Newly promoted members of the Joplin Police Force gathered after ceremonies on March 27. They are: (from L-R) Sgt. Charla Geller, Sgt. John D. Wales, Lt. Brian Lewis, Assistant Chief Jason B. Burns, Cpl. Gabe Allen and Lt. Lamonte Ratcliff.
Joplin City Clerk Barbara Hogelin waits with Joplin Chief of Police Lane Roberts prior to assuming her role in administering oaths of office for the newly promoted police officers
Swearing-in ceremonies were held in the Joplin Justice Center on Third Street for six members of the Joplin Police force receiving promotions. City Clerk Barbara Hogelin conducted the ceremonies on March 27, 2008, before an audience of family members, city officials and the media.
With a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice administration from Missouri Southern State University and 14 years of experience in law enforcement, Jason B. Burns, formerly of Stockton, MO, was sworn in as assistant chief of police, serving under Chief Lane Roberts. The job was created to assume responsibility in Robert's absence as well as to allow the chief more time to focus on external affairs. The position previously had been handled by Jim Hounschell who retired from the force in 2006.
 The mother of Lt. Jason Burns has the honor of pinning on his new badge.
Prior to joining the Joplin force, Burns had been a patrol officer from December 1993 to February 1996 with the Jasper County Sheriff's Department in Carthage. Since that time he moved up the ranks of the Joplin Police Department gaining experience in administration of the patrol bureau including responsibility for the traffic unit, hostage negotiations, K-9 unit and adjunct police units such as reserves, crossing guards, dive team and the court bailiff. His other professional accomplishments include membership in the Tri-State Major Case Squad, internal affairs sergeant, swat team leader, the accident/pursuit review board and manager of the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) with which the department has been involved since November 2005.
A crack shot, Burns was awarded a master ribbon in firearms and a gallantry medal in 1999 for his role in a SWAT call in Joplin in which an assailant had been shooting at responding officers. Named the supervisor of the year for 2004, he since has been the subject of many letters of appreciation, excellence and commendation.
Former sergeants Brian Lewis and Lamonte Ratcliff now hold the title of lieutenant in the Joplin Police Department.
We don't know what Lt. Brian Lewis' wife Emily said before pinning on his new badge, but it brought a smile to his face.
Since October 1994 when he was hired as a patrolman, Lewis was a corporal working as a street supervisor and member of the investigations unit, and sergeant working in the detective bureau and in the internal affairs office of professional standards. Although having worked in a "behind the scenes" capacity, he has garnered seven letters of appreciation, one letter of commendation and three letters of excellence in addition to a certificate of appreciation from the US Secret Service.
Currently an adjunct instructor at Crowder College in Neosho, Lewis holds two B.A. degrees from Pittsburg State University in Spanish and sociology.
Ratcliff has 16 years of experience with the Joplin Police Department, most of it spent in patrol and some of that time working as a field training officer. He became a corporal in May 2001 and sergeant in December 2002.
At left, Lt. Lamonte Ratcliff shows confidence as his wife Latrisha pins on his new badge. Ratcliff, at right, during a session of a Citizen's Police Academy in 2007 demonstrates on a fellow officer what he can do to take down and restrain a perpetrator. The Citizen's Police Academy, offers a unique opportunity for citizens to learn about policies and practices of the JPD.
Ratcliff's awards and letters of appreciation are many. They include a Grand Cordon award that recognizes an act of bravery within the police department. Ratcliff said it was a group effort involving the 2005 capture of a felony fugitive from Louisiana named Tommy D. James who had just been featured on "America's Most Wanted" television show.
Currently working on a master's degree in criminal justice through a cooperative program between Missouri Southern and Southeast Missouri State University, Ratcliff was awarded an Associate of Arts from Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College, an Associate of Science in law enforcement and a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice from Missouri Southern.
Sharing the spotlight for the promotion to sergeant are former corporals Charla Geller and John D. Wales.
Administering the oath of office to newly named sergeants John D. Wales and Charla Geller is Joplin City Clerk Barbara Hogelin.
Interested in contributing to the overall integrity, quality and professionalism of the JPD, Geller has accumulated many awards and achievements since joining the force in 1993. In the investigations division she has demonstrated expertise in the processing of major crime scenes, the administration of polygraphs, and preparation of affidavits for prosecution of criminals. In the interest of community safety she has given crime prevention talks on the subjects of robbery, and identifying theft and fraudulent practices against the elderly. In addition, she has been involved in R.A.P.I.D. TEAM,(Residents and Police Interacting Directly) and D.A.R.E. for which she wrote grants addressing the problems of underage drinking in the community. Her background also contains experience with K-9 units, and most recently she achieved FEMA status as a K-9 search specialist or the use of dogs for urban search and rescue as response to natural or man-made disasters. Geller is a member of the Joplin Police and Fire Pension board, the JPD awards committee, and the Fraternal Order of Police.
A 1993 graduate of Missouri State University (SMSU) with a Bachelor of Science in socio-political communication with a minor in criminal justice, Geller took part in the Basic and Advanced Law Enforcement Academy in 1994 and a program in Level III crime scene investigation in 2006 from Missouri Southern.
Since 1999 Wales had been a patrol supervisor in the absence of his sergeant as well as being assigned to all shifts in patrol and various leadership positions on the special response team. His experience since joining the force in 1990 includes acting as a bailiff, doing field training work, and assuming the roles as an interdiction and K-9 officer. As a detective and member of the Tri-States Major Case Squad, Wales investigated domestic violence calls and has been awarded awards for bravery, safe driving, military service and meritorious service among others.
After getting an associate degree in law enforcement, Wales graduated in 1998 from Missouri Southern with a B.A. in criminal justice administration.
Gabe Allen, a new corporal, has been a member of the SWAT team and has eight years of experience as a field training officer. He is known for his seven-year stint in the K-9 unit. He and his dog Cezar made the headlines after Cezar took a fatal bullet to the head from an assailant after they responded to a robbery at Buffalo Wild Wings last September 2007.
Chief Roberts couldn't help himself from commenting about the direction Gabe Allen was giving his wife Stephanie as she pinned on his badge.
With a total of nine year's experience on the force, Gabe received a chief's achievement medal, a meritorious service award, officer of the year twice, officer of the month seven times, six letters of commendation, 10 letters of appreciation, seven letters of excellence and 12 Grand Cordons. In 2004 he was the American Red Cross Law Enforcement Hero.
Allen has earned 32-credit hours from Missouri Southern, is a graduate of broadcasting school, and has career enhancement training for detectives.
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