E12 December 19, 2025 EMPHASIS: Four New Troopers Assigned To Troop E
Captain Jason J. Cluver, commanding officer of Troop E, Poplar Bluff, is pleased to announce the assignment of four new troopers to Troop E. The new troopers were members of the 124th Recruit Class that graduated from the Patrol Academy on December 19, 2025. The new troopers will report to their assigned zones on January 5, 2026.
Trooper Grant D. Miller, of Piedmont, MO, has been assigned to Zone 11, which serves the citizens of Stoddard County. He is a 2016 graduate of Greenville High School in Greenville, MO. He graduated from Evangel University, Springfield, MO in 2021 with a Bachelor of Science in biology. In 2023, Miller graduated from Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, MO, with a Master of Science in biology. Before entering the Academy, Miller was employed by the Patrol as a forensic scientist in Cape Girardeau.
Trooper Matthew J. Schroder, of Doniphan, MO, has been assigned to Zone 7, which serves the citizens of Mississippi, New Madrid, and Scott counties. He is a 2023 graduate of Doniphan High School. Before joining the Patrol, Schroder previously worked for Academy Sports and Outdoors as an outdoor enthusiast.
Trooper Nikolas S. Smith, of Senath, MO, has been assigned to Zone 8, which serves the citizens of New Madrid and Pemiscot counties. Before joining the Patrol, he was employed at the Dunklin County Sheriff’s Office in Kennett, MO, as a court and corrections officer.
Trooper Zachary G. Thren, of Chaffee, MO, has been assigned to Zone 7, which serves the citizens of Mississippi, New Madrid and Scott counties. He is a graduate of Landmark Freedom Baptist Academy, Haines City, FL. Thren previously worked for the Branchville Correctional Facility in Branchville, IN, as a correctional officer.
A photo of the new troopers can be found with this news release on the Patrol’s website.
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