Law and Public Safety

Captain Chuck Boschert graduated from Central Missouri State University in 1983 with a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice Administration and has been a commissioned member of the St. Louis County Police Department since that time. In addition to assignments in the department's West County, North County, and Central County Precincts, he spent ten years assigned to the Bureau of Drug Enforcement as both a detective and sergeant, including a five-year detachment to the Federal DEA Task Force in St. Louis. Captain Boschert also spent eleven years as commander of the St. Louis County Police Intelligence Unit supervising investigations into organized crime, public corruption and terrorism. During that time, he oversaw the development of the St. Louis Terrorism Early Warning Group and served as director of this regional intelligence fusion center. He was promoted to the rank of Captain in July 2011 and is currently assigned as Commander for the West County precinct.

Captain Boschert has served as a member of the U.S. Attorney's Anti-Terrorism Advisory Council, the U.S. Attorney's Hate Crimes Task Force, the Mid-Missouri Domestic Terrorism Working Group, and the national Interagency Threat Assessment and Coordination Group (ITACG) Advisory Council. He is a graduate of the U.S. Secret Service's National Threat Assessment Center and is a former Vice General Chairman of the Association of Law Enforcement Intelligence Units (LEIU). Captain Boschert is currently a member of the St. Louis Area Regional Response System (STARRS) Advisory Council and the St. Louis Regional Resource Coordination Plan development committee.

Lieutenant Scott Melies was raised in South St. Louis County and currently resides in the Oakville area. Lieutenant Melies is assigned to the West County Precinct where he is responsible for the day-to-day operation of police services to the City of Valley Park.

Lieutenant Melies began his career in the South County Precinct in 1980 as a patrolman. He also served in the Tactical Operations Unit before his promotion to Sergeant in 1995. As a Sergeant, he served as a Watch Supervisor in the Affton Southwest and West County Precincts before being selected to run the newly formed City of Valley Park Detail in 1998. In 1999 he was promoted to Lieutenant. As a Lieutenant he has served in the South and West County Precincts.

Lieutenant Melies holds a Bachelors Degree in Business Management from Tarkio College. He is the recipient of numerous letters of appreciation and Awards of Excellence and two Chiefs Commendations. He is a member of the International Police Mountain Bike Association and the International Christian Cycling Club. His hobbies include amateur road and mountain bicycle racing along with several other outdoor activities.

Lieutenant James Mundel joined the St. Louis County Police Department in September 1989 and served as a Security Officer in the Bureau of Security Services until attending the St. Louis County and Municipal Police Academy in January 1990. Upon graduation, he was assigned to the North County Precinct. While in the Precinct he served as a Field Training Officer, the Advisor to the precinct Law Enforcement Explorer Program, and as an accident reconstruction investigator for the Department. In December 1997, he was assigned to the Division of Patrol as the aide to the Bureau of Special Operations. He returned to the North County Precinct in April 1998 and resumed his previous duties. He was promoted to sergeant in October 1999. He remained in the North County Precinct as a watch supervisor and acting watch commander and worked briefly as a watch supervisor in the West County Precinct. In March 2002, he was assigned to establish the Department's Highway Safety Team in the Bureau of Special Operations. The Team was made possible from a grant from the Missouri Division of Highway Safety. In June 2008, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and assigned as a watch commander in the North County Precinct. He was transferred to his current assignment as watch commander in the West County Precinct in May of 2010. Lieutenant Mundel has been trained in traffic incident management by the Missouri Department of Transportation.

Lieutenant Mundel supervises the Department's Crash Reconstruction Team which consists of six police officers assigned to the Division of Patrol. He ensures that they maintain their training, coordinates response and use of the resource equipment utilized by the officers in their investigations. Additionally, Lieutenant Mundel serves as Deputy Commander of the Criminal Traffic Investigation Unit (CTIU) of St. Louis County. CTIU is a cooperative effort of traffic crash investigators from the various police agencies in St. Louis County. It provides a vast resource of investigators and resources for the purpose of investigating fatal or serious traffic crashes to agencies throughout St. Louis County to identify causation and assist in necessary criminal prosecutions.

From 1999 to 2001, Lieutenant Mundel served as the Advisor to the St. Louis Area Law Enforcement Explorer Association and was the Director of the Law Enforcement Explorer Academy in 1999 and 2001. Currently, Lieutenant Mundel serves as the Department's Explorer Program Coordinator and oversees the administration of the four Law Enforcement Explorer posts sponsored by the St. Louis County Police Department.

Lieutenant James Mundel was born and raised in the St. Louis area and resides in St. Louis County. He has a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Missouri St. Louis in Administration of Justice.

Lieutenant Mike Reifschneider is a supervisor in the West County Precinct in the Division of Patrol. He has been assigned to the West County Precinct since his promotion in 2009. He began his career in 1984 where he attended the Greater St. Louis Police Academy in the City of St. Louis. As a patrol officer he worked in the North County and West County Precincts. He has worked in the capacity of a Crime Scene Investigator and is an Accident Reconstructionist. He has served in the Division of Criminal Investigations as a detective in the Crimes Against Persons Family Crime Unit as a child abuse investigator. In 2001, he was promoted to Sergeant and assigned to the North County Precinct. Lieutenant Reifschneider has also been a supervisor in the Fenton Precinct.

Lieutenant Reifschneider is involved with the Department's Special Olympics program. This program is a major source of revenue for Special Olympics, which allows citizens with special needs to experience the thrill of competing in a variety of sporting events.

Lieutenant Reifschneider has earned a two-year degree from Ranken Technical College in St. Louis. He is a life-long resident of the St. Louis area.

Lieutenant Reifschneider is the son of Officer James Reifschneider, a St. Louis County police officer who was killed in the line of duty on April 30, 1977.

Lieutenant Melissa Webb was born and raised in the St. Louis County area. She is currently assigned as a Watch Commander in the Division of Patrol, West County Precinct.

Lieutenant Webb graduated from the St. County Municipal Police Academy in 1995. She began her career as a patrol officer, working in the Division of Patrol, South County Precinct. In 2001, she was transferred to the Division of Criminal Investigations, Bureau of Crimes Against Persons. In 2005, she was promoted to the rank Sergeant and assigned as a Watch Supervisor in the Division of Patrol, Affton Southwest Precinct. In 2009, she was transferred to the Division of Operational Support, Bureau of Communications. In 2010, she was transferred to the Division of Criminal Investigations, Bureau of Crimes Against Persons. In 2010, she was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and transferred to her current assignment.

Sergeant Scott Johnston is a third-generation police officer and a native of St. Louis County. He attended college at Southeast Missouri State University, earning Bachelor of Science degrees in Computer Science and Criminal Justice.

He began his career with the St. Louis County Police Department in July of 1980 and over the years has served in the North County, Central County, West County, Affton Southwest, and City of Wildwood precincts. Prior to being promoted to the rank of sergeant in 1998, he served as a homicide detective in the bureau of Crimes Against Persons, and also served as a detective on the St. Louis Major Case Squad for ten years.

Sergeant Johnston is currently assigned as a Watch Supervisor in the West County precinct, where he assists and oversees the uniformed patrol officers of that precinct.

Sergeant Johnston is married and has one daughter. His interests include hunting, fishing and shooting sports.

Sergeant Jon Martin was born and raised in the Rossville, Illinois. He received a Bachelors of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from MacMurray College.

Sergeant Martin graduated from the St. County Municipal Police Academy in 1997. He began his career as a patrol officer, working in the Division of Patrol, South County Precinct. In 2002, he was transferred to the Division of Special Operations, Tactical Operations Unit. While serving in the Tactical Operations Unit he assisted with a wide variety of assignments ranging from search warrants, barricaded subjects, honor guards, special enforcement assignments, Presidential Motorcades and public display appearances.

In February 2011, he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and now serves in the West County Precinct as a Watch Supervisor.

Sergeant Gary Sodoma is a lifelong resident in the St. Louis County area. He currently resides in West County with his wife, Ann, and their three children. Sergeant Sodoma is currently assigned to the Affton Southwest Precinct as a shift supervisor.

Sergeant Sodoma began his career with the St. Louis County Police Department on December 26, 1989, when he was hired as a security officer at the St. Louis County Courthouse. In December 1990, he was promoted to Police Officer and assigned to the Division of Patrol in the West County Precinct. In 1993, then Police Officer Sodoma was assigned to the newly formed Metro-Link Unit. The Metro-Link unit was formed by combining the St. Louis County Police along with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police into one unit that was used to patrol the entire Metro-link train system.

In 1994, then Detective Sodoma was assigned to the Bureau of Drug Enforcement. While in the Bureau of Drug Enforcement, Detective Sodoma was assigned to the Street Enforcement Team, Package Interdiction Team, and the Highway Interdiction Team. Detective Sodoma was also a canine handler while in the Bureau of Drug Enforcement. Detective Sodoma was assigned two canines, Tony and Scooter. Detective Sodoma along with canines Tony and Scooter have been involved in the seizure of over 25 million dollars in drug tainted U. S. currency along with the seizure of over 10,000 lbs. of marijuana, 500 lbs of cocaine, and 100 lbs of heroin and meth.

Sergeant Sodoma was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in 2010. Sergeant Sodoma received his Associate Degree from St. Louis Community College. Sergeant Sodoma has received 45 awards commendations and letters of appreciation.

Sergeant Margaret Trittler was born and raised in St. Louis and currently resides in St. Charles County with her husband, Robert, a retired Major from the St. Louis County Police Department.

She began her career with the department in 1984, at which time she was assigned to the Division of Patrol in the North County Precinct. In 1988, she was transferred to the Division of Criminal Investigation, Bureau of Drug Enforcement/Special Investigations Unit where she served 5 years. She then served 7 years with the Bureau of Fugitive Affairs before returning to the Bureau of Drug Enforcement where she served an additional 6 years, 4 of which were with the FBI Drug Task Force. She then served 2 years with the Bureau of Professional Standards during which time she received certification as a POST Instructor. She was then transferred to the Division of Patrol, Problem Properties Unit in the North County Precinct.

She was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in April 2010 and was assigned to the Division of Patrol, North County Precinct. She was assigned to the Bureau of Communications in 2011 and then transferred to her current assignment in the West County Precinct in October of that year.

Sergeant Trittler has received 4 Federal Commendations from the U. S. Attorney's Office, 2 Chief's Commendations, 8 Letter of Excellence, as well as numerous letters of appreciation for her service.

Beside her passion for her work, Sergeant Trittler is a dedicated horsewoman, a member of the National and Missouri Back Country Horseman, and volunteers her service with Stray Rescue.

Sergeant Jeff Warner was born and raised in North St. Louis County and currently resides in West St. Louis County with his wife and three children. Sergeant Warner obtained a Bachelors degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Missouri-St. Louis and is currently assigned as a Watch Supervisor in the West County Precinct.

He began his career with the St. Louis County Police Department in 1997 and was assigned as a Patrolman in the North County Precinct. During his tenure in the North County Precinct he served as a Neighborhood Policing Officer and as the Precinct Intelligence Officer. In 2006 Sgt. Warner was transferred to the Division of Criminal Investigation, Crimes Against Property. Sgt. Warner spent the next 5 years conducting Burglary investigations in the North County Precinct until his promotion to Sergeant in 2011.

Sgt. Warner enjoys spending time with his family in his off time.

Sergeant Brandt Wathen began his career with the St. Louis County Police Department in July of 1999. Sergeant Wathen has served in the Bureau of Communications, the West County Precinct, and the Central County Precinct as a patrol officer, field-training instructor, firearms instructor, and precinct detective. In 2008 he was transferred to the Bureau of Drug Enforcement where he served on the Street Enforcement Team, the Methamphetamine Task Force, and as a Federal Task Force Officer detached to the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Sergeant Wathen also served as a commissioned officer in the United States Army Military Police Corps until his honorable discharge in 2005. As an MP, he participated in several operations to include a combat tour overseas as an MP Commanding Officer, where he was deployed to Baghdad, Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Sergeant Wathen was promoted in February 2011 to the rank of Sergeant and currently serves as a Watch Supervisor in the West County Precinct. Sergeant Wathen is married and has two children. His interests include hunting, fishing, and shooting sports. Sergeant Wathen holds a Bachelors Degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in military science from Texas State University.

Police Officer Vince Bazzoni is assigned to the Division of Patrol, West County Precinct. In this position he serves as a Neighborhood Policing Officer. Officer Bazzoni is responsible for organizing local neighborhood watch groups and coordinates crime prevention presentations and exhibits. His other duties include neighborhood preservation, Crime analysis, traffic enforcement, coordinating the Citizens Police Academies and the Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association.

Officer Bazzoni was born in St. Louis and was raised in St. Charles: he is a 1987 graduate of Francis Howell High School. He began his career in law enforcement in 1991 and in 1997 he joined the St. Louis County Police Department in the Central County Precinct. He has served as a Patrol Officer in the Village of Hanley Hills, and as a field training instructor in the Central County and West County Precincts. Officer Bazzoni also served in the Metro Air Support Unit where he was assigned to the Spirit of St. Louis Airport before returning to the West County Precinct in 2009.

Officer Bazzoni has over 3 years of military experience from the United States Marine Corps. His hobbies include most sporting activities and hunting/fishing. Officer Bazzoni has helped coach all three of his children's athletic teams as well as coaching at the college level and is very involved in his community.

Police Officer Dustin Poncin is assigned to the Division of Patrol, West County Precinct. In this position he serves as a Neighborhood Policing Officer. Officer Poncin is responsible for organizing local neighborhood watch groups and coordinates crime prevention presentations and exhibits. His other duties include neighborhood preservation, the planning of Citizen Police Academies, crime analysis and traffic enforcement. Officer Poncin is the head Advisor for the West County Precinct Explorer Post consisting of thirteen Explorers. He coordinates their training, ride-alongs with other officers, fund raising events, uniform inspections and event scheduling.

Officer Poncin was born in Athens, Greece and raised in Falls Church, Virginia. He began his career with the St. Louis County Police on January 3, 1997 when he was hired as a Probationary Officer in the Central County Precinct. He has served as a Patrol Officer in the Village of Hanley Hills, the City of Valley Park Detail, the Fenton Detail and the West County Precinct.

Officer Poncin has over seven years of military experience from the United States Navy. His hobbies include most sporting activities. Officer Poncin helps coach all of his children's athletic teams and is very involved in his community.

St. Louis County Police Department
7900 Forsyth Boulevard
St. Louis, MO 63105

Emergency Calls: Call 911
Non-Emergency Reporting / General Information: (314) 889-2341
TDD: (314) 889-2345

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