Plan moving forward to transfer authority of fugitive apprehension unit

Gov. Matt Blunt said Monday he would likely approve a proposal to transfer responsibility of the state's fugitive apprehension unit to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

The request, made by the department of corrections, comes in the wake of the unit losing one of its agents to a dismissal following charges of involuntary manslaughter.

Steven R. Julian, 46, of Altenburg, Mo., faces the manslaughter charge in connection with the Feb. 14 shooting death of Zachary Snyder, at a Themis Street apartment complex.

Julian was attempting to place Snyder in custody on a warrant for parole jumping when the shooting occurred.

The case was sent to Calloway County on a change of venue, where it was given to a judge Monday so a date can be set for trial.

The request to transfer the unit was originally discussed by department personnel in October of last year, and is entirely unrelated to the incident with Julian, said Brian Hauswirth, spokesman for the department of corrections.

The fugitive apprehension team was created in 2002 as a pilot project, and has far exceeded its lifespan as such, Hauswirth said.

The goal of the unit was to reduce the number of parole absconders.

From 2002 to 2008, the 12-man unit, recently down to 11 after Julian was placed on leave, has been responsible for 5,401 arrests for parole violations, Hauswirth said.

"They've done a magnificent job," he said.

Hauswirth said transferring the program to the highway patrol is by no means a criticism of the work the unit has accomplished, but a way of making it even better.

Highway patrol officers have better access to records, better radio equipment and their own patrol cars, Hauswirth said.

The budget amendment for the transfer recently passed highway patrol approval and has to move through other legislative channels in the state before it will get to Blunt's office, said Capt. Tim Hull, spokesman for the highway patrol.

The unit will consist of four troopers, one sergeant, one corporal and a civilian analyst to perform background checks, Hull said.

Blunt said he thinks the transfer will allow for much better coordination of the unit.

"Right now, coordination is not what it should be," Blunt said.

bdicosmo@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 245

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