Springfield, MO Police Department

SPD Awards Ceremony Part 3: In this final section of our 2020 award ceremony the following people will be recognized: Officer Robert Douglas Medal of Valor Silver... Corporal Clinton Collier Medal of Valor Silver Officer Yeng Xiong Medal of Valor Silver Officer Austin Faulconer Medal of Valor Silver Corporal Shawn McClure Meritorious Service Award Corporal Joshua Steele Command Commendation Officer Josiah Overton Purple Heart / Medal of Valor Gold Officer Christopher Walsh Purple Heart / Police Cross / Medal of Valor - Gold

SPD Awards Ceremony Part 2 10:00 a.m. recipients include: Officer Amy Zimmerman Command Commendation... Corporal Will Hill Command Commendation Corporal Kaylee Friend Command Commendation Corporal Rod Noble Command Commendation Sgt. Michael Karnes Command Commendation Officer James Luttrell Life Saving Award Corporal Gilbert Correa Life Saving Award Officer Trevor Merckling Medal of Valor Silver

SPD Awards Ceremony Part 1 9:00 a.m. recipients include: Ms. Megan Devito Citizen Commendation... Mr. Steven Edmonds Citizen Service Medal Mr. Jared Merriman Citizen Service Medal Officer Sean Kelly Meritorious Service Award Officer Andrew Zinke Meritorious Service Award Mr. Colin Cottengim Citizen Service Medal Mr. Daniel Rowe Citizen Service Medal Battalion Chief Brian Athen Command Commendation Public Affairs Officer Jasmine Bailey Command Commendation

Oct. 29,2020 Springfield Police to Live Stream Award Ceremony This Morning The Springfield Police Department Leadership Council will be conducting a departmental awards ceremony on Thursday October 29th, 2020 at the Springfield Art Museum located at 1111 E. Brookside Springfield, MO. The in-person attendance at the ceremony is LIMITED TO AWARD RECIPIENTS and their family/guests. ... We encourage everyone else to attend the awards ceremony virtually. The ceremony will be live streamed on the Springfield Police Department Facebook and website (Springfieldmo.gov/SPD). The ceremony is divided into three segments to follow current covid guidelines. The following is the time each segment is expected to begin and lists the award recipient and the type of recognition they will be receiving. The final awards will be presented posthumously to the family of Officer Walsh. Please join us virtually to hear details of their work and help us congratulate them! 0900 hours Ms. Megan Devito Citizen Commendation Mr. Steven Edmonds Citizen Service Medal Mr. Jared Merriman Citizen Service Medal Officer Sean Kelly Meritorious Service Award Officer Andrew Zinke Meritorious Service Award Mr. Colin Cottengim Citizen Service Medal Mr. Daniel Rowe Citizen Service Medal Battalion Chief Brian Athen Command Commendation Public Affairs Officer Jasmine Bailey Command Commendation 1000 hours Officer Amy Zimmerman Command Commendation Corporal Will Hill Command Commendation Corporal Kaylee Friend Command Commendation Corporal Rod Noble Command Commendation Sgt. Michael Karnes Command Commendation Officer James Luttrell Life Saving Award Corporal Gilbert Correa Life Saving Award Officer Trevor Merckling Medal of Valor Silver 1100 hours Officer Robert Douglas Medal of Valor Silver Corporal Clinton Collier Medal of Valor Silver Officer Yeng Xiong Medal of Valor Silver Officer Austin Faulconer Medal of Valor Silver Corporal Shawn McClure Meritorious Service Award Corporal Joshua Steele Command Commendation Officer Josiah Overton Purple Heart / Medal of Valor Gold Officer Christopher Walsh Purple Heart / Police Cross / Medal of Valor - Gold ### Media Contact: PAO Jasmine Bailey 417-864-1786 [email protected]

See you (socially distanced and masked) on Thursday!

Springfield Police to Begin Patrol Pack Food Distribution Program The Springfield Police Department will soon begin piloting a new initiative called the Patrol Pack Program. On Tuesday, October 27, 2020, representatives from Convoy of Hope will drop off two pallets of canned goods at the Springfield Police Headquarters and South District Station. The canned goods are separated into tote bags, each containing non-perishable food items, including canned fruit, vegetables, canne...d proteins and more. As officers go to calls for service throughout the community, they often encounter people in need, and many have purchased food or items for people in the community using their own money. The Patrol Packs will now be a resource for officers to provide immediate assistance. The idea for the Patrol Pack Program was brought to SPD by Lieutenant David Meyer and was made possible through support from Convoy of Hope. We are very excited to get this new initiative started and we’re thankful for our partnership with Convoy of Hope and their investment in this program, said Lt. Meyer. Our officers at SPD are committed to serving the community and providing assistance in any way we can. Patrol Packs will give us another avenue to accomplish that goal. Convoy of Hope has also made it possible for the Greene County Sheriff’s Office to participate in the Patrol Pack Program. "We are thankful for the partnerships and collaborations in our community that help serve people in need," says Jessica Blake, Convoy of Hope's Public Relations Director. "The Patrol Packs are an opportunity for Convoy of Hope, the Springfield Police Department and the Greene County Sheriff’s Office to provide immediate assistance to individuals who might be struggling." Media are welcome to attend Tuesday’s drop off. Questions can be directed to SPD’s Public Affairs Officer Jasmine Bailey. # # # Media Contact: PAO Jasmine Bailey 417-864-1786 [email protected]

SPD Blotter Here are some examples of recent work from our Property Crimes Detectives: On Sept. 18th, a victim reported an alleged theft of two very expensive necklaces, that took place at their home. The first necklace appraised at approximately $12,500 and the second necklace appraised at approximately $9,000. The victim believed the housekeeper was responsible for the theft and provided Detective Immekus with information indicating the housekeeper’s girlfriend was see...n wearing the more expensive necklace in a photograph on social media. Detective Immekus’ investigation led to him identifying who was in possession of each necklace. He then contacted the housekeeper’s girlfriend who released the necklace valued at $12,500. Detective Immekus then traveled to St. Louis to contact the housekeeper’s mother who was in possession of the necklace valued at $9,000. Both necklaces were ultimately returned to the victim. Detective Immekus will be presenting charges against the housekeeper for felony stealing. On Oct. 12th, Detective Fitzpatrick submitted charges of commercial burglary and felony property damage against Jimmy Hartley, Jr to the Greene County Prosecutor’s Office. This came after Detective Fitzpatrick was able to connect Harley to a string of burglaries throughout Springfield. These incidents include: Aug. 12, 2020 Commercial Burglary Officers responded to the Cracker Barrel restaurant at 4:11 a.m. to investigate an alarm. Officers found the front door had been forced open and evidence a burglary had occurred. Jimmy Hartley was observed in video surveillance footage and was ultimately linked to the criminal act. Sept. 6, 2020 Commercial Burglary Hartley and a second suspect arrived at the Signal gas station located at 2810 E. Battlefield in a Jeep Wrangler. Video surveillance recorded Hartley throw a rock at the store’s glass door causing it to shatter. Hartley and Suspect #2 attempted to take the Great Southern ATM inside the establishment. They were unsuccessful Sept. 6, 2020 Attempted Theft / Vandalism Officers responded to the stand-alone Central Bank ATM located at 2110 S. Blackman regarding a tampering alarm being activated. Surveillance video captured the previously mentioned Jeep and Hartley (based on a visible tattoo & clothing) attempting to gain entry into the ATM. Hartley’s attempt to get inside the machine was unsuccessful. Sept. 6, 2020 Commercial Burglary Video footage recorded Hartley stealing a television from unit #055 of the A-1 West storage facility located at 1730 W. Erie. Sept. 11, 2020 Attempted Theft / Vandalism Hartley tried to break into the stand-alone Central Bank ATM at 2110 S. Blackman again. The video showed Hartley (based on a visible tattoo) once again causing damage to the machine, but he was able to gain entry.

SUNDAY SPOTLIGHT Nice job, Officer Brackin. Way to bring a smile to their faces, during a scary situation. #SGFPolice #SundaySpotlight

Conner and Mark Priebe cross the finish line together at this morning’s Priebe Strong 1062 Race.

SPD Police Service Dog Retires After 9 Years Congratulations to Police Service Dog Rocky, who retired this month after nine years of loyal service to the Springfield Police Department. Rocky, who was SPD’s only Yellow Labrador Retriever, worked in the Narcotic’s Unit, sniffing out illegal drugs and helping to get them off the streets. During his time at SPD, Rocky was able to find and take off the streets 23,452 grams of meth, 70,668 grams of Marijuana, 116 grams of Cocaine..., 500 grams of Heroin as well as recover $174,434 in drug proceeds. According to Rocky’s handler, nothing made Rocky happier than loading up for work and doing his job, and he did it well! As Rocky has aged, his valuable work ethic and dedication always remained unchanged. Now that Rocky is retired, he will live a relaxing life in the countryside full of fishing trips and fetch. # # # Media Contact: PAO Jasmine Bailey 417-864-1786 [email protected]

This evening Officer Josiah Overton was honored with a plaque from Point Blank Enterprises. Point Blank manufactures the vests our officers wear while on duty, including the one Ofc. Overton was wearing when he was shot last March. We are grateful for the technology that allowed Ofc. Overton to go home to his family, return to his brothers and sisters in blue and continue to make positive impacts within the community.

Looking for something to do on November 7th? Sign up for the 2020 Heroes Run to help raise funds for the Sunshine Brotherhood. a charity dedicated to supporting emergency personnel with their financial needs in times of crisis.

* 20 Questions for SPD * Get a behind the scenes look at what it's like to be a motor cop at the Springfield Police Department as Officer Gomez walks us through his favorite parts of the job and what it takes to become a motorcycle officer. You can find out more about job openings at SPD by visiting GoSPD.com