News Release



For further information please contact: Sergeant Dan Crain

573-368-2345

I03B03

March 21, 2003

EMPHASIS: Troop I Promotions, Lateral Transfer and New Zone in Crawford County



On March 9, 2003, Captain Randy Becker, Commanding Officer of Troop I Headquarters of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, announced the promotions of two officers in the Troop I area and the creation of a new zone in Crawford County. The newly formed Zone 9 will work out the existing zone office located at the State Highway Department shed located at the intersection of Rt. UU and Old Rt. 66, east of Cuba. The creation of the new zone will result in an additional officer being assigned to the area. Captain Becker hopes that the redistricting and additional trooper will result in providing better services for the citizens of Crawford County.



Corporal Michael Mitchell was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and has been designated as the Zone Commander of the newly formed zone in Crawford County. He is a native of St. Louis, and a graduate of Christian Brother High School. He was also a graduate of Southwest Missouri State University, where he received a B.S. Degree in Sociology. Sergeant Mitchell joined the patrol in January 1, 1993 and was initially assigned to Dent County. He was promoted to the rank of Corporal on May 1, 1998, and was designated the Assistant Zone Commander of Zone 3 in Crawford County. Sergeant Mitchell and his wife Elaine have four children.



Corporal Brent Swearingin will transfer from Pulaski County, and will become the Assistant Zone Commander of Zone 9. Other members of the new zone are Troopers Phillip Little and Justin Mucculough. The preexisting zone in Crawford County (Zone 3) will be comprised of Sergeant Dwell Isringhausen, Corporal Jason Whitt along with Troopers Jim Mulkey and Rhonda Shanika.



Trooper Bryan Arnold was promoted to the rank of Corporal, and has been transferred to Zone 6 in Pulaski County from Laclede County. He will be designated as the Assistant Zone Commander. Corporal Arnold, a native of Dixon, Missouri , is a graduate of Dixon High School. He also served in the U.S. Army for 14 years, where he obtained the rank of Captain, before being honorably discharged in 1992., In 1995 he joined the Missouri State Highway Patrol and was assigned to Laclede County. Corporal Arnold and his wife Michelle have two children.