind his Patrol vehicle waiting for a tow truck to arrive. Cpl. Engelhard was transported to the St. Clair Health Center where he succumbed to his injuries. The Division of Drug and Crime Control assisted with the investigation.

2010

On October 15, 2010, Sergeant Joseph G. "Joe" Schuengel, the pilot for Troop C, Weldon Spring, was fatally injured in a helicopter crash in St. Louis County. Sgt. Schuengel was returning to the Spirit of St. Louis Airport in Chesterfield, Missouri, following a traffic enforcement operation in Jefferson County when the Bell Jet Ranger helicopter he was piloting crashed near the intersection of Clarkson and Kehrs Mill Road, in St. Louis County. Sgt. Schuengel was pronounced dead at the scene. The Division of Drug and crime Control assisted with the investigation.

In 2010, the Rural Crimes Unit initiated 208 investigations and made 80 arrests. The unit recovered $1,840,169.37 worth of stolen property. This unit consists of 10 criminal investigators assigned to six geographical areas and two criminal intelligence analysts. The unit works in conjunction with the Livestock and Farm Protection Task Force to investigate agriculture related crimes which continue to impact the Missouri farming and livestock industries as well as rural communities. This unit remains funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds awarded in 2009.

2011

On August 1, 2011, Trooper Frederick F. "Fred" Guthrie Jr. and his Patrol K-9, Reed, were assigned to Missouri River flood detail in an area of Big Lake in Holt County Missouri. Trooper Guthrie and Reed apparently were swept away by swift flood waters launching an extensive recovery effort. On August 2, 2011, Reed's body was recovered near the original location of his disappearance. On January 12, 2012, Trooper Guthrie's body was recovered under approximately 3 1/2 feet of packed sand and silt. The Division of Drug and Crime Control assisted with the investigation.

In 2011, the Division of Drug and Crime Control increased the manpower assigned to the Computer Forensic Section from two to three officers. The Computer Forensic Section of the Patrol is responsible for conducting forensic examinations of computers, cell phones, and other electronic equipment that may contain valuable evidence of criminal activity. Additions were made to the Division's Violent Crime Support Unit, which is utilized to assist agencies with major criminal investigations throughout the state of Missouri.

The Rural Crimes Investigation Unit which was initiated in 2009 as part of a $3.4 million recovery grant, surpassed $4 million in recovered stolen property. The stolen property included livestock, farm machinery, and household items stolen from citizens across Missouri.

On May 22, 2011, a catastrophic tornado touched down in Joplin, Missouri, damaging or destroying nearly 8,000 homes and businesses. The tornado left hundreds of people injured and resulted in 160 fatalities. The division responded to Joplin and assisted with the efforts to locate and identify the many missing and unaccounted for persons. The division worked with local authorities, non-profit agencies, and the federal Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team to gather information to identify the victims of the storm and to notify the families of those victims.

2012

A triple homicide occurred in late 2011, however much of the work was done in 2012. A mother and pregnant daughter were killed in rural Carroll County. The residence was burned in an attempt to destroy the evidence from one of the killings. The second homicide and subsequent third homicide occurred outside the burning structure and the body was disposed of approximately one mile away. During the investigation, a suspect was identified as the boyfriend of the deceased mother and the father of the unborn child. Eventually, the suspect pled guilty to all counts and was sentenced to two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of statutory rape. The suspect will remain incarcerated for the rest of his natural life.

The federal jury trial of Elain Kay Young and Kathy Mock began on March 12, 2012, in U.S. Federal Court in St. Louis, MO. Young and Mock had been arrested in connection with the March 2006 slaying of Young's husband, Melvin Griesbauer, outside of Novinger, MO. Griesbauer died as the result of a gunshot wound to the face near a livestock barn behind the home he shared with Young. An extensive investigation conducted by the Troop B DDCC unit, the Adair County Sheriff's Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation revealed Young stood to collect a considerable amount of money from life insurance policies in effect on Griesbauer. On March 19, 2012, Young and Mock were both found guilty of murder for hire and conspiracy to commit murder for hire by the jury and were subsequently sentenced to life in prison.

March 2012 also saw the conclusion of a joint investigation by DDCC, East Central Drug Task Force, and the Drug Enforcement Administration that lasted over one year and involved a Title III wiretap. The culmination of this extensive investigation was the execution of several search warrants in Montgomery and Audrain counties, which resulted in the seizure of 11 grams of cocaine, 219 marijuana plants, 10 pounds of processed marijuana, 48 handguns, two motorcycles, one vehicle, three assault rifles, $58,128 in currency, two arrests, and several pending indictments.

A Rural Crimes Investigative Unit case led to a Northeast Missouri man pleading guilty in federal court in March 2012. Steven Fink, 41, of Bevier, MO, entered the guilty pleas to two counts of wire fraud, three counts of mail fraud, and one count of making false statements to a federal agent. The charges were connected to his defrauding several Iowa cattlemen out of nearly $1 million. The cattlemen had sent their livestock to Fink's farm near Bevier, to gain weight. Fink admitted he continued billing the producers even though many of the cattle had died. Fink was sentenced to two years in federal prison. He was also ordered to pay more than $900,000 in restitution to the victims in the case.

On June 12, 2012, a 44-year-old man pled guilty to a federal drug charge of "maintaining a drug involved premises," and was sentenced to federal prison. In pleading guilty the man agreed to forfeit approximately 330 acres of property in Shannon County, to the United States. This man's indictment, along with the indictment and subsequent imprisonment of several other high-level drug dealers, concluded an over four-year investigation. This was the first investigation and case of this type in the United States.

From 2004 until October 2010, the 44-year-old man managed a campground consisting of approximately 330 acres known as Camp Zoe. The subject used Camp Zoe as a location to hold various weekend music festivals known as "Schwagstock" or "Spookstock." Those festivals would normally be held from April through October monthly, and would last for three days. The number of people who attended each festival ranged from a low of 3,600 campers during April festivals, to a high of nearly 8,000 campers for the festivals in May. The campers parked their vehicles in fields on Camp Zoe and camped in tents and small personal camping trailers. In August 2006, DDCC's Narcotics/Vice Unit Team #6 and the Highway Patrol Coordinated South Central Drug Task Force began an investigation after receiving information that large quantities of drugs were being consumed and sold during the frequent festivals being held at Camp Zoe. Over the next four years, officers made over 150 undercover purchases of illegal drugs that included marijuana, psilocybin mushrooms, ecstasy, cocaine, LSD, MDMA, opium, moonshine liquor, and products such as homemade cookies and cakes containing hashish oil. Officers observed 100 to 200 drug sellers at each festival, and estimated that the total amount of illegal drugs sold in the camp during a typical "Schwagstock" festival was approximately $500,000 per event. The landowner admitted he was responsible for the operation of the camp and admitted he intended for Camp Zoe to be made available for sellers and users of controlled substances.

The seized property in Shannon County, MO, is now being built into a Missouri State Park. The park will open in 2016, and has been called by some, the "Cadillac" of state parks. The case was investigated by the DDCC's Narcotics/Vice Unit Team #6 and Team #2, the South Central Drug Task Force, Shannon County Sheriff's Department, Internal Revenue Service, United States Marshals Service, U.S. Secret Service, and Drug Enforcement Administration.

On December 4, 2012, the bodies of two elderly Morgan County residents were found in their home. The cause of death for both victims was ruled as blunt force injuries of the head. It was believed the perpetrator used a pipe, knife, and screwdriver to kill the victims. DDCC criminal investigators and Violent Crimes Support Unit criminal intelligence analysts worked with deputies from the Morgan County and Camden County sheriff's offices, and quickly identified the perpetrator, who admitted he was under the influence of drugs and was hallucinating at the time he committed the homicides. The randomness of the crime had a devastating effect on the community; however, the cooperation of multiple agencies brought a swift conclusion to the investigation.

On December 15, 2012, Washington County Deputy Chris Parsons was fatally shot while assisting EMS with a medical call. DDCC assisted with a multi-agency investigation initiated following the shooting death. An intense manhunt led to the suspect being located and apprehended within 18 hours of the shooting. He was subsequently charged with murder and armed criminal action.

In 2012, the Digital Forensics Investigative Unit of the Division of Drug and Crime Control was created to investigate crimes facilitated by digital devices and media, with an emphasis on those perpetrated on the Internet. Digital devices include computers, cell phones, and digital storage media. The unit consists of three Patrol members and four task force officers from the Missouri Department of Revenue and the State Technical Assistance Team. Officers work collaboratively to assist in the investigation of offenses ranging from homicide, sexual assault, and drugs, with a special emphasis on child exploitation crimes.

2013

In January 2013, members of DDCC's Troop C Criminal Investigative Unit investigated the murder of an associate of a known motorcycle club. The subject was murdered by members of the motorcycle club and the body was then placed in a septic tank in St. Francois County. This investigation became part of a larger investigation initiated by an FBI task force in St. Louis; the Highway Patrol coordinated Mineral Area Drug Task Force; DDCC's Narcotics/Vice Unit Team #5; DDCC's Organized Crime and Anti-Terrorism Unit; and other St. Louis Area law enforcement agencies. As a result of the investigation, 25 people were arrested on federal drug and weapons charges, including several members of the motorcycle club and its club president. Along with the drug and weapon charges, three people were also charged in connection with the murder.

In May 2013, after over an 18-month investigation, DDCC's Narcotics/Vice Unit Team #4, with the assistance of the M.U.S.T.A.N.G. Drug Task Force, concluded an undercover narcotics investigation. The investigation included over 130 undercover drug buys by a one DDCC officer during 2012. Team #4 narcotics investigators and troopers from Troop F, along with the Cole County and Callaway County sheriffs' offices arrested 42 defendants during a two-day "round-up." A total of over 60 subjects were indicted because of the investigation for charges stemming from the undercover purchases of firearms, heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, crack cocaine, ecstasy, psilocybin mushrooms, marijuana, Morphine, Vicodin, hydrocodone, and other controlled substances. Other arrests as the result of undercover buys from the investigation took place in Boone, Cooper, Howard, and Morgan counties.

2014

In April 2014, members of DDCC's Troop C Criminal Investigative Unit investigated the murders of a mother and father who were murdered by their son with the assistance of three of his friends. Initially, their plan was to steal money and marijuana from the father. During the crime, they shot both the mother and the father and then set the house on fire to conceal the crime. The murders occurred near Bismark, MO. DDCC's Violent Crimes Support Unit provided on-scene case management for the investigation. This was one of the first times VCSU put together one of their "digital books," providing investigators with a USB flash drive rather than a large book of reports. The method of using "digital books" obviously saved paper, but also allowed investigators to "text search" reports regarding leads, rather than manually read each report written. An average number of lead reports per book is 100.

During the months of August, November, and December 2014, DDCC assisted the Field Operations Bureau with security in Ferguson, MO. DDCC provided over 30 officers at different times during the security details. DDCC officers provided intelligence, surveillance, investigative needs, and security, along with many officers assigned as videographers for the Field Operations Bureau.

In October 2014, members of the Patrol's Rural Crime Investigative Unit accepted the International Association of Chiefs of Police/Thomson Reuters Award for Excellence in Criminal Investigation. This honor recognized the multi-jurisdictional partnership's success in recovering over $8.5 million in stolen property, conducting more than 1,599 criminal investigations, and arresting 354 suspects since its inception in 2009. To date, the Rural Crime Investigative Unit has investigated 2,143 incidents, made 396 arrests, and recovered $11,523,057.57 in stolen property for Missouri residents and farmers.

On October 30, 2014, Governor Jay Nixon awarded a 2014 Governor's Award for Quality and Productivity in the area of efficiency/process to the Digital Forensic Investigation Unit of DDCC. The DFIU's primary goal is investigating child pornography, file sharing networks, and the enticement of children on social media. It was determined that a collaborative effort with other state agencies and new investigative techniques with existing software would lead to greater efficiency and cost reduction to the program in general. Gov. Nixon recognized this improvement in efficiency and process with this award.

2015

in early 2015, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services contacted the Patrol requesting a law enforcement representative for a newly formed Prescription Drug Misuse Workgroup. Colonel Ron Replogle assigned a DDCC officer to be part of the group addressing this ever-growing issue. The workgroup includes representatives from different medical fields, such as pharmacists, doctors, nurses, mental health professionals, and the Missouri Department of Health. Their purpose is to look at ways to address the problem of prescription drug misuse from multiple angles including education, treatment, enforcement, and monitoring.

On February 26, 2015, a call came to the Texas County 9-1-1 office shortly after 10 p.m. A young girl said she'd heard people talking, then gunshots inside her home. She fled her residence and ran in the snow and brutally cold temperatures to a neighbor's house to call for help. Responding officers found the girl's parents dead from gunshot wounds. Her brother was still sleeping, unharmed in his bedroom. A second call came in shortly afterward from a woman who had been shot and her husband killed. The woman, who had been left for dead, managed to drag her bullet-ridden body to the phone. She identified the gunman as Joseph Aldridge, of Tyrone, MO. By this time, a large contingent of Patrol members, deputies, and local officers had converged on Tyrone, MO. At Aldridge's residence, they found his deceased mother. She had been terminally ill. As events unfolded, officers began checking door-to-door. They found a total of seven deceased and one wounded individual in four residences. All of the injured and deceased people were cousins of Aldridge. The incident brought national attention to the small town. The manhunt ended when Aldridge was found deceased in his pickup truck from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. DDCC's criminal investigators were tasked with the challenge of simultaneously working five separate crime scenes within a three-mile radius. Even with the sheer volume of crime scenes, evidence, bodies, and the manhunt, the criminal investigators remained efficient, professional, and compassionate. By sunrise the following morning, the crime scenes had been processed and most DDCC members had cleared the scene.

On April 9, 2015, Corporal Dustin L. Lyle, Q/DDCC, and Trooper Steven J. Force, Troop H, were made aware of a medical emergency in the parking lot at Troop H Headquarters. Upon responding to the scene, they found the Leon Uniform representative sitting in a parked vehicle. He was unconscious and appeared to have had a heart attack. Cpl. Lyle and Tpr. Force removed the man from his vehicle with the help of Sergeant Stuart D. Black, Q/GD. Cpl. Lyle and Tpr. Force then performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation until they detected a faint pulse. St. Joseph Fire Department arrived and used an automated external defibrillator and the man regained consciousness. An ambulance arrived and took over the man's care. He was transported to the hospital and has since recovered. Cpl. Lyle and Tpr. Force accepted Patrol Lifesaving Awards in April 2016 for their actions.

Department of Public Safety Director Charles "Drew" Juden named Trooper Darrin R. Haslag, Q/DDCC, DPS Employee of the Month for May 2015. Tpr. Haslag was recognized for his work investigating a former Gasconade County deputy sheriff at the request of the current sheriff. During the nearly two-year investigation, Tpr. Haslag gained the confidence of numerous victims, who had been sexually assaulted from June 2010 through August 2012. Evidence was obtained suggesting the suspect used his power as a law enforcement officer to conduct the sexual assaults. Tpr. Haslag also identified a second suspect, conducted search warrants, followed leads, and identified victims. During the investigation, approximately 85 potential victims were identified. On January 27, 2015, both suspects were arrested and charged with multiple felonies each. Some of the charges include first degree rape, public servant acceding to corruption, and use of a child in a sexual performance. In addition to these state charges, the former deputy was also charged federally with four counts of deprivation of civil rights and one count of enticement of a minor to engage in a commercial sex act. The accomplice was federally charged with conspiracy to violate civil rights. Ultimately, the accomplice accepted a plea and agreed to testify against the former deputy. Following the accomplice's plea and prior to facing his own trial, the former deputy committed suicide in the Ste. Genevieve County Jail. The accomplice was ultimately sentenced to 10 years in federal prison as part of his plea.

On August 28, 2015, Troop F suffered the loss of Trooper James M. Bava, Zone 4, Audrain County, who was killed in a one vehicle traffic crash. Tpr. Bava had observed a motorcyclist operating above the speed limit on Missouri Highway FF in Southwestern Audrain County and began to pursue it. During the pursuit, Tpr. Bava's Dodge Charger left Highway FF, struck a ditch, a fence, and trees, and caught fire. Investigators from the Troop F Criminal Unit followed up on 75 leads during their investigation of Tpr. Bava's death. Numerous witnesses reported seeing a motorcyclist fleeing the area. Witnesses provided descriptions of the motorcycle and its rider. DDCC investigators eventually located both, and interviewed the driver. Eventually, the motorcycle driver admitted to being the rider of the motorcycle being sought. Due to the investigative work done by DDCC Criminal and Narcotics Investigators, On October 23, 2015, the Audrain County prosecuting attorney charged a 20-year-old Mexico, MO, man with murder in the second degree, resisting a lawful stop, resisting a member of the Highway Patrol, exceeding the speed limit, and failure to register a motor vehicle. (The charges were later downgraded, and the case went to trial in May 2017. The jury could not agree on a verdict and the judge declared a mistrial. A second trial in February 2018 resulted in a jury finding the man not guilty of involuntary manslaughter and not guilty of resisting a lawful stop.)

On October 21, 2015, Sergeant Kenneth J. Schulte, Q/DDCC, accepted the Richard O. Arther award from the Missouri Polygraph Association at the annual Tri- State Polygraph Seminar. Sgt. Schulte's work on a high-profile case in 2012. While administering a polygraph test to an applicant, the man admitted to having child pornography and having produced child pornography during a relationship with an underage girl. The investigation that followed resulted in a search warrant being executed at the suspect's home. The case was adjudicated, and the suspect pled guilty. He was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison.

The Division of Drug and Crime Control currently includes the following: Criminal Investigative Units, which includes the 18 polygraph examiners; Digital Forensic Investigative Unit; Bomb Squad/Technical Services Support Unit; Forensic Accounting Unit; Juvenile/Missing Persons Unit; Narcotics/Vice Unit; Organized Crime/Anti- Terrorism Unit; Public Information and Education Unit; Rural Crimes Investigation Unit; Violent Crime Support Unit; and HIDTA (High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area). The following depicts some of the units' activities:

Criminal Investigation Unit (2015) 732 criminal investigations 182 death investigations 212 special investigations 172 assault investigations 110 stealing/fraud 68 sex crimes 385 polygraph examinations

Digital Forensics Investigative Unit (2015) Forensic examinations included 166 cellular telephones, 46 computers, 38 external drives 33 sexual assault/child porn investigations Since 2012, DFIU has conducted 1,349 forensic examinations on digital devices, such as cellular telephones and computers

Narcotics/Vice Unit (2015) 2,411 narcotics cases 816 drug buys 390 search warrants

Rural Crimes Investigative Unit (2015) 503 incidents 135 cases 107 cases closed Over $2.7 million dollars of stolen property was recovered/seized, in 2015. Since its inception in 2009, the unit has investigated 2,143 incidents, made 396 arrests, and recovered $11,523,057.57 in stolen property for Missouri residents and farmers.

Explosive Disposal & Technical Services Unit (2015) 42 activations 18 commercial disposals 7 suspect devices 5 IED 4 military ordnance

2016

In January 2016, members of DDCC's Bomb Squad, responded to and rendered safe the state's first "working" homemade explosives lab. The lab was located at a residence in Moberly, MO. The occupant aroused the suspicions of fire department personnel, who had responded to the home after receiving a call from neighbors about smoke coming from the residence. The occupant claimed the smoke was the result of an overcooked pizza and attempted to quickly dismiss the firefighters. Indications of an explosion were observed inside the residence as well as industrial chemicals which appeared out of place. Further investigation by the Bomb Squad revealed the occupant was manufacturing a substance known as Hexamethylene Triperoxide Diamine, more commonly known as HMTD. This substance is an extremely sensitive primary high explosive. Investigators cleared the residence and detached garage of explosive hazards associated with the production of this material, as well as disposed of a significant quantity of finished explosive product. All members of the Bomb Squad were summoned to complete this task, working most of the day and into the night to resolve the matter. Clandestine homemade explosive laboratories have been responsible for a number of high-profile incidents and accidents in several areas of the country. This incident in Moberly represented the first time a working homemade explosive lab had been interdicted in this state.

DDCC investigators joined road officers in the 17-hour manhunt for Pablo Antonio Serrano-Vitorino March 8-9, 2016, in Montgomery County. Serrano-Vitorino was wanted for the murder of four people in Kansas City, KS, and for questioning regarding a fifth homicide, which occurred in New Florence, MO. Serrano-Vitorino was captured after a citizen reported they were approached by a male who displayed a gun. The citizen fled the area and reported the incident to law enforcement. Officers from the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office and the Missouri State Highway Patrol immediately responded. Two troopers spotted Serrano-Vitorino lying face down in a ditch at the intersection of Interstate 70 and the New Florence exit. Serrano-Vitorino was taken into custody without incident and did not offer any resistance. A rifle was recovered during

the arrest. He pled not guilty on June 1, 2016, and his case was transferred to St. Louis,

MO, for trial.

2017

On January 18, 2017, Lieutenant Steven V. Wilhoit, Q/DDCC, was traveling from

Troop B to Troop A to assist in a manhunt after a subject fired a weapon at a trooper.

While traveling on Missouri Highway 240 east of Missouri Route D in Saline County, he

observed thick, black smoke coming from a garage attached to a residence. He

immediately notified Patrol communications and requested fire personnel respond. He

then stopped at the residence checking for the owners. Lt. Wilhoit woke the sleeping

homeowners who were unaware their home was on fire, and got them to a safe

location. Lt. Wilhoit accepted a Patrol Lifesaving Award in April 2018 for his actions.

In response to the growing concern regarding opioid addiction, DDCC narcotics

investigators attended specialized training in the fall 2017. Several DDCC officers took

part in several opioid summit gatherings. All narcotics investigators and task force

officers are equipped with and certified to use Narcan as of November 1, 2017. Within

six weeks of the training, troopers had utilized their training to save three lives.

On September 16, 2017, while assisting the St. Louis Police Department with the social unrest after the Stockley verdict, Sgt. John S. Ashby, Q/DDCC, and Corporal Mark C. Mason, Troop D, responded to a call for assistance after a Chevrolet Trailblazer had almost struck a patrol vehicle on the shoulder of Interstate 64. The vehicle then struck a median wall, took an exit, and struck another median wall before coming to rest. As the subject was placed on the grass in the process of being arrested, Sgt. Ashby and Cpl. Mason arrived. Cpl. Mason recognized the driver's breathing was shallow and he was becoming unresponsive. Sgt. Ashby positioned the driver and performed a head tilt, and Cpl. Mason administered rescue breaths. When it was determined the driver was under the influence of heroin, Narcan was requested. After the Narcan was administered, the driver awoke and became alert. Both officers accepted Patrol Lifesaving Awards in April 2018, because of their actions.

On November 8, 2017, the Missouri State Highway Patrol partnered with Texas County Judge Doug Gaston and the Supreme Court's Civic Education Committee, to host the 2017 Constitution Project state finals. Individuals from 12 Missouri schools earned awards and scholarships in this statewide competition, now in its fifth year.

This year, the state finals took place on the grounds of the historic Missouri State Petitionary, in Jefferson City, MO. A patrol car escorted each team's school bus to the prison, where the "warden" and "corrections officers" then escorted students to historic Cell Block 4. Upon arriving at Cell Block 4, the oldest of the cell blocks, they found the body of "Andy Dufresne" dead outside the entrance to his cell. Several DDCC narcotics officers played the part of inmates. The "inmates" were interviewed, evidence was collected, and intelligence gathered, leading students to arrest one of the inmates for the crime. Investigators with the Division of Drug and Crime Control served as judges during this phase of the event. They graded the students and schools on their proficiency, and organized/set up the scenes. After the crime scene portion of the competition, each school's trial advocacy team prepared for the court proceeding, which occurred in the Christopher S. Bond Federal Courthouse, located across the street from the penitentiary. The court proceedings were held in front of a mock jury with a judge overseeing each of the proceedings. Several county prosecutors judged these trial advocacy teams on their performance in the courtroom. Scores were combined with the press and crime scene scores to select the winners.

Following the courtroom proceedings, students moved onto the Missouri Capitol for the closing ceremony and awards presentations. A total of 24 Patrol employees representing Troops D, F, G, and I; the Public Information and Education Division; and DDCC assisted with Constitution Project's state finals.

(Prior to the state finals, students compete regionally. The Missouri State Highway Patrol set up mock crime scenes, provided crime scene equipment, and served as role-players, judges, and logistical support to make these regional competitions possible. Local judges and attorneys evaluated the student's courtroom performance and knowledge of courtroom procedures.)

2018

Department of Public Safety Director Charles "Drew" Juden named Sergeant Travis W. Hitchcock, Q/DDCC, DPS Employee of the Month for March 2018. Sgt. Hitchcock is a criminal investigator, and answered a call for assistance from the Lamar Police Department. They had responded to a home and decided that visit warranted further investigation. Their call led to Sgt. Hitchcock being assigned to investigate a sexual assault complaint. He coordinated the efforts of multiple jurisdictions and built a case resulting in the arrest of a violent sexual predator. Sgt. Hitchcock's 2 1/2-month investigation led to the identification of four additional victims previously unknown to authorities. Because of his thorough and complete investigation, the suspect has been charged in two counties with a total of 36 child molestation-related charges.

"These two women are as brave as can be," said Sgt. Hitchcock. "There are some cases where when you hear what happened to the victims, it's etched on your soul. What you hear doesn't ever leave you. It's good motivation to work together with other departments and to get the bad guy."

In June 2018, 11 instructors and 28 students attended two days of IPC training, which was followed by a three-day train-the-trainer segment. Texas DPS representatives provided the training. Fourteen Missouri troopers and three Department of Family Services employees completed the train-the-trainer program. After attending the IPC training, Sergeant Dan F. Nash and Lieutenant Darron Blankenship (Q/DDCC) were inspired to develop second and third tiers to the IPC training. Tier 2 covers the investigative function of the initial stop, and Tier 3 addresses how officers can be proactive in their interdictions for children. The officers also felt there was a need to change how officers interview both victim and offender. Thus, use of an `SOS' polygraph was instituted. SOS refers to the sex offender survey, otherwise known as a tactical polygraph. (This type of polygraph had been used previously in child pornography sharing cases.) The SOS polygraph enables officers to work backward and find more victims. The Patrol was the first agency to use an SOS polygraph in IPC

cases.

Since the training, DDCC has held IPC operations at hotels, casinos, Amtrack

stations, etc., attempting to locate both victims and traffickers. The first operation they

held in Kansas City, MO, applying the Tier 3 training located 12 victims.

2019

The Missouri Digital Forensic Center was created in June 2019, as a result of the ever-increasing amount of digital evidence being seized pursuant to criminal activities. The center is responsible for performing forensic examination and analysis of digital evidence for law enforcement throughout the state. The MDFC is a joint effort of the Patrol, Missouri Department of Social Services, Missouri Department of Public Safety, and Missouri National Guard Counterdrug Program. The Patrol currently coordinates MDFC operations. Full-time examiners are located in General Headquarters and Troop A, with part-time examiners in Troops A, C, D, E, and G.

An Illegal Gaming Investigations Unit was established in June 2019, after the state experienced a surge of illegal gambling devices being placed in establishments. The primary function of the Illegal Gaming Investigation Unit is to enforce laws pertaining to illegal gambling devices. The unit is comprised of two criminal investigators, with one each assigned to the criminal investigations units in Troops D and I. In 2019, the unit handled 241 complaints of illegal gambling and 175 criminal investigations.

The IPC/Human Trafficking Unit was created in June 2019, as a result of the success of the Interdiction for the Protection of Children program which began in 2018. The IPC/Human Trafficking Unit investigates instances of possible human trafficking in Missouri, and provides expertise and investigative assistance on human trafficking, sexual exploitation, and child sex crime investigations to various agencies throughout the state. This unit is responsible for coordinating the various IPC and human trafficking trainings for the Patrol and other law enforcement agencies (both within and outside Missouri).

On August 16, 2019, members of the Missouri State Highway Patrol and Carter County Sheriff's Department served an eviction notice at a residence. The man inside the home would not comply when officers spoke to him through the door. A deputy then kicked the front door to forcefully open it. Immediately, the officers were met with multiple rounds of gunfire. A deputy was struck in the leg, groin, and chest area, and fell to the porch. The other officers were able to retreat and take cover.

From his position of cover behind a vehicle close to the residence, Corporal Jason C. Kuessner, Q/DDCC, recognized the danger to the fallen deputy. He began to persistently demand the deputy roll off the porch out of the line of fire and repeatedly encouraged the deputy to continue to fight to survive. The deputy managed to find the strength to roll off the porch onto the ground and eventually drag himself forward two steps before he collapsed. At this time, Cpl. Kuessner left his position of cover, retrieved the deputy, and dragged him behind a nearby vehicle. Sergeant Shawn M. Dougherty, Troop G, responded to Cpl. Kuessner's request for assistance and ran from the tree line to the vehicle. The officers covered the suspect's location with their weapons while pulling the deputy across the yard to the tree line where he could receive medical attention. The resident surrendered to the Troop C SWAT team without incident later that afternoon. The deputy later told the sheriff that Cpl. Kuessner had "kept him fighting" and saved his life.

Lt. Darron F. Blankenship, Q/DDCC, accepted the Dick Arther Award at the Tri- State Polygraph Seminar in Nebraska in October 2019. This Missouri Polygraph Association award recognizes an individual who has advanced the polygraph profession through tireless dedication to standardize polygraph principles and practices or who has made significant contributions to the Missouri Polygraph Association.

Beginning fall 2019, Sgt. Dan Nash has worked full-time in the Patrol's IPC/Human Trafficking Unit. He trains Missouri officers and assists in investigations, as well as receives tips from the national hotline. Sgt. Nash tracks calls made to the hotline, regardless of the agency investigating, through to their resolution.

2020

On January 9, 2020, Sergeant Jeff D. Johnson, Q/DDCC, accepted a Distinguished Service award from the U.S. Attorney's Office Eastern District of Missouri. Sgt. Johnson's work as a liaison officer between the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the U.S. Attorney's Office-Cape Girardeau led to his being honored. Sgt. Johnson streamlined the process for referring firearm/drug cases to the U.S. Attorney's Office for federal prosecution. During 2019, he was single-handedly responsible for referring 40 new cases that would have otherwise gone unknown. These were mainly cases derived from arrests made by road troopers in the Troop E area.

Lt. Darron F. Blankenship, Q/DDCC, and recently retired Sergeant Gregory P. Martin accepted the Department of Public Safety's Employee of the Month award for January 2020. They were recognized for their investigation into a 2015 murder case. The two veteran investigators were responsible for a first-degree murder charge being filed in a four-year-old murder case. In 2017, the Missouri Attorney General's Office requested that the Missouri State Highway Patrol review a 2015 shooting death. No charges had been filed because indications were that the victim had been fatally shot in self-defense by an 18-year-old. The teenager's father claimed to have witnessed the shooting. As Lt. Blankenship and Sgt. Martin began their review of the case, they conducted a systematic statement analysis of the original 911 recording following the shooting. Their analysis identified several discrepancies. They had an independent medical examiner review the case. Lt. Blankenship and Sgt. Martin also reconstructed the crime scene and determined the shooting could not have occurred as originally described. In 2019, armed with the new evidence and facts they had gathered, Lt. Blankenship and Sgt. Martin met with the young man who had originally claimed to have shot the victim in self-defense. Upon being re-interviewed, he disclosed that the shooting had been a murder committed by his father. The interview was the final piece of the puzzle that resulted in a first-degree murder charge.

In March 2020, Corporal Zack K. Bryan, Q/DDCC, interviewed a subject whose arrest was related to a traffic stop. As a result, a meth source was identified, and officers confirmed the suspect's name and that he received FedEx packages from California. With a search warrant, officers intercepted a package, verified contents, then allowed it to be delivered before arresting the subject. The package contained over 14 pounds of meth.

The Patrol and POLARIS.org, who administers the national human trafficking

hotline, established a relationship in April 2020.

At the 2020 awards banquet, Corporal Jason C. Kuessner, Q/DDCC, and Sergeant Shawn M. Dougherty, Troop G, accepted 2020 Valor awards for honoring their actions on August 16, 2019.

Corporal Patrick D. Sublette accepted the May 2020 DPS Sworn Employee of the Month award. Cpl. Sublette was recognized for his initiative and leadership in the Digital Forensics Investigative Unit. As supervisor of DFIU, he was tasked with helping to select and train investigators from each troop who would work as part-time digital forensic investigators. Their mission was to aggressively investigate leads related to peer-to- peer online sharing of child pornography and other Internet crimes against children. Cpl. Sublette traveled across the state, taking a mentoring approach, to ensure the part-time investigators understood the technical aspects of these online child pornography digital forensics investigations. This went beyond child pornography to investigate a suspect's access to children. Through his leadership and training in 2019, the Digital Forensics Investigative Unit conducted 77 investigations, served 79 search warrants, and made 29 arrests. Officers also identified 23 victims of abuse.

2021

Corporal Dustin B. Reed (Q/DDCC), Corporal Jason A. Ashby (Q/DDCC), Trooper Thomas Reents (C), and Sergeant Paul J. Kempke (Q/FOB) accepted the DPS March 2021 Sworn Employee of the Month for their thorough investigative work on what appeared to be a typical fatal traffic crash, but led to charges being filed in a criminal death case. On August 23, 2020, Tpr. Reents responded to a traffic crash on the Discovery Bridge in St. Louis County. A motorcycle struck the median wall, and the driver was ejected into the river. Tpr. Reents noticed two fresh skid marks traveling parallel with the motorcycle's skid marks and determined a second vehicle was involved, but had left the scene. This led to his requesting the Major Crash Investigation Team respond to assist with the investigation. Sgt. Kempke, a member of MCIT #2 in Wentzville, MO, responded. An investigation of the physical evidence led Sgt. Kempke to determine a motor vehicle intentionally struck the motorcycle. Cpls. Reed and Ashby then responded to the scene. Their investigation resulted in criminal charges being filed. From start to conclusion, this was a strong example of thoroughness and training put into action. Because of their combined efforts, what could have been mistakenly classified as a fatal traffic crash investigation resulted in charges being filed in a criminal death investigation.

Corporals Jonathan T. Wilson and John J. West (Q/DDCC) accepted the July 2021 Department of Public Safety Sworn Team Members of the Month award at a presentation August 3, 2021, at Troop E Headquarters. The two investigators were recognized for their criminal investigative work, which led to an arrest and multiple sexual assault and child pornography charges. On Feb. 5, 2021, Cpls. Wilson and West were contacted by two citizens at Troop E Headquarters in Poplar Bluff, MO. The citizens suspected a Ripley County man was in possession of child pornography and was stealing children's undergarments from area homes. The corporals contacted the suspect at his residence and interviewed him. As a result of their skills and investigative experience, the suspect confessed to possessing child pornography on his cellphone and to stealing the undergarments of young girls for his sexual gratification. During a second interview, the suspect admitted to molesting five children.

2022

In early March, the Bomb Squad held an open house and invited employees from the Budget and Procurement Division. The event was a way to show appreciation to the grant writers, accountants, purchasing, and supply personnel who assisted with the procurement and delivery of new equipment for the unit. Unit members provided a demonstration and explanation of a SmartRay Vision Xray system, Med-Eng EOD 10 bomb suit, and an updated Remotec FX robot complete with touch screen. Additionally, sliders had been installed on the unit's pickup and new and lighter day boxes purchased. Each piece of equipment boasted updated technology and increased the safety of the officers.

In April 2022, the Shannon County Sheriff's Office requested criminal investigators in the Troop G area assist them with a John Doe homicide investigation. A partially decomposed, unknown white male's body was discovered in a ditch on government land by local citizens, south of Winona, MO. Members of the unit worked diligently to develop a solid circumstantial case against the alleged suspects in this investigation. The unit conducted multiple interviews, wrote numerous electronic media-based search warrants, and spent countless hours researching the data from the returns. The time spent on pulling evidentiary data from social media, phone records, and various other electronic media sources culminated in the arrest of two subjects for murder. The investigators flew to El Paso, TX, and obtained a confession from one of the alleged suspects. In addition, the work conducted by the unit resulted in leads to the Mohave County, AZ, Sheriff's Office for a cold case homicide that occurred in their jurisdiction.

In July 2022, the Division of Drug and Crime Control hosted resiliency training in Jefferson City. This two-day training focused on recognizing signs of PTSD in first responders and provided ways to cope with what investigators see and experience in their day-to-day work. This training was a first for the division and is expected to continue in the future.

Criminal investigators in the Troop F area garnered national media attention over their role in a 2017 murder investigation of a Montgomery County snake breeder, Benjamin Renick. This investigation spanned several years and ultimately led to the arrest of two people for his murder. The investigation and the officers responsible for it were featured on the Dateline, 48 Hours, Court TV, and Snapped television series, as well as in People magazine and other nationwide publications and podcasts.

The year 2022 proved to be an extremely busy and efficient year for DDCC's Digital Forensic Investigative Unit. Investigators conducted 102 investigations, leading to 152 search warrants, 29 "knock and talks," and 32 arrests. Because of his outstanding work, Digital Forensic Investigative Unit Supervisor Sergeant Patrick D. Sublette was recognized as the 2022 Division of Drug and Crime Control Officer of the Year as well as the 2022 Benjamin O. Booth Officer of the Year. As a result of winning the award, Sgt. Sublette also had the privilege to throw out the first pitch at the St. Louis Cardinal's first responder event on September 18, 2023.

On May 22, 2023, the division moved office locations to the first floor of the GHQ Annex building located in Jefferson City, MO. This new location offered the division more room for expansion, a larger training and supply room, as well as easier access to the General Headquarters complex and the many support services the division leans on for its day-to-day operations.

On October 18, 2023, the Division of Drug and Crime Control celebrated its 40th anniversary by hosting an open house at the new division headquarters building. Joined by former employees, sheriffs, police chiefs, prosecutors, federal agents, and current Patrol employees, those in attendance shared stories about the division's past and plans for its future. Slide shows, division timelines, and equipment/vehicles were on display for those in attendance. Established in 1983, the Division of Drug and Crime Control has a long history of being a leader in Missouri's efforts combat serious/violent crime.

In 2023, 11 of the division's investigators received federal awards for their investigative efforts while on the state level, 10 different members of the Division of Drug and Crime Control were recognized as Department of Public Safety Sworn Team Members of the Month for their work. Division Directors DDCC 1983-1987

DDCC 1987-1990 Capt. Melvin E. Duckworth, director DDCC 1990-1992 Capt. Bobby Gibson, director DDCC 1992-1994 Capt. Robert E. Ashurst, director DDCC 1994-2001 Capt. William Darnell, director DDCC 2001-2006 Capt. James F. Keathley, director DDCC 2006-2010 Capt. Ron Replogle, director DDCC 2010-2012 Capt. Luke Vislay, director DDCC 2012-2015 Capt. Kyle Marquardt, director DDCC 2015-2017 Capt. Sarah L. Eberhard, director DDCC 2017-2022 Capt. Eric T. Olson, director DDCC 2023- Capt. Paul D. Kerperin, director Capt. Roger L. Phillips, director