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The Lamar Police Department |
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Lamar, Missouri The Birthplace of President Harry S Truman |
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My career in law enforcement began in 1978. I was working at a grain elevator. It was probably the hardest work I have ever done in my life. We would work inside the grain bins and when we would come out to rest my supervisor would sit and cough and cough and cough. I did not want to see myself in his position in a few years so I decided to answer an ad for a police officers position with the City of Slater. |
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It seems like I have always wanted to have a career in Law Enforcement. I can remember growing up watching the police shows and thinking “Wow that would be a lot of fun”. In 1978, I joined the Springfield, MO Police Department’s Cadet Unit. It is what we now call the present day Explorer’s. We were bale to attend classes in a lot of the same things the officer’s did and best of all we were able to ride along with the officer’s on |
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My employment interview was conducted outside the police station with the Chief of Police asking me why I wanted to be a police officer. I really had no answer at the time other than I would like to try the field to see if I liked it. I was not one of those kind of people who always wanted to be police officer or a fireman. Well, I was hired then and there and told to be ready to report to work the next night. I was given a shirt, badge and a gun and holster. When the next night rolled around I showed up at the police station and found that I was to take the Chief home. I had begun my career in law enforcement.
I learned fast, you have to when you are all by yourself. I had no formal training, that would not come until the next year. At that time you had a year to obtain your basic training of 120 hours. I took this training at the Missouri State Highway Patrol Academy and over a year after being hired I was now trained. Quite different in today’s world.
I worked in Slater for the next 7 years. In my third year I became Lieutenant and in my fourth year Chief of Police.
In 1985 I applied for the position of Chief of Police with the Lamar Police Department and was hired for the job. This was a decision that I have never regretted. I found the people of Lamar to be both friendly and helpful. The job of law enforcement, no matter where you work it, is always changing. There is nothing mundane about the position and at the end of the day it is a job that I can truly say I helped someone.
About 10 years ago I was appointed Assistant to the City Administrator, in addition to my law enforcement duties I now had a totally new list of duties and tasks to work on in addition to those I had in law enforcement. In addition to this in 1994 I started the Truman Area Transportation Service at the request of the Lamar Community Betterment Council. This service has turned out to be a very successful operation. We deliver over 24,000 rides a year and it is probably one of the most rewarding things I have ever done in my career.
With the employees of the transportation service and the police officers I have supervision over mine is one of the largest city departments. Both agencies are filled with some of the most caring and intelligent people that I know.
It has been my pleasure to continue to work for the City of Lamar. |
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patrol, I think I actually logged more time in a car than most of the full time officer’s. In 1979, I graduated form Central High School in Springfield, I knew that I wanted to become a police officer but I did not like the fact that I had to wait until I was 21 years old. In order to start my career early I joined the Army and became a Military Police Officer. During my 3 years of active duty, I lived in Germany for two of them. I did normal patrol duties and worked at a NATO Site allowing access and guarding Nuclear Munitions. When I left the Army in 1982, I moved to Iowa for a couple of years where I worked and started attending classes at Drake University. In 1985, I moved back to Missouri and attended the police academy at Druy College in Springfield. I graduated from Druy College in February of 1986 and was hired here in Lamar in the same month. When I first came to Lamar, I told my wife that we would only be here for a couple of years and then we would be going back to Springfield. She still brings that promise up to me at times (in fun) and tells people that she is still waiting, almost 21 years later. It is difficult to believe that in February 2007 I will celebrate my 21st anniversary with the City of Lamar. The time has flown by and at times, it is hard to remember things that far back like they use to be. Some people ask me why I stayed in Lamar and I tell them all, I fell in love with the area. It is true that I could have gone to a larger area and department and done many interesting things, but it is also true that I have gotten to do those things plus more right here in Lamar. We also are very happy to raise our family here. I have lived and traveled in and to several different States, Countrys, and I can tell you this, Lamar is a great place to bring up kids. The community is such a giving community that people often say “No Way” when I tell of the fund raising that goes here. We have made several friends that will be for the rest of our lives. I can only say that over the years, I have taken several different paths and for the life of me I cannot understand how I came to call Lamar my home but God does guide us if we allow him. |
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My name is Landon Ison. I was born in Lamar and I have lived in Barton County my whole life. In 1999 I graduated from Liberal high school. After graduation I attended Allen County Community college in Iola, KS on a Track Scholarship. I transferred to Missouri Southern the following year. In 2001 I began working as a dispatcher at the Barton county sheriff’s department. While working for the sheriff’s department I also |
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attended the Police Academy at Missouri Southern. In December 2002 I graduated from the Police Academy. On New Years day 2003 I started my career with the Lamar Police Department as a patrol officer. Since that time I have been promoted to Senior Patrol Officer as a night shift supervisor. In 2003 I married my wife Dana. We have one child Drayton, who was born in October of 2004. We have enjoyed living in this community, and it has been a great place to raise a family. I have met a lot of new people in my four years as a police officer in Lamar and I hope to continue serving the Lamar Community. |
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I am Detective Steven Shaw with the Lamar Police Department. I was born and raised here in Lamar and graduated from the Lamar High School. After high school I went on to work in the automotive field. I received an associate degree from Pittsburg State University in automotive service technology. After working in this field for a while I decided to change careers. I went to Missouri southern state college through the law enforcement |
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Academy. December 17th 2001, the day after I graduated, I started my career with the City of Lamar and the Lamar Police Department. I have been with the Lamar police department for five great years and started out as a patrol officer and am now assigned as a detective. I have had training in interview and interrogation and I am a certified crime scene investigator. I have been married since 1998 to my wonderful wife, J.J. Shaw and we have three wonderful boys. Our families both live in Lamar and the surrounding areas and we both love Lamar and call it home. I plan on being with Lamar and calling it home for a long time to come. |
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Hello my name is Officer Dennis O. Cornell, or Odie as some people call me. I was hired as an employee of the Lamar Police Department on February 1st, 2004. Before my employment in Lamar I worked for the Carterville Police Department for 4 1/2 years before leaving to work in the auto repair field with Snodgrass Collision Center.
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My daughter Angela and I moved to Lamar in June 2004 and have been a resident of Barton County since.
My Goals in Law Enforcement include fighting crime, and also I try and work hard to get intoxicated drivers off the roadway. I have been very happy with my time in Lamar and continue to help make Lamar a wonderful place to live. |
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My name is Mitchell Shaw and I started my employment with the Lamar police department in May of 2005. I worked for 7 years with the Barton County Sheriff’s Department as a deputy sheriff before being hired at the Lamar Police Department. I enjoy investigating crimes involving the use, sell, and making of illegal narcotics. I am married with two children. |
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My name is Jayson Hastings. I graduated from Republic High School in 1994. I joined the army shortly after and spent 10 years with the 459th transportation company. On 2-10-03 I started the mobilization process to be shipped to Iraq. In April of 2003 I found myself on a beach with no water and 150 degree heat. After 18 long months I got to come home to my wife and son. I first moved to Lamar around July of 2000. I had been |
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My name is Jeremy Brand. I am a police officer with the Lamar Police Department. I graduated the Police Academy at MSSU in 1998. I was chosen as the outstanding graduate of my class. I have been a K-9 handler for about half of my law enforcement career and I am currently training a chocolate lab for use on the streets of Lamar. I also have joined the Special Operations Team recently and I really enjoy that also. I enjoy the challenging aspect of law enforcement and I am an adrenaline junkie on some level. |
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married for about a month and it seemed to be a logical place to live since I was working at Camp Clark with the Challenge program and my wife got a teaching job at Golden City. In March on ’01 my son was born. Lamar seemed to be a great place to start a family and I really enjoyed the small town life so we decided to stay. Nine months after coming home from Iraq my daughter was born. I came home from Iraq with no job to go to since the Challenge program had been shut down due to the state budget crunch. I had a desire to go into law enforcement but it seemed everywhere I checked to get into the academy, it had already started or was too late to enroll. AOK offered me a job so I took it. When January of ‘05 rolled around MSSU was starting a new academy so I joined. The only place I considered getting a job at was with the Lamar Police Department. During the academy I was told that it was very hard to graduate with an A so I made that my goal. By the time graduation came around I was one of three who received an A in my class. Little did I know, the academy just gets you started for what you will learn in law enforcement. In June of ’05 I was hired by the City of Lamar as a police officer. A year and a half later I find that I am still learning a lot on how to do my job. I have met a lot of new people and really enjoyed serving the City of Lamar. But then there are still many more to people to meet and things to learn over the next 18 and a half years until retirement! |
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During my career at Lamar Police Department I hope to help establish a computer forensics program to allow the department to do the processing of digital computer data at the department instead of shipping it out of the area. In addition to this I would like to start an online predator program similar to the ones that Dateline does. This would entail me using the internet and posing as a teen or child and luring predators to an area where they can be arrested by law enforcement.
On a personal note, I am married and have two children of my own, and three step-children ranging in age from 6 weeks up to 12 years old. I live in Lamar and have for several years. I enjoy the town and the people in it. I love dealing with the public in a law enforcement capacity. If you ever have any questions please feel free to contact me and ask them |
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I moved to Lamar from Belton, Mo. in June of 2004. I needed to get away from the big city life style. I really enjoy living in a small town and have not regretted making the move to Lamar. I started working as Animal Control/Nuisance Abatement Officer in 2006 and had previously worked at Silver Oaks of Lamar when I first moved to Lamar. Before Silver Oaks, I had worked at the Lee’s Summit School District for 4 years. I have three children. My oldest is Lacie. She lives in Shawnee Mission, Kansas with here husband, Ricardo, and is |
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expecting my first granddaughter in February 2007. My middle child, Jamie, lives here in Lamar with her husband, Derrick. She has given me two wonderful grandsons, Gavin, who is 4 years old, and Cameron, who is 1 year old. My youngest is James Robert and he lives in Lee’s Summit, Missouri. He is engaged to be married to a lovely young lady, Katie.
I really enjoy my position and the people I work with. It is very rewarding to return a lost pet or find a new home for one. |
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I attended the Joplin MSSC Police Academy where I became a Missouri Post certified Police Officer in July 1995.
I was hired to the Lamar Police Department in July of 1995.
I was promoted to Detective in 2001 and now hold the position of Senior Detective for the department. |
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My previous assignments were Patrol, Public Relations Officer and D.A.R.E. Officer. I have 14 years in the U.S. Army. I am currently assigned to the 1139th Military Police National Guard based out of Harrisonville, Missouri.
All in all, I would have to say that this job and this department have been good. I look forward to all the new and rewarding training that are in my future with the Lamar Police Department. I have met some very good people and have been fortunate enough to be able to call a friend. I have been heard to say on many occasions over the years, “If you find a job you love to do, you never have to work a day in your life!” I enjoy what I do. How many people can say that? |
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I was born in Aurora, MO and grew up in that area, including graduating from high school. After serving with the U.S. Navy I returned there, started a family, a college education, and found a job at a factory. Time went by and things changed in several areas. I found myself volunteering for the local ambulance after a family emergency. I re-enlisted in the naval reserves. One of my co-workers at the factory was a reserve police officer in the town where |
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I lived. He asked me if I had ever thought about becoming a police officer. When I told him that was the furthest thing from my mind, he encouraged me to attend some classes with him. As they say the rest is history. I enjoyed the classes, became a police officer, and served in my hometown for a couple of years. I was a reserve officer and became full time after the factory where I worked closed its doors. My life took another unexpected turn when I saw an advertisement for police officers in Lamar, MO. I knew very little about Lamar other than Aurora played them in football. I sent in an application and was hired as a police officer for Lamar in May, 1989. Since then I have been involved in a number of different jobs, but I have to say that the most satisfying has been as a school resource officer. As an SRO I have been able to teach D.A.R.E. classes, G.R.E.A.T. classes, and spend time around school kids and staff. I believe that the future of law enforcement lies in the children of today. If you contact them early and often, you won’t have to contact them later. I am married to Lisa and we have two chihuahuas. I also have two adult children, Susan and Joel. I have two grandchildren, Jacob and Grace. I retired from the naval reserves in 2000 after a varied career, including desert storm. I love to play golf and spend my spare time trying to be better at it. |
