Stuart Hughes
Region 1 Representative - Brookfield Police Department
MissouriD.A.R.E.Officer'sAssociation
D.A.R.E.
Officer's
Association
Click here to edit subtitle
Our Mission
"Teaching students good decision-making skills to help them lead safe and healthy lives"
Our Vision
“A world in which students everywhere are empowered
to respect others and choose to lead lives free from violence, substance abuse, and other dangerous behaviors.”
Board Officers
Missouri D.A.R.E. Officers Association
Christine Eddleman
President
Cass Co Sheriff's Office
Cpl. Christine Eddleman is a 21 year veteran officer at the Cass County Sheriff’s Office. She graduated DARE Officer Training in 2002 and as supervisor over the DARE & SRO unit, she supervises and serves 8 school districts in the county serving 1500 students. She started her first DARE youth camp 16 years ago and currently overseas that program. She began new programs such as the Tan Santa Program similar to the “shop with a cop” gaining awards as Deputy of the Year in 2018 and DARE officer of the Year. She also is a Crisis Intervention Officer and a Negotiator for the Tactical Response Team. Eddleman manages the entire hiring process for her Sheriff’s Office.
Jamee Rugen
Vice President
Camden Co Sheriff's Office
Deputy Jamee Rugen works as an elementary SRO for Hurricane Deck
Elementary in the Camdenton School District. She's an 11 year veteran and became a DARE officer in 2016. She is the Junior Academy Coordinator and works on both the road or within the investigations unit when she isn't in the hallways of Hurricane Deck. Deputy Rugen is a certified ALICE Active Shooter instructor, negotiator, and CIT officer. Rugen is also an instructor for the Missouri Sheriff's Association Police
Academy. When she is not working, Deputy Rugen enjoys spending time at the local barn with her kids for horse lessons or spending time with her family and reading.
Susie Ochs
Secretary
Lake St Louis Police Dept
Officer Susie Ochs is the Community Resource Officer/D.A.R.E. Instructor for the Lake Saint Louis Police Department. She is a 25 year veteran of law enforcement and graduated D.A.R.E. Officer Training (DOT) in 1998. She is involved in community outreach events such as the Polar Plunge for Special Olympics, coat drives, food drives, and police-community events like Coffee with a Cop, Shop with a Cop, Walk to School Day and National Night Out. Officer Ochs is also an International Police Mountain Bike Association Instructor, a Child Car Seat Technician and serves as a licensed drone pilot. Her favorite pastime is spending time outdoors with her family.
Amanda Blank
Treasurer
Cooper Co Sheriff's Office
Deputy Amanda Blank is the DARE officer for Cooper County. She is a 20-year veteran, graduating DOT in 2008. Blank as served on the Missouri DARE Officer’s Association Board as Region 5 Representative, President and is currently tasking the role of Treasurer. She received DARE Officer of the Year. Blank is also a ALICE instructor. When she is not working, she enjoys spending time with her family. During the summer you will find her at the local baseball field organizing summer youth baseball and softball.
Bill Whitaker
Sergeant at Arms
Christian Co Sheriff's Office
Deputy Whitaker began his 25 year career with the Springfield Police Dept where he worked as a DARE Instructor in the Springfield Public Schools for 13 years. He's since been with the Christian County Sheriff's Office as the Community Recourse Officer / DARE Instructor. He has served MDOA the past 8 years as the Sgt. of Arms and He received the 2013 MDOA Lifetime Achievement Award. He is involved with his family and church and is a lifelong Chiefs fan. On days off (when it's warm) he can be found fishing in his old boat or out on a camping trip
Regional Reps
Andrew Beckfield
Region 2 Representative - Lexington Police Department
Officer Beckfield is the District School Resource Officer and K-9 Unit for the Lexington Police Department. He is a 13 year veteran, graduating DOT in 2018. Officer Beckfield spends his day lending a listening ear to students, giving them someone that will listen to them and provide any advice he can, bridging the gap between today's youth and law enforcement. When not doing that he is often playing whatever sport gym class is having at the time. Beckfield attends nearly every home extracurricular event, whether it's football, basketball, softball, scholar, thespian events bowl as both providing security for the event as well as showing the student competitors his support. This school year (2020-2021) will be Beckfield's first year as Assistant High School Baseball Coach. I am a lifelong Cardinals fan. I'm also a hockey fan.... GO BLUES! I enjoy playing golf and furthering my education.
"Learn from the mistakes of others. You can never live long enough to make them all yourself."-Groucho Marx
Stephanie Bahner
Region 2 Representative - Pettis County Sheriff's Office
Brent Forgey
Region 3 Representative - Nixa Police Department
Patricia Garner
Region 4 Representative - Scott County Sheriff's Office
Randy Wheeler
Region 5 Representative - Miller County Sheriff's Office
Deputy Randy Wheeler is one of two DARE Officers for the Miller County Sheriff's Office. He is a ten year law enforcement veteran and graduated from DARE Officer Training (DOT) in 2015. He is a member of the crisis intervention team and has received the medal of valor and life saving awards. When not at work, Deputy Wheeler can be found researching family genealogy and history, and traveling and visiting different museums and historical locations.
“Courage is being scared to death, and saddling up anyway.” – John Wayne
Kyle Renick
Region 5 Representative - Cole County Sheriff's Office
.jpeg)
David Burke
Region 6 Representative - Washington Police Department
SRO David Burke is Washington's elementary School Resource Officer. He is a 15 year veteran and graduated Dare Officer Training in 2018. SRO Burke has many roles at his department. As DARE Program Coordinator, he facilitates the training and program development for elementary and middle schools. He is the Crisis Intervention Team Training Coordinator for Franklin County, and part of his agencies Peer Support Team, which provides support to local officers and their families. You may also see SRO Burke on the streets, reaching out to homeless families in need. When not walking the hallways or hanging from the jungle gym, Officer Burke spends his free time traveling the country taking martial arts pictures.
"Be a champion not for yourself, but for those who don’t have one.” – TED Talk by Rita Pierson.
James O'Fallon
Region 6 Representative - Franklin County Sheriff's Office
Stacy Gunn
Region 7 Representative - Cass County Sheriff's Office
Rick Smail
Region 7 Representative - Nodaway Police Department
SRO Smail is one of the original DARE officers of the entire USA program graduating DOT taught by the Los Angeles Police Department in 1989. He has served his community for over 33 years currently working for the Nodaway Police Department as the SRO and DARE Officer for 8 schools K-8. Dare has been a huge part of Smail's career teaching for 32 years and most recently leading MDOA as the Board President in 2018. Smail also received the MDOA Lifetime Achievement Award.
Advisory Members
The Past. The Present. The Future.
Kathy Kelly
Retired St Louis County Police Department & DOT Mentor
Kathy started with St Louis Co Police in 1985. and was chosen to attend DARE training in January 1991. She received her Mentor Training in 2000 in Idaho. She's been on the Mo DOT Training team since 2001, starting at Mo Hwy Patrol and then with the Mo Police Chiefs. In 2012, she received National DARE Officer of the Year. Even though she has trained officers in a couple of other states, her heart is with the officers in Missouri. Her passion became teaching students and since retiring, her passion has become teaching officers. Kathy believes DARE is the only tool Police Departments have to connect with the youth of our communities. Not all children play sports, but they all attend schools and listen to officers in schools.
Jeri Cain
Past M.D.O.A President
Cpl. Cain is the SRO and DARE Officer for the Perryville Police Department with 25 years of experience. She graduated DOT in 2000 and loved it so much she did it again in 2015. Cain serves as her department's Public Information Officer, assist the Patrol Division, and as the Co-Chair of CHOP (Coalition Heroin and Opiod Prevention), Cain teaches drug awareness to youth. Cain had the amazing duty of delivering a baby while on duty.
"The greatest gift you can give somebody is your time, you are giving a portion of your life that you will never give back."- J Cain
Connor Riker
Missouri D.A.R.E. Youth Advisor
Missouri dare youth advocate board member Connor Riker is a student at Lexington High School. He is a sophomore and got elected to become a YAB in 2020. Connor is excited at the opportunity to reinforce DARE's mission and value and serving the community. He enjoys anything with the outdoors and also anything with an engine. He is a member of Boyscout troop 318 and is almost an eagle scout. He runs Cross Country, Wrestles, and is a member of the academic team at his high school.
"Every champion was once a contender who refused to give up."- Rocky Balboa
Kevin Woodson
MO DOT Training Coordinator
Captain Woodson is a 31 year veteran and currently assigned to the Cole County Support Services Division where he supervises the SRO/DARE Program. Woodson has been a DARE Officer since 1996 and is a tremendous help to Missouri as the DOT Training Coordinator. Woodson prides the MO DOT program because he knows that our DARE officers are building bridges with their students as mentors and listeners... something they may not get at home. A crazy fact about Capt Woodson is that he swam in the Black Sea.
