Major Robert Trittler Commanding Officer Division of Special Operations (314) 615-2551 [E-mail Major Trittler]

Major Robert Trittler was born and raised in North St. Louis County, and currently resides in O'Fallon with his wife Margaret Trittler who is also a St. Louis County Police Officer. Major Trittler is the Commanding Officer of the Division of Special Operations for the St. Louis County Police Department.

In this position he directs the operations of the Community Action Teams, Highway Safety Team, Tactical Operations Unit, Metro Air Support Unit, Spirit Airport Detail, and the Metrolink Police Unit.

Major Trittler serves in a number of different capacities for the County Police including Chairman of the Coordinating Council for the Crisis Intervention Team. The CIT is a collaborative effort with the mental health community, local hospitals, community advocates, and the police department to provide an effective system of first responders and medical assistance to consumers in mental health crisis.

Major Trittler began his career with the St. Louis County Police Department on October 1, 1973 when he was hired as a police officer working in the West County Precinct. Major Trittler spent seven years in the Tactical Operations Unit before getting promoted to Sergeant in 1984. As Sergeant, he worked in the Division of Patrol as a precinct supervisor, in Criminal Investigation as a supervisor for the Special Investigations Unit, and returned to the Tactical Operations Unit until 1991 when he was promoted to Lieutenant and assigned as Commander of the Tactical Operations Unit. Major Trittler was promoted to the Rank of Captain in 1996 after serving two years as the Lieutenant in charge of Crimes Against Persons. Major Trittler spent five years as Commander of the North County Precinct and had been Commander of the Bureau of Special Operations for three years when he was promoted to Major and placed in command of the newly formed Division of Special Operations.

Major Trittler has a Bachelors Degree in Criminal Justice and is a graduate of the 204th session of the FBI National Academy. He has received three Chiefs commendations, a meritorious service citation, and eleven community awards including North County Incorporated Community Service Award and NAMI's Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award in recognition of the CIT program.

Captain Robert Young Commander Office of Emergency Management (314) 628-5400 [E-mail Captain Young]

Captain Robert Young was born and raised in the City of St. Louis and resides in the Affton community with his wife of thirty-five years. He is assigned to the Office of Emergency Management for the St. Louis County Police Department.

As Commander of Emergency Management, Captain Young leads a team of specialists responsible for emergency planning and preparedness regarding disasters and major events that affect our County. This includes coordinating a multi-agency response and assisting with the recovery from these events, such as tornados, floods and/or hazardous material concerns.

Captain Young began his career with the St. Louis County Police Department on January 28, 1969 when he was hired as a Patrol Officer in the North County Precinct. During his more than 35 year career, he rose to the rank of Captain while serving in numerous assignments, including Office of Emergency Management, Bureau of Special Operations, Criminal Identification Bureau, Planning & Analysis, City of Wellston, Central Police Records and Precinct Watch Supervisor and Commander in several precincts. He also serves as Chairman of the St. Louis County Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) and as Program Manager for grants to St. Louis County pertaining to homeland security issues.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Columbia University and has been involved in numerous training programs. Over recent years, Captain Young has received Chief's Commendations and the Department's Purple Heart Award. Although his hobbies mostly involve home renovation projects, the majority of his personal time involves family and being a grandfather to four terrific grandchildren.

Captain Marion Monteleone Commander MetroLink Police Unit (314) 982-1400 X2207 [E-mail Captain Monteleone]

Captain Marion "Monty" Monteleone was born in St. Louis City and now resides in unincorporated South St. Louis County with his wife, Mary, who retired from the County police department in 2002 after 29.5 years of service. Captain Monteleone is currently assigned as the Commander of the Metrolink Police Unit, which is a contract service for the Metro transportation organization.

In that position, Captain Monteleone is responsible for the safety and security of the passengers and property of the Metrolink Light Rail System. He commands a unit that consists of forty officers from not only St. Louis County Police but also the St. Louis Metropolitan Police and the St. Clair County, Illinois Sheriff's Department.

Captain Monteleone also serves on several committees. He is the chairman of the Weapons Systems and the Annual Memorial Breakfast and Plaza Ceremony Committees. He is on the steering committee of the yearly "Guns & Hoses" boxing event that benefits the Backstoppers organization where he has also fought four times as recently as 2004. He has participated as a major fundraiser for the St. Louis County Police Officers Welfare Association, Backstoppers and the Missouri Special Olympics. He has raised a total of over $250,000 for the three organizations. He was a member of the Presidential Debate task force in 2000 and 2004.

Captain Monteleone began his career with St. Louis County on January 6, 1975 and was assigned to the West County Precinct. In 1980, he was transferred to the Arson & Explosives Unit serving as a Bomb Technician and Arson Investigator where he was the first St. Louis County Detective certified as an Arson Investigator. He was promoted to Sergeant in September of 1984 and assigned to the South County Precinct. In 1985, he was assigned to the Affton Southwest Precinct and then later transferred to the Division of Criminal Investigation in 1987, specifically the Bureau of Special Investigations. In November of that year, he was transferred to the Bureau of Tactical Operations. In 1991 he was reassigned to the South County precinct as a patrol supervisor where he was promoted to Lieutenant in 1996. In 1997, he was assigned to the Metrolink Police unit as the Commander where he currently is assigned.

Captain Monteleone received a Bachelors Degree from National Louis University in 1996, with a major in Human Behavior. He has accumulated over 2,500 hours of training from the FBI, ATF, Secret Service, U.S. Army, the National Fire Academy, the Missouri Highway Patrol and various law enforcement organizations. He was received 27 awards and letters of recognition. In his off-duty time he enjoys traveling with his wife, hunting, fishing and working out.

Sergeant Karl Bulla Supervisor MetroLink Police Unit (314) 982-1400 X2207 [E-mail Sergeant Bulla]

Sergeant Karl Bulla was born and raised in the City of St. Louis and now resides in O'Fallon, Missouri with his wife and children. He enjoys coaching ice hockey, photography, and spending time with his family.

Sergeant Bulla joined the Department in June 1985 and was assigned to the South County Precinct where he served in the Commercial Overlay Program(C.O.P.), and as a precinct gang officer. In April of 1994, he was transferred to the Department's Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) Unit and taught both the D.A.R.E and Gang Resistance Education and Training (G.R.E.A.T.) Program curriculum in North St. Louis County for four years. He provided these programs to the youth in both the public and private schools within the Hazelwood School District.

In May 1998 he was transferred to the City of Fenton Precinct where he both taught D.A.R.E. and was one of three officers assigned to the newly formed Bike/Parks Unit. In October 1999 he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and spent four months with Fenton as a new supervisor, then transferred in January to the North County Precinct. In July 2001 he was transferred to the Metrolink Police Unit where he is still currently assigned as a watch supervisor.

For the last 15 years, Sergeant Bulla has served on the Memorial Breakfast Committee to honor the officers from our department that gave their lives in the line of duty. He also serves as a Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) supervisor for the department.

Sergeant Bulla graduated from Lutheran High South in 1982 and received a Bachelor of Science Degree from Southeast Missouri State University in May 1985. During the last twenty-one years with the Department Sergeant Bulla has received a Chief's Commendation, the Department's Purple Heart Award, three letters of commendation and numerous letters of citizen appreciation.

Sergeant Mark Koeller Supervisor MetroLink Police Unit (314) 982-1400 X2207 [E-mail Sergeant Koeller]

Sergeant Mark Koeller was born and raised in North St. Louis County. He currently resides in West St. Louis County with his wife and daughter. Sergeant Koeller is currently assigned to the Division of Special Operations as a unit supervisor for the Metrolink contract detail.

In this position he oversees all police activities on the Metrolink Light Rail System in St. Louis County and St. Louis City. He works directly with officers and supervisors of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and in cooperation with the security division of Metro.

Sergeant Koeller began his career with the St. Louis County Police Department on April 27, 1992, when he was hired as a police officer and assigned to the West County Precinct. He was assigned to the City of Valley Park contract in 1998 and then to the Community Action Team in 2000. In March of 2002, he was promoted to the rank of sergeant and assigned to the North County Precinct. In 2003 he was assigned to the Metrolink contract where he still serves.

Sergeant Koeller has served on the Crisis Intervention Team Coordinating Council since the CIT program was introduced in the St. Louis area. He serves on the Special Olympics Committee, where he assists in organizing many fund raising events. He is a former member of the St. Louis Area Major Case Squad. He has received a Chiefs Commendation, 10 Awards of Excellence in addition to numerous certificates and letters of appreciation.

Sergeant Koeller is strong in his faith and enjoys serving at his Church as a leader, where he is the Chairman for the Board of Church Properties and a member of the Executive Board.

Captain Kurt Frisz Commander Bureau of Tactical Support (636) 532-2984 [E-mail Captain Frisz]

Captain Kurt Frisz was born and raised in Terre Haute, Indiana and currently resides in O'Fallon with his wife Beth and son Luke. Since March of 2003, Captain Frisz has been assigned as the Commander of the Bureau Tactical Support, which is comprised of the Tactical Operations Unit and the Metro Air Support Unit. He is responsible for overseeing day-to-day operations of the Tactical Operations Unit, which includes response to all hostage/barricade situations, civil disorder and execution of all search warrants within St. Louis County as well as dignitary protection details. Captain Frisz also oversees daily operations of the Metro Air Support Unit. The Metro Air Support Unit is a multi-jurisdictional unit that provides proactive/preventative patrols as well as search and rescue missions for the metropolitan St. Louis Area.

Captain Frisz began his career in the North County Precinct in 1986 as a patrolman. He served in the Tactical Operations Unit from 1988 until his promotion to Sergeant in 1998. As a Sergeant he served in the North County Precinct and the Bureau of Drug Enforcement. In 2002, he was promoted to Lieutenant and again served in the North County Precinct until he moved to his current assignment in 2003. He was promoted to Captain in 2004, remaining in the Tactical and Metro Air Support Units.

Captain Frisz has served the department as a helicopter and fixed wing pilot since 1989. He is a member of the Airborne Law Enforcement Association, the National Tactical Officers Association and he is a board member for the Metro Airborne Law Enforcement Foundation.

Captain Frisz holds a Bachelors Degree in Criminal Justice from Columbia College. He has received over 110 awards and letters of appreciation, including two Medals of Valor, a Distinguished Service Citation, two Meritorious Service Citations and three Chief's Commendations.

Sergeant John Blake Supervisor Tactical Operations Unit (636) 532-2984 [E-mail Sergeant Blake]

Sergeant John Blake was born and raised in north St. Louis County, Missouri and has one son. Sergeant Blake was assigned to the Tactical Operations Unit as a supervisor in January 2006. He is responsible for the operations of the Tactical Operations Unit, which includes response to all hostage/barricade situations, civil disorder, dignitary protection details and the execution of all search warrants within St. Louis County.

Sergeant Blake began his career in the West County Precinct in 1994 as a patrolman. He has served the Police Department as a detective with the Bureau of Drug Enforcement and as a Special Federal Officer detached to the Federal Bureau of Investigation Violent Crime Task Force until his promotion in 2004. Sergeant Blake also served as a supervisor in the North County Precinct prior to his assignment in the Tactical Operations Unit.

Sergeant Blake received his criminal justice education from the University of Missouri-St. Louis and Columbia College. He has received a Chief's Commendation and numerous awards and letters of appreciation for involvement with the community.

Sergeant John Wheeler Supervisor Tactical Operations Unit (636) 532-2984 [E-mail Sergeant Wheeler]

Sergeant John Wheeler began his career in law enforcement in 1992 working for the Kansas City Missouri, Police Department. In 1999 he joined the St. Louis County Police Department and was assigned to the Division of Patrol, North County Precinct. Sergeant Wheeler later was assigned to the Division of Criminal Investigations as a detective in the Bureau of Crimes Against Persons.

In 2005, Sergeant Wheeler was promoted and assigned to the Division of Patrol, serving in the West County and Fenton Precincts. He is currently assigned to the Tactical Operations Unit.

Sergeant Wheeler is a graduate of Southwest Missouri State University where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications and a minor in Criminal Justice.

Sergeant Kerry Wisdom Supervisor Metro Air Support Unit (636) 532-2984 [E-mail Sergeant Wisdom]

Sergeant Kerry Wisdom was born and raised in Bonne Terre, Missouri and currently resides in Eureka with his wife Mary, daughter Kacey and son Kory. Since April 2003, Sergeant Wisdom has been assigned as Supervisor of the Tactical Operations Unit. He is responsible for the operations of the Tactical Operations Unit, which includes response to all hostage/barricade situations, civil disorder and execution of all search warrants within St. Louis County as well as dignitary protection details.

Sergeant Wisdom began his career in the West County Precinct in 1984 as a patrolman. He has served the Police Department as a detective with the Crime Scene Unit, a Dare Officer and as a Parks Officer for the City of Fenton Precinct until his Promotion in 1998. As a Sergeant he has served as a Supervisor in the Fenton Precinct, Crime Scene Unit, Community Action Team Tactical Operations and his current assignment with the Metro Air Support Unit.

Sergeant Wisdom holds a Bachelors Degree in Criminal Justice Adminstration from Central Missouri State University. He has received numerous awards and letters of appreciation for involvement with the community. He is extremely active with his community and church and coaches boys basketball and baseball.

Lieutenant John Tiernan Commander Bureau of Special Enforcement (636) 256-2602 [E-mail Lieutenant Tiernan]

Lt. John Tiernan was born and raised in North St. Louis County and currently resides in West St. Louis County with his family. He is currently assigned as Commander of the Bureau of Special Enforecment. This Bureau includes the Police Canine Unit which is comprised of officers who utilize specially trained dogs in suspect apprehension, searching for lost/missing persons, narcotics detection and locating explosives and other evidence; the Community Action Team (CAT) which includes officers who possess a full range of enforcement and community intervention tactics such as strict law enforcement, intensive investigation and patrol and/or preventive patrol in target areas of the community; and the Highway Safety Unit whose officers patrol the state highways throughout St. Louis County in an effort to reduce the number of injury and fatal traffic crashes through aggressive traffic and DWI enforcement.

Lt. Tiernan began his career with the St. Louis County Police Department on January 15. 1978 when he was hired as a police officer to serve in the West County Precinct. He spent over five years in the Bureau of Tactical Operations as the primary negotiator before working as the Aide to the Chief of Police. He was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in 1988. As a Sergeant he worked in the Division of Patrol in both the West and North County Precincts and in the Division of Criminal Investigation in the Fugitive Affairs Bureau and the General Assignment Unit. He also served as the Assistant Director of the St. Louis County and Municipal Academy and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in 1994. He served as a Watch Commander in the Division of Patrol in the North County Precinct for over six years and the West County Precinct for five years until he was transferred to his current assignment. He has been the Co-Chairman of Public Safety for the St. Louis County Fair & Air Show since 2003.

Lt. Tiernan holds Bachelor Degrees in Physical Education and Latin from Missouri State University. He also has a Master of Education degree in Physical Education from the University of Arizona. He has received two Commendations from the Chief of Police.

Sergeant Mark Whitson Supervisor Community Action Team (636) 615-2551 [E-mail Sergeant Whitson]

Sgt. Whitson is currently the supervisor of the Division of Special Operation's Community Action Team. Sgt. Whitson graduated from the Greater St. Louis Police Academy, where he earned the Award for Top Recruit, in 1979.

Sgt. Whitson was assigned as a probationary officer to the South County Precinct and later worked as a patrol officer in the West County Precinct. Sgt Whitson was transferred to the Division Criminal Investigation and worked as a Burglary detective. Later he worked in an undercover capacity in the Bureau of Drug Enforcement. In 1990 he was detached, to continue in an undercover capacity, to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

In 1994 Sgt. Whitson was reassigned to the Tactical Operations Unit, where his primary assignment was that of a negotiator. Sgt. Whitson still acts a negotiator and responds to Tactical Operation callouts.

In 1997 Sgt Whitson was promoted to his present rank. He has supervised in the North County Precinct, Communications, Metro Link Unit and Community Action Team. Sgt. Whitson assisted in the formation of the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT). CIT officers are trained to handle situations that involve persons with mental illness or are in a mental health crisis. Sgt. Whitson assists in training CIT officers. Sgt Whitson is a PPCT Defensive tactics instructor. He enjoys boxing, kickboxing and currently trains in Krav Maga, the Israeli military's self-defense system. Sgt. Whitson recently was certified as a Krav Maga Force Law Enforcement instructor.

Sgt Whitson has a bachelor's degree in Law Enforcement Management from Sterling College. Sgt Whitson has received 45 awards and letters of appreciation. Sgt. Whitson resides in St. Louis County with his wife and daughter.

Sergeant Walter Davis Canine Unit Supervisor (314) 427-2511 [E-mail Sergeant Davis]

Sergeant Walter Davis was born in St. Louis Missouri and raised in Southern Jefferson County. He currently resides near DeSoto, Missouri with his wife and four children.

Sergeant Davis began his career with the Department as a Police Officer in 1988 when he was assigned to the Division of Patrol in the South County Precinct. Sergeant Davis was later assigned to the City of Fenton from 1989 to 1997. In 1997 Sergeant Davis was assigned to the Division of Criminal Investigation, Burglary Unit, where he served as a Detective until the Spring of 2000. In June of 2000 Sergeant Davis was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and assigned back to the Division of Patrol as a Watch Supervisor. Sergeant Davis served in the Affton and South County Precincts in this capacity until 2003 when he was transferred to the Division of Special Operations and assigned as the Supervisor of a Community Action Team.

In March of 2005 the St. Louis County Police created a Canine Unit within the Division of Special Operations and placed Sergeant Davis in charge of six Canine Teams formerly working for the Division of Patrol throughout St. Louis County. Sergeant Davis oversees the critical deployment and training of these Canine Teams and ensures their availability to the Divisions, Bureaus and Units of the department.

Sergeant Davis has received Five Chief's Commendations and several Awards of Excellence.

Sergeant Barry Armfield Crisis Intervention Team Police Coordinator (314) 427-2511 [E-mail Sergeant Armfield]

Sergeant Barry Armfield was born and raised in St. Louis County, and currently resides in West St. Louis County with his wife Jenny Armfield. Sergeant Barry Armfield is the Police Coordinator for the St. Louis Crisis Intervention Team (CIT).

Sergeant Armfield is responsible for the coordination of the CIT program including 40-hour basic CIT Training and Continuing Education. He provides CIT experience to Behavioral Health Response; provides administrative support in the development, implementation, and marketing of the CIT program; writes, edits, and coordinates the development of training courses, promotional material, education materials, and training manuals. Sergeant Armfield serves as the principal liaison between the CIT Council and participating police agencies and collects information for statistical analysis.

Sergeant Armfield began his career with St. Louis County Police Department on May 14, 1973. He has since been assigned to Patrol and Special Operations Divisions. Sergeant Armfield was promoted to his current rank in 1997.

Sergeant Armfield has an Associates Degree in Criminal Justice from St. Louis County Community College. He has received two Chiefs Commendations, the John J. McAtee Police Recognition Award from the Mental Health Association and the Outstanding Law Enforcement Professional Award from NAMI St. Louis.