By MICHELLE
FRIEDRICH
SEMO News Service
The 2017 "Office of the Year" for the Missouri State Highway Patrol's criminal investigation division is described as a leader who is well respected throughout Southeast Missouri.
Each January, the patrol's Division of Drug and Crime Control hands out its "Officer of the Year" award to a "worthy nominee" at its supervisors' meeting, explained Capt. Paul Kerperin, the division's director.
Since this year's recipient was unable to attend the meeting, Kerperin came to Troop E Friday to present the award to Lt. Phil Gregory.
A 24-year veteran with the patrol, Gregory has supervised District III, which includes the DDCC units in Troop E and Troop C, since July 2010.
"I'm sure I don't have to tell any of you guys, Phil is a wealth of knowledge" and well respected in Southeast Missouri, Kerperin said. "He's an asset to the patrol; he's an asset to DDCC."
Kerperin told Gregory he was glad to see "your guys here" for the presentation.
"You're extremely well thought of in the patrol, and you've been an asset to me in my time with the division," Kerperin said. "I appreciate everything you do."
Kerperin told Gregory, Sgt. Bud Cooper, DDCC supervisor for Troop E, nominated him for the award.
"It was a collaboration," Cooper said.
Kerperin then read what he described as a well written nomination.
"Daily, Lt. Phil Gregory displays the ability to assess a situation and provide solid decisions," Kerperin read. "He has many different responsibilities to many different people; however, when he interacts with his subordinates, he makes you feel as it your problem is the only one he is dealing with."
Gregory, Kerperin read, always is available by phone, even while on vacation or time off, and is aware of the many different issues his subordinates are facing.
"He provides advice that is well received and respected," Kerperin read. "He has become more familiar with narcotics investigations within his district and has a very good working knowledge of the risks associated with the different types of investigations, both criminal and narcotic."
Gregory's personality and work ethic, Kerperin read, have allowed him to forge relationships with individuals and partner agencies throughout his district.
"These relationships have, in turn, provided numerous benefits to both himself and the highway patrol when cases arise," Kerperin read.
Among Gregory's duties is serving as a permanent board member of the Southeast Missouri Drug Task Force.
"During the meetings, he provides well thought out opinions about what is being discussed," Kerperin read. "He respects other people's opinions and provides his own in a thoughtful and respectful manner."
In the nomination, Gregory is described as being highly regarded among his peers on the board, and is a "strong leader on the board of directors."
During investigations in which DDCC's assistance is requested, Gregory serves as a liaison between the patrol and the local agencies.
The nomination also detailed Gregory's involvement with the civil unrest in Troop C before and following the September verdict in the murder trial of a St. Louis Metropolitan police officer.
Gregory, Kerperin read, was responsible for the coordination and logistics of the division's officers assigned to the detail.
"During the civil protest events, Lt. Gregory not only demonstrated his dedication to his job, but displayed an extraordinary level of professionalism and leadership," Kerperin further read. "(He) worked tirelessly before, during and after each event planning, coordinating and implementing" the division's response.
Regardless of the time of day, Kerperin said, Gregory always was there to "provide guidance and direction to each officer assigned to the detail.
"It was obvious when Lt. Gregory was in the Command Center that he was viewed as a leader, not only by the highway patrol employees, but by all our partner agencies."
The nomination said it was not unusual to see Gregory being sought out for advice and guidance by the command staff of every agency involved in the detail.
Gregory, Kerperin read, also has served on a National Task Team under the Criminal Intelligence Coordinating Council since mid-2016.
"Lt. Gregory was selected to sit on the task team as a subject matter expert," Kerperin read.
The team's purpose was to develop a resource document to aid in investigative efforts related to officer-involved, use-of-force incidents. That document was finalized and disseminated in August.
Gregory and other Troop C investigators were recognized in December by the FBI in St. Louis, Mo., for their "dedication and contributions on a joint law enforcement effort in a 2013 investigation," Kerperin read.
That investigation reportedly began as a missing person investigation and turned into a homicide investigation, with a body being recovered.
After reading the nomination, Kerperin then presented Gregory with a plaque.
"It's not me; it's all these guys (officers), and the guys (officers) in Troop C," Gregory said.
The credit, he said, goes to the criminal and narcotics officers in both Troop E and Troop C.
"I'm the guy who tries to stay in the middle and keep things pointed in the right direction," said Gregory, who indicated the investigators are the ones doing the work.