Colonel James F. Keathley announced that 14 employees, including three from Troop D, which works in Southwest Missouri, were honored at the Patrol's 18th annual awards banquet on April 19. Held at the Holiday Inn Select Executive Center in Columbia, family, friends, and The MASTERS members gathered to honor the heroes of 2007.

Major Ronald K. Replogle, Q/CIB, served as emcee; Troop F's Honor Guard presented the colors while CTE Roger Heard, Troop H, played the bagpipes; Cpl. John H. Lueckenhoff, Troop D, sang the National Anthem; Patrol Chaplain Phil Dooley, from Open Door Baptist Church in Columbia, MO, gave the invocation and benediction; and Colonel Keathley presented the awards.

The following officers from Troop D, which serves in Southwest Missouri, were honored:

2007 Officer of the Year

Trooper Kelsey J. Rutledge, Troop D is a road officer assigned to Zone 5, Jasper County.

He has distinguished himself as a leader in criminal and drug interdiction in addition to the duties he performs in his zone.

In 2007, Rutledge's skill in conducting traffic stops yielded 248 pounds of marijuana, 12 pounds of heroine, over 10 pounds of methamphetamine, two kilograms of cocaine, over $670,000 in currency, and the arrest of two subjects for trafficking in stolen identities.

Rutledge's investigation identified 30 victims of identity theft. One of Rutledge's investigations yielded 79 jars of psilocybin mushrooms and an indoor marijuana growing operation. In November 2007, Rutledge conducted a traffic stop resulting in the arrest of the driver for three counts of forgery and the seizure of numerous items fraudulently obtained from Wal-Mart using false checks.

In addition to his criminal and drug interdiction as a road officer, he worked over 60 traffic crashes in 2007, took part in numerous special projects, and answered a high number of reactive calls.

2007 Valor Award

On August 12, 2007, Trooper Walter L. "Corky" Burr III was called at home and asked to respond to the First Congregational Church in Neosho, Missouri.

He was advised a male suspect had entered the church, shot an unknown number of people, and had taken several hostages. Burr arrived on the scene and began gathering information from other police officers, the pastor of the church, and a relative of the shooter.

Police Chief David McCracken, who was positioned in the church basement, requested four officers provide cover so he could begin negotiations.

Thus, Sheriff Ken Copeland, who was outside the church, inquired which officers were on Special Response Teams or Special Weapons and Tactics teams in their respective departments. Burr, a member of Troop D SWAT, volunteered to assist.

Burr and the other officers assembled in the basement of the church. While determining the best place to make entry, a gunshot was heard, which changed the circumstances into an active shooter situation.

The officers entered the church and found the shooter was holding one female hostage around the neck and approximately 30 additional hostages were sitting on the floor. Burr ordered the suspect to drop his weapon and surrender. After several moments, the suspect did so and was taken into custody.

2007 Valor Award

On March 16, 2007, Troop D Communications advised Trooper Grant H. Hendrix about an officer-involved shooting in Neosho, Missouri. The incident began with a traffic stop, when a suspect shot a Neosho police officer in the arm. A second Neosho police officer was shot in the face while pursuing the suspect. Troop D provided a description of the suspect's vehicle, the license plate number, and last known location.

Hendrix responded to the area and met a vehicle matching the description he had been given. The vehicle attempted to elude Hendrix. A short distance later, he crested a small hill to find the suspect vehicle stopped in the road. The suspect ambushed Hendrix and fired an unknown number of times while Trooper Hendrix's patrol car was still moving. The suspect then accelerated before stopping in the roadway again.

Hendrix was able to stop his patrol car approximately fifty yards behind the suspect, who began firing at him a second time. Hendrix returned fire while still seated in his patrol car, then exited and moved to the rear for cover.

The suspect again attempted to flee the area. Hendrix returned to his vehicle and continued his pursuit. While in pursuit, he remained prepared for another ambush. The suspect eventually turned into a wooded area. A manhunt followed and the suspect was located and taken into custody a short time later by assisting agencies.