Highway Patrol leader leaving

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The Missouri State Highway Patrol's leader is leaving his job, meaning the patrol's top two positions will be open.

The patrol said Monday that Col. Roger Stottlemyre, 57, is leaving as of Sept. 1. Stottlemyre started working for the patrol in September 1974.

Stottlemyre will begin working for the Missouri Gaming Commission, said patrol spokesman Capt. Chris Ricks. The Gaming Commission said Stottlemyre will be deputy director of enforcement.

Last week, Gov. Matt Blunt announced that he nominated the patrol's second-in-charge, assistant superintendent William Seibert Jr., to the state Board of Probation and Parole. That new job begins Sept. 1.

Monday also marked Ricks' last day at the patrol, but he said the turnover is simply because they had other good jobs come along at the same time, not any dissatisfaction or push out the door.

A Unionville native, Stottlemyre's first job with the patrol was at Troop H in Tarkio and he later worked in various parts of the state. On June 1, 2001, Stottlemyre was promoted to colonel and became superintendent of the patrol.