3 TAKE OVER PATROL DUTIES IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI

Three recent graduates of the Missouri State Highway Patrol have ties to the area or are moving into the area to assume their new duties as patrol road officers.

Stacey Sims graduated from Caruthersville High School in 1985 and Southeast Missouri State University in 1992. He worked for the Pemiscot and Cape Girardeau county sheriff's departments before his appointment to the patrol in July.

Sims has been assigned to Troop E and is stationed in Fredericktown. He patrols Madison, Iron and Wayne counties.

Christopher Graves has assumed his duties as a road office, patrolling Pemiscot and New Madrid counties in Troop E.

Graves was employed with the Sikeston Department of Public Safety and appointed to the SEMO Drug Task Force before attending the highway patrol's academy.

He graduated from Sikeston High School in 1985 and Southeast Missouri State University in 1989.

Graves is stationed in Portageville.

Carlos Kerley Jr., originally from Southern Illinois, also has been assigned to Portageville. Kerley patrols Pemiscot and New Madrid counties.

He graduated from Vienna High School and John A. Logan Community College.

Kerley is a veteran of the Carbondale, Ill., and Herrin, Ill., police forces.

The troopers were among 59 graduates of the highway patrol's academy Dec. 16 in Jefferson City.