The Missouri Chapter of the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials (MOAPCO) is pleased to recognize Communications Operator III Russel Windle, Communications Operator I Jason Stephens and Communications Operator Trainee Jason Edwards of the Missouri State Highway Patrol – Troop D as Missouri Teammates in Action!
On December 10, 2021, about 10 minutes after shift change, a Trooper advised he was in pursuit of a vehicle on the south side of Springfield. COIII Windle was the primary Communications Operator. He gathered critical information and began to coordinate additional Trooper response. He also immediately called the Springfield-Greene County 9-1-1 Center. COI Stephens contacted the Command Staff Lieutenant on duty to provide oversight to the incident. In the course of the pursuit, the pursued vehicle became disabled and within moments a Trooper was shot.
COIII Windle coordinated the initial response of Troopers to the scene while simultaneously coordinating with the Springfield-Greene County 9-1-1 Center for additional responders. COI Stephens kept the Lieutenant updated while he and COT Edwards began making the mandatory Patrol notifications. The Troop D Communications team worked together and with investigators to assist in developing suspect information, disseminating it to Troopers conducting an extensive search of the area as well as area agencies, resulting in an arrest the next morning. While doing this, they continued to coordinate communications between the command post, officers on parameter detail, SWAT personnel and area agencies.
These Communications Operators worked beyond their stress, their fear, and their concern that they had for their injured Trooper, to ensure a successful resolution to this incident. They remained calm and professional and helped provide some semblance of stability to a chaotic event. Their actions combined with the swift response of field responders meant the Trooper continues to serve and protect the citizens of our state today. These Operators are the epitome of the word team and deserve to be recognized as Missouri Teammates in Action.