I started my career in law enforcement right here at Mineral Area College Law Enforcement Academy.  I have spent over 10 years in law enforecment in many different aspects.  I began my law enforcement at the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office where I worked as a Deputy Sheriff assigned to the road patrol.  I was also designated to the Evidence Technician Unit, where I was responsible for searching and collecting any forensic evidence related to various crimes.  Probably one of my most rewarding positions in law enforcement was when I was assigned to the Special Operations division as a D.A.R.E. Instructor and Community Relations Officer. That is where I was able to obtain my love of teaching.  I also spent some time with the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (I.C.E.), where I was assigned to Detroit, Michigan.  I graduated from the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) and received invaluable training from the US Government that I continue to use  to this day.  I was also a Death Investigator for the Jefferson County Medical Examiner's Office where I conducted on-scene death investigations with all accidental and homicide deaths occuring in our jurisdiction.  I currently hold the rank of Major with the Mineral Area College Department of Public Safety and am the Director of Law Enforcement.
 
      Education has been and continues to be a very important part of my life.  I graduated from Festus High School and then went to Jefferson College, where I graduated with an Associate of Arts Degree.  I then continued my education at Southeast Missouri State University, where I majored in Clinical Psychology with a minor in Criminal Justice.  In 2002, I finished my Master's in Criminal Justice Administration from Lindenwood University.  For the past year, I have been working towards my Ph.D. through Northcentral University located in Prescott, Arizona.
 
      In my years of law enforcement I have attained numerous certifications and specializations.  I have attained and maintained various Instructor certifications in countless areas including; CLAMP/GRASP Defensive Tactics, Firerams (handgun & shotgun), Taser, Chemical Weapons, Expandable Baton, Verbal Judo, Medicolegal Death Investigation and Police Driving Instructor, and the Reid School of Interviewing and Interrogation.  I am a POST certified Generalist Instructor, however, I specialize in the "soft skills", i.e. Verbal Judo, Interviews & Interrogations, tactical communication, along with teaching all of the Forensics/CSI classes.