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July 29, 2003


EMPHASIS: Colonel Roger D. Stottlemyre Announces August Promotions, Retirement, Transfer





Colonel Roger D. Stottlemyre, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, announces the following promotions, retirement, and transfer effective August 1, 2003.





Lt. J. Bret Johnson will be promoted to captain and remain in his present assignment within the assistant superintendent’s office.





Johnson joined the Patrol on August 3, 1986, as a member of the 58th Recruit Class. After graduating from the Patrol’s Law Enforcement Academy, he was assigned to Troop B, Zone 6, Kahoka, MO. In 1992, he was promoted to corporal and assigned assistant zone commander of Zone 6. In 1993, he was promoted to sergeant and named zone commander of Troop B, Zone 8, Hannibal, MO. Johnson was promoted to lieutenant in 1999, and transferred to Troop F, Jefferson City. In 2001, he was assigned to the Field Operations Bureau. Johnson was reassigned to the assistant superintendent’s office in 2002.





Johnson was born in Unionville, MO. He graduated from Putnam County High School in Unionville, MO, in 1976. Prior to working for the Patrol, he was employed by the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department. Captain Johnson and his wife, Cynthia, have two sons, Steven, 18, and Shay, 13.





Captain E. Dwight Hartung will retire as a member of the Missouri State Highway Patrol on August 1, 2003, after almost 29 years of dedicated service.





Hartung joined the Patrol on September 1, 1974, as a member of the 43rd Recruit Class. Upon graduating from the Academy, he was assigned to Troop B, Zone 5, Brookfield, MO. In 1984, he was promoted to corporal. In 1986, Hartung was promoted to sergeant and designated zone commander of Troop B, Zone 8, Hannibal, MO. He transferred to the Professional Standards Division, General Headquarters, Jefferson City, in 1991. While serving in that position, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant. In 1994, Hartung was promoted to captain and designated director of the newly formed Gaming Division. He transferred to the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division in 1998. It is from this position that he retires.





Capt. Hartung was born in Forest Green, MO. He graduated from Glasgow High School in Glasgow, MO. From 1967 to 1971, he served in the United States Air Force, attaining the rank of staff sergeant before being honorably discharged. Capt. Hartung and his wife, Peggy, reside in Jefferson City, MO.








Captain James D. Whitfield will transfer to the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division, and serve as that division’s director. Whitfield is a 28-year veteran of the Patrol.





Following graduation from the Patrol’s Law Enforcement Academy on January 31, 1975, Whitfield was assigned to Troop B, Macon, MO. In 1980, he was assigned to the Narcotics Unit in the Criminal Investigation Bureau at General Headquarters. In 1984, Whitfield transferred to Troop B.





Whitfield was promoted to corporal in 1986; and to sergeant in 1989. In 1992, he was assigned to the Training Division at General Headquarters. He earned the rank of lieutenant in 1995, and was designated assistant director of the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division. In 1998, Whitfield transferred to the Motor Vehicle Inspection Division where he was designated director. He was promoted to the rank of captain in 1999.





As the director of the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division, Capt. Whitfield is responsible for overseeing the administration of statutes, rules, and regulations pertaining to the operation of commercial vehicles in Missouri.





Capt. Whitfield was born in Springfield, MO. He graduated from Leon High School in Tallahassee, FL. He earned a bachelor’s of arts degree in sociology from Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, MO. Capt. Whitfield resides in Jefferson City.





Sergeant David P. Perkins will be promoted to the rank of lieutenant and designated director of the Motor Vehicle Inspection Division. Perkins is a 17-year veteran of the Patrol.





Perkins joined the Patrol in 1986, as a motor vehicle inspector. He held that position until entering the Patrol’s Law Enforcement Academy as a member of the 61st Recruit Class in 1989. Upon graduating, he was assigned to Troop B, Zone 6, Scotland County. Perkins was promoted to corporal in 1995. In 1997, he transferred from Troop B to the Motor Vehicle Inspection Division at General Headquarters, Jefferson City. Perkins was promoted to the rank of sergeant in 1998, and designated assistant director of the Motor Vehicle Inspection Division.





Sgt. Perkins was born in St. Louis, MO. He graduated from Fox High School in Arnold, MO. He earned a bachelor’s of science degree in business administration/economics from Culver-Stockton College in Canton, MO, in 1984. He is also an emission qualified inspector mechanic. Sgt. Perkins and his wife, Barbara (Dodd), and their son, Philip, reside in Jefferson City.