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 and Criminal Justice Training.
 
      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.