Major Ted Hylla Commanding Officer Division of Criminal Investigation (314) 615-8604 [E-mail Major Hylla]

Major Ted Hylla is currently assigned as the Commanding Officer of the Division of Criminal Investigation. Just prior to his promotion and reassignment, he had served in the Affton Southwest Precinct as the Precinct Commander. As a member of the St. Louis County Police Department since August 1, 1977, he has served our community in the North County, Central County and South County Precincts, the Tactical Operations Unit, Bureau of Special Investigations, and the Bureau of Drug Enforcement. Major Hylla holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice Management and is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy.

Major Hylla was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in 1987, to Lieutenant in 1991, to Captain in 1997 and to Major in 2004. He is a member of the FBI National Academy Associates Eastern District of Missouri Chapter. He has received eleven department awards consisting of six Chief's Commendations and seven Awards of Excellence as well as over sixty letters of appreciation. In 2004, Major Hylla was presented with Resolutions from St. Louis County and the State of Missouri recognizing his leadership and service to St. Louis County. He was also honored with the Outstanding Community Service Award from the South County Chamber of Commerce and the Superintendent's SOAR Award for outstanding leadership and service to the Affton School District. In addition, he is the immediate past department liaison for the South County Chapter of the Citizen Police Academy Alumni Association.

Major Hylla is a life long resident of South St. Louis County, was raised in the Affton area and graduated from Bayless High School in 1974. Major Hylla is married, has two children and currently resides in the Oakville area.

As the Commanding Officer of the Division of Criminal Investigation, Major Hylla is responsible for the overall effective operation of the Division. The mission of the St. Louis County Police Department is to work cooperatively with the citizens we serve, within the framework of the constitution, enforce both state and local laws, preserve the peace, reduce fear and provide a safe environment in our neighborhoods. In order to accomplish this mission, it is vital that we build strong partnerships with our citizens. Working together, we can assure our community remains a safe place to live and work.

Captain Thomas Jackson Commander Bureau of Drug Enforcement (314) 427-1293 [E-mail Captain Jackson]

Captain Thomas M. Jackson was born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts and attended high school in Florissant, Missouri. He and his wife Patricia have been married since 1981 and have three children. Captain Jackson is currently assigned as the Commander of the Bureau of Drug Enforcement and the Multijurisdictional Drug Task Force. In this position, he manages detectives from St. Louis County and sixteen other agencies who make up the largest drug Task Force in the Midwest. This unit was named Outstanding Drug Task Force of 2003 for the Midwest High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) by the White House Office of Drug Policy.

Captain Jackson started his career with the Department on June 3, 1979 as a police officer in the West County Precinct. He worked as a Detective and analyst in the Bureau of Drug Enforcement from 1981 to 1985. Captain Jackson served in the Tactical Operations Unit for five years as a police officer and three years as a Sergeant. His assignments in Tactical Operations included hostage negotiator, assault team point officer and helicopter pilot. Captain Jackson served as a Sergeant in the North County precinct and as a Lieutenant in the Affton Southwest precinct. He was also a Detective-Sergeant in the Burglary unit.

Captain Jackson graduated from Saint Louis Community College with an Associate Degree in Applied Life Science and received his Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice Management from Tarkio College. He is also a graduate of the 221st session of the FBI National Academy. Captain Jackson has received numerous awards, commendations and letters of appreciation including two Chief's commendations and the department's Meritorious Service Citation. In 1991, he was awarded the Medal of Valor for heroism. Captain Jackson was named 2003 Outstanding Task Force Commander for the Midwest HIDTA by the White House Office of Drug Policy.

Captain Jackson is a past legislative vice-president of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and has served as their State Leader for legislative affairs. He also serves as a commissioner for the St. Louis County Municipal Parks Grant Commission. Prior to joining the Department, Captain Jackson was a paramedic supervisor with the Christian Hospital Life Support Unit program. He also worked as an EMT for the Howard County Ambulance service from 1974 to 1976 while attending Central Methodist College. He is a certified helicopter flight instructor and holds a multi-engine airplane pilot's license with instrument rating.

Lieutenant Jim Vollmar Deputy Commander Bureau of Drug Enforcement (314) 427-4129 [E-mail Lieutenant Vollmar]

Lieutenant Vollmar is a lifelong resident of the St. Louis area and currently resides in St. Charles with his wife, Elaine. They have two adult children, Jennifer and Mark. Lieutenant Vollmar is assigned to the Bureau of Drug Enforcement where he is the Deputy Commander. In this position, he has the responsibility of managing the investigations conducted by the St. Louis County Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Task Force.

Lieutenant Vollmar began his career with the St. Louis County Police Department in 1978 and, after attending the Greater St. Louis Police Academy, was assigned as a patrol officer in the North County Precinct. During his career, he has served as a supervisor in the North County, West County, Affton Southwest and South County Precincts as well as the Bureau of Drug Enforcement. As a detective, Lieutenant Vollmar held assignments in the DEA Task Force, the Street Enforcement Team and the Tactical Operations Reserve Unit.

Lieutenant Vollmar was awarded the Medal of Valor in 1998 and has twice been awarded with the Department's Distinguished Service Citation for Valor, first in 1978 and again in 1997.

Lieutenant Vollmar attended the University of Missouri - St. Louis. He is a member of the International Narcotic Enforcement Officers Association and the Missouri Narcotic Officers Association.

Lieutenant Thomas Grimm Commander Bureau of Crimes Against Property (314) 615-8602 [E-mail Lieutenant Grimm]

Lieutenant Tom Grimm started his law enforcement career in 1972 with the U. S. Army Military Police serving in various units around the world as a patrol officer. In 1975 he attended the Greater St. Louis Police Academy for the Ladue Police Department in St. Louis County, where he served for five years.

In 1981, Lieutenant Grimm was hired by the St. Louis County Police and served in the South County Precinct. In 1986, he was transferred to the Burglary Unit where he served until 1996 when he was promoted to Sergeant. He then worked as a watch supervisor in the South County Precinct until 2000 when he was reassigned as the Supervisor of the Burglary Unit in the Division of Criminal Investigation. In 2001 he was promoted to Lieutenant and went to the Affton Southwest Precinct as a watch commander. In 2004 Lieutenant Grimm was transferred back to the Division of Criminal Investigation as the Commander of the Crimes Against Property Bureau, his current position.

He has served for six years on the Greater St. Louis Major Case Squad as an investigator and later as a supervisor. Lieutenant Grimm holds an associates degree in criminal justice and currently resides in Imperial Missouri with his wife and three sons, one of whom is an officer with the St. Louis County Police. Lieutenant Grimm has 21 Awards of Excellence and 26 letters of commendation and appreciation.

Sergeant Kevin Cavanaugh Supervisor Computer / Financial Fraud Unit (314) 615-5380 [E-mail Sergeant Cavanaugh]

Sergeant Kevin Cavanaugh has served as the supervisor of the Computer and Financial Fraud Unit, Division of Crimes Against Property, since 2001. His primary responsibility is directing investigations relating to property theft, financial fraud, hate crimes and computer related crimes including the operation of the departments forensic computer lab.

Sergeant Cavanaugh began his career in 1983 as a patrol officer assigned to the West County Precinct. In 1986 he was transferred to the North County Precinct as a patrol officer. In 1993 he was transferred to the Division of Criminal Investigation and assigned to the General Assignment Unit as a detective. While assigned to the General Assignment Unit, he investigated property theft, financial fraud and bad checks. He is also a former member of the St. Louis area Major Case Squad and a member of the United States Attorney - Hate Crimes Task Force. In 2001 he was promoted to Sergeant and assigned to his current duties.

Sergeant Cavanaugh is also the President of the St. Louis County Police Department Welfare Association, The Welfare Association supports employees of the police department in times of need with financial aid.

Sergeant Cavanaugh has completed college courses towards an associates degree at Florissant Valley Community College. He is a life-long resident of St. Louis area.

Lieutenant Tom Larkin Commander Bureau of Crimes Against Persons (314) 615-8477 [E-mail Lieutenant Larkin]

Lieutenant Tom Larkin was commissioned as a Police Officer in September of 1977. He has served in the Patrol Division in the Affton Precinct, the old West County (5th) Precinct and the Fenton Precinct. He has also been assigned to the Division of Criminal Investigation in the Bureau of Crimes Against Persons as a Detective. Lieutenant Larkin was promoted to the rank Sergeant in 1997 and was assigned to the Patrol Division's Fenton Precinct until his transfer back to the Bureau of Crimes Against persons in 2000. He was promoted to Lieutenant in 2004 and was assigned to the South County Precinct. In December of 2006 Lt. Larkin was transferred back to the Division of Criminal Investigation as the Commander of the Bureau of Crimes Against Persons. There, he oversees the Robbery/Homicide/Sexual Assault Unit, the Child Abuse Unit and the Domestic Violence Unit.

Lieutenant Larkin was raised in South St. Louis. He graduated from Bishop DuBourg High School and then attended Meramec Community College. He has been married to his wife since 1980 and they have three children and one grandson.

Lieutenant Larkin has received the Meritorious Service Citation as well as several Awards of Excellence during his career.

Sergeant Gary Guinn Supervisor Family Crime Unit (314) 615-5370 [E-mail Sergeant Guinn]

Sergeant Gary Guinn began his law enforcement career in 1971 as a police cadet with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. In 1973, he graduated from the Greater St. Louis Metropolitan Police Academy and was assigned to patrol duties in the North St. Louis area. In 1982, he was transferred to the Bureau of Crimes Against Persons, where he served as a detective until his retirement from the department in 1994.

In 1994, Sergeant Gary Guinn became a Corporate Security Investigator with the Public Safety Department of St. Louis University, where he remained until 1996, when he became a police officer with the St. Louis County Police Department. Sergeant Guinn was assigned to the South County Precinct and in 1997 he was transferred to the Bureau of Crimes Against Persons, where he remained until his promotion to Sergeant in 2001.

Since his promotion to Sergeant, he has served as a supervisor in the Division of Patrol, in the South County Precinct, the Bureau of Drug Enforcement, Special Investigations Unit and the Federal Drug Enforcement Administration Task Force. His current assignment is the supervisor of the Family Crime Unit in the Bureau of Crimes Against Persons.

Sergeant Guinn received an Associates Degree from Forest Park Community College and later attended Webster University. He has served as the Chairman of the St. Louis Child Fatality Review Project and as a member of the Foster Care Coalition with the Missouri Division of Family Services.

Captain Forrest Van Ness Commander Bureau of Criminal Identification (314) 615-3901 [E-mail Captain Van Ness]

Captain Forrest L. Van Ness was born in Michigan, raised in central Indiana and currently resides in Hazelwood, Missouri. Captain Van Ness is currently assigned as the Commander of the Bureau of Criminal Identification for the St. Louis County Police Department.

In this position, he plans, organizes, and directs the operations of the Bureau, which comprises the Police Crime Laboratory, and the Fingerprint, Property Control, Crime Scene and the Prisoner Conveyance Units. Captain Van Ness develops and implements operational policies and procedures to ensure the efficient and effective use of the various criminal identification services and conformance with broader departmental goals and objectives. Further, he collaborates with Bureau personnel to continually review and update performance standards, sets achievement goals, coordinates specialized member training and development, and seeks to recruit qualified personnel. As a Commander, Captain Van Ness is proactive and continues to strengthen our partnerships with the communities we have sworn to serve and protect.

Captain Van Ness serves in a number of different capacities for the County Police including: a member of the Department's Command Staff and co-chairs both the Department's Computer Steering Committee and the Coordinating Committee of the Safe Schools Partnership; a member of the FBI National Academy Associates; a member of the St. Louis Area Police Chiefs Association's Technology Committee as well as a member of the Community Service Committee for the Hazelwood School District.

Captain Van Ness began his career with the St. Louis County Police on September 22, 1980, when he was hired as a police officer serving the North County Precinct. Captain Van Ness has also served in the Division of Criminal Investigation: the Bureau of Criminal Identification as a Crime Scene Detective, in the Division of Operational Support: the Personnel and Training Unit as both a Background Investigator and Training Officer and in the Office of the Chief of Police: the Municipal Services Unit as the Department's Public Information Officer. He was promoted to Sergeant in 1996, and served in the North County Precinct. He returned to supervise the Municipal Services Unit and was promoted to Lieutenant in 1999. Captain Van Ness was appointed to the rank of Captain in 2001, and was assigned as a Precinct Commander in the Division of Patrol, City of Fenton Precinct until 2006, when he became the Bureau Commander for the Bureau of Criminal Identification.

Captain Van Ness earned his Bachelors of Arts Degree from the University of Missouri - St. Louis and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy.

Lieutenant Kevin Lawson Commander Police Crime Laboratory (314) 615-5365 [E-mail Lieutenant Lawson]

Lieutenant R. Kevin Lawson is currently assigned as the Commander of the St. Louis County Police Department Crime Laboratory. As the Commander he is responsible for the operational management of the crime laboratory and the forensic staff, which provides support services to the law enforcement agencies within the St. Louis County metropolitan area. The Police Crime Laboratory routinely handles in excess of 9,000 case analysis requests per year. The cases involve the forensic disciplines of chemistry, biology/DNA, firearms and tool marks and photography.

Lieutenant Lawson began his career with the St. Louis County Police Department in the North County Precinct. Prior to joining the Department on August 27, 1978, he attended Indiana University where a Bachelor of Arts degree in Forensic Studies was earned. While attending college Lieutenant Lawson also worked for the I.U. Police Department in the cadet and cadet officer program. In addition to an assignment as a patrol officer, he has worked in the Crime Scene Unit as a crime scene detective for 15 years. During this tenure he attained certification as a Senior Crime Scene Analyst through the International Association for Identification (I.A.I.). In March 1997, Lieutenant Lawson received an assignment to the St. Louis County and Municipal Police Academy, where he taught Criminal Investigation to the basic police recruits. While in this assignment he became a POST-certified instructor.

Lieutenant Lawson was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in March 1998, at which time he was assigned to the North County Precinct as a Watch Supervisor. In July 1999, he returned to the Crime Scene Unit as a Supervisor. Then upon being promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in June 2001, he was assigned to the Police Crime Laboratory. In his current assignment Lieutenant Lawson is able to utilize the many skills developed in his career to ensure the needs of the agencies, officers and investigators are met through the support services provided by the Police Crime Laboratory.

Lieutenant Lawson continues to stay involved with teaching and criminal investigation. Since October 1991, he has been associated with the Medicolegal Death Investigation Training Course sponsored by St. Louis University. The course is a nationally recognized program providing an excellent basic training course three times a year for investigators, medical personnel and lawyers involved in the investigation of death scenes.

In addition to maintaining an active role as an instructor in criminal investigation, Lieutenant Lawson has received membership in several scientific organizations. He is an active member in the I.A.I., the Missouri Division of the I.A.I., the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors (A.S.C.L.D.), the Missouri Association of Crime Laboratory Directors (M.A.C.L.D.), and the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (A.A.F.S.). His involvement has lead to current positions as the Chairman of the Board for the Missouri Division of the I.A.I. and as a Board Member for the I.A.I.

Lieutenant Lawson is married, has two children and resides in the West St. Louis County area.

Sergeant Kenneth Heyer Supervisor Fugitive Affairs Unit (314) 615-8899 [E-mail Sergeant Heyer]

Sergeant Kenneth Heyer was born and raised in northeastern Ohio and moved to the St. Louis area, after receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Law Enforcement Administration from Kent State University, in 1979.

Sergeant Heyer began his career with the St. louis County Police Department in 1979. As a Police Officer, he served in the Division of Patrol - Central County Precinct for five years, the Division of Criminal Investigation for one year, and the Division of Patrol - West County Precinct, as a Field Training Instructor, for five years. He was assigned to the Division of Special Operations as a Tactical Operations Officer / Helicopter and Airplane Pilot from 1990 to 2000, prior to being promoted to the rank of sergeant in 2000. He then served as a supervisor in the Division of Patrol - Affton/Southwest and Wildwood Precincts through 2007.

Sergeant Heyer is currently assigned, as a supervisor, to the Division of Criminal Investigation - Fugitive Affairs Unit.

During his tenure with the St. Louis County Police Department, Sergeant Heyer has received two Meritorious Service Citations, one Purple Heart, one Chief's Commendation, three Awards of Excellence and 90 letters of appreciation, for services performed in the line of duty. He is a member of the St. Louis Area Crisis Crisis Intervention Team Coordination Council and the Airborne Law Enforcement Association.

Detective Douglas Fite Supervisor Property Control Unit (314) 615-2597 [E-mail Detective Fite]

Detective Doug Fite was born and raised in Carbondale, Illinois, and currently resides in West St. Louis County with his wife and two children. Detective Fite is currently assigned as the Supervisor of the Property Control Unit. In this position, he is responsible for all evidence and found property that is seized by St. Louis County Police and various other departments within St. Louis County.

Detective Fite began his career with the St. Louis County Police Department in 1990 as a Police Recruit in the St. Louis County and Municipal Police Academy. After graduation, he was assigned to the West County Precinct as a Police Officer. While in the West County Precinct he was assigned to the Village of Hanley Hills, the City of Wildwood and also served as a Neighborhood Policing Officer for five years. After a successful assignment in the NPO Unit, he was selected for a position in the Property Control Unit.

In February 2002, Detective Fite was promoted to Supervisor of the Property Control Unit, where he serves in his current position.

Detective Fite served four years in the United States Air Force, and obtained an Associates Degree in Industrial Security from the Community College of the Air Force, and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Science from Webster University. He has received numerous Awards of Excellence and letters of appreciation.

Detective Fite enjoys spending time with his family, his children's school and sporting events, outdoor activities, and is an avid woodworker. He has also competed in several Missouri Police Olympic competitions representing his department through the years.

Detective Randall Combs Lead Examiner Polygraph Unit (314) 615-5400 [E-mail Detective Combs]

Detective Randall Combs is currently assigned as Lead Polygraph Examiner for the Saint Louis County Police Department. This unit is responsible for conducting polygraph screening of applicants for the position of police officer, criminal investigation cases and Professional Responsibility issues.

Detective Combs has been a member of the Saint Louis County Police Department since September of 1983. In 1986, he was selected to be a detective and has been a polygraph examiner since April of 1991. Detective Combs became lead examiner in 1996 and currently serves in this capacity.

Detective Combs has a Bachelors Degree in Criminal Justice Administration from Central Missouri State University. In addition, he is also a graduate of the International Academy of Polygraph and is a member in good standing with the American Polygraph Association.

Ms. Maureen Summers Supervisor Word Processing Unit (314) 615-8604 [E-mail Ms. Summers]

Maureen Summers was born and raised in North St. Louis County and currently resides in Golden Eagle, Illinois with her husband.

Ms. Summers started with the St. Louis County Police Department in 1969. Through the years she has worked in the Intelligence Unit, Financial Management, Civil Preparedness, Communications and Personnel and Training. She has been with the Division of Criminal Investigation since 1995.

Ms. Summers enjoys riding horses and fishing in her off time.