Helping those who serve

SPRINGFIELD, MO, MARCH 12, 2010: On February 27^th, 2010 the Springfield Police Sergeant’s League sponsored the 6th annual banquet to benefit the Cpl. James Mott Memorial Scholarship Fund to College of the Ozarks.  During the banquet the League took the opportunity to honor several of their peers as Corporal of the Year, Officer of the Year, and Civilian Employee of the Year.  The honorees are selected from a number of nominated candidates based upon their exemplary service to both the Springfield Police Department and the City of Springfield over the last year.  Interim Chief Ron Hartman was on hand to present the awards to the winners.

This year’s award recipients are:

Corporal of the Year:  Cpl. Andrew Barksdale, a 19 year veteran of the Springfield Police Department, is currently assigned to the Uniform Officer Division as a Patrol Corporal.  Cpl. Barksdale also spent four months during the year of 2009 filling in as a patrol supervisor.

Officer of the Year:  Officer Mark Schindler He has been with the Springfield Police Department for 15 years, currently assigned in the Training Unit as Recruiter for the department as well as maintaining the Range.  Officer Schindler also returned to being a member of the Special Response Team in a part-time status.

Civilian Employee of the Year:  Records Shift Leader, Paige Rodgers Paige has been with the Springfield Police Department for 15 years and has worked all this time in our Records Division.  She is a great asset with all of her knowledge of State of Missouri laws and is always willing to help anyone.

In addition to the recognition of their peers, Missouri Representative, Sarah Lampe, presented each with a House of Representatives Resolution honoring them for their outstanding service to the community.

The Springfield Police Sergeants League was formed in 2004 as a benevolent and fraternal organization.  Each year the League hosts a benefit banquet to support the Cpl. James Mott Memorial Scholarship fund to College of the Ozarks.

In 2003 Cpl. James Mott, a 13 year veteran of the department at that time, collapsed while on duty and later died as the result of a medical condition.  The scholarship in his memory established to sponsor a student at College of the Ozarks who is pursuing Law Enforcement related studies.