New Troopers Join Local Missouri Highway Patrol

On Oct. 8, seven new Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers began working this local area. Troop C serves the following counties: Franklin, Jefferson, Lincoln, Perry, Pike, St. Charles, St. Francois, St. Louis, Ste. Genevieve, Warren, and Washington.

The new troopers are members of the Patrol’s 95th Recruit Class, which graduated on Sept. 21, said Capt. Ronald Johnson, Troop C commanding officer.

The troopers completed 25 weeks of highly intense training at the Patrol’s Law Enforcement Academy in Jefferson City. They will be working with a field-training officer for approximately three months before working independently, said Johnson.

The new troopers for Troop C and their assignments are as follows:

Trooper Daniel J. Arsenault, 28, a native of St. Louis, was assigned to Zone 3, serving St. Louis County. Arsenault is a graduate of Oakville Senior High School, and attended the Ranken Technical College, in St. Louis. Prior to joining the Highway Patrol, Arsenault worked for in Eureka. He is married to Tiffany (Robic) and the father of Alexis, 3, and Reese, 2.

Trooper Thomas D. Deason, 21, a native of Sullivan, MO, was assigned to Zone 10, serving Franklin County. Deason is a graduate of St. Clair High School, and attended Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla, MO. Prior to joining the Highway Patrol, Deason worked for Six Flags St. Louis.

Trooper Louis B. Lairmore, 21, a native of Springfield, MO, was assigned to Zone 8, serving St. Charles County. Lairmore is a graduate of Hillcrest High School, and attended Ozark Technical Community College in Springfield, MO. Prior to joining the Highway Patrol, Lairmore worked for the Missouri State High School Activities Association.

Trooper Travis L. Peters, 29, a native of Lakeland, FL, was assigned to Zone 4, South St. Louis County. Peters is a graduate of Meramec Valley Christian School, and attended Pensacola Christian College in Pensacola, FL. Prior to joining the Highway Patrol, Peters was a police officer for Gladstone Police Department in Gladstone, MO. He is married to Kelley (Kinchen) and the father of Andre, 4, and Titus, 2.

Trooper Derek T. Shikles, 22, a native of Sedalia, MO, was assigned to Zone 7, Warren County. Shikles is a graduate of Blair Oaks High School, and attended the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg, MO. Prior to becoming a trooper for the Highway Patrol, Shikles worked in maintenance for the Highway Patrol in Jefferson City, MO.

Trooper Brock A. Teague, 21, a native of Columbia, MO, was assigned to Zone 4, South St. Louis County. Teague is a graduate of Van-Far High School, and attended University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg, MO.

Trooper Joshua E. Williams, 26, a native of Alton, IL, was assigned to Zone 12, Jefferson County. Williams is a graduate of McCluer North High School, and attended Lindenwood University in St. Charles.

Troop C headquarters are located at the northeast corner of Highway 40 at Highway 94 in St. Charles County. Troop C is one of the six original troops organized in 1931. It also has a service center located in Park Hills, MO, in the southern part of the troop. The Troop C Service Center is located on the Mineral Area College campus, just east of the US-67 and MO-32 interchange. The Troop C Super Site for Motor Vehicle Inspections and Drivers Examination is located at 3180 Koch Road in St Louis County.

Troop C is responsible for 11 counties in East Central Missouri, and has the largest contingent of uniformed officers, 147. The troop is supported by 136 uniformed civilians and 21 civilian employees, according to Highway Patrol sources.