Lincoln University Graduate Now Leads Missouri’s Largest Law Enforcement Agency

Nearly three decades after beginning his career as a Missouri State Highway Patrol recruit, Lincoln University alumnus Michael A. Turner now leads the agency itself. Appointed by Gov. Mike Kehoe and confirmed by the Missouri Senate on January 30, 2025, Turner serves as the 25th superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, overseeing statewide public safety operations, criminal investigations and the work of troopers protecting millions of Missourians each year.

Turner's path to leading the agency began nearly 30 years ago as a recruit. He earned his Master of Arts in sociology and criminal justice from Lincoln University in 2017 while climbing through the ranks. His rise through the ranks began in 1996 when he joined the Highway Patrol as a member of the 71st Recruit Class. From his first assignment in Camden County's Troop F, Zone 5, he climbed through the ranks in the agency - corporal, sergeant, lieutenant, captain and major - before reaching the superintendent's office.

Turner's career includes leading Troop F's SWAT team for seven years and founding the Central Missouri Tactical Officers Association. He later commanded the agency's largest operations, including the Support Services Bureau and Field Operations Bureau, where he oversaw all nine troops plus the Aircraft Division and Water Patrol Division.

Along the way, Turner pursued leadership training at institutions from St. Louis University to West Point, completing programs in law enforcement leadership and organizational change. His achievements earned him both the David Steward Academic and Leadership Award and the Patrol's Valor Award.

"Directly after being sworn in as our 58th governor, Governor Kehoe signed several executive orders outlining his Safer Missouri plan," Turner said. "The Missouri State Highway Patrol plays an important role in this plan. We are the largest law enforcement agency in the state and committed to protecting the citizens of Missouri and those that travel through our state."

Turner noted that Missouri continues to face several critical security threats, including cybersecurity, terrorism, natural disasters and public safety threats such as violent crime.

"Lincoln University's Security Sciences Institute is a forward-looking initiative to provide comprehensive, hands-on education for careers in national security and emergency response," Turner said. "As a proud graduate of Lincoln University, I appreciate the emphasis the university has placed on educating future leaders in the emergency services field."

A Texas native who grew up in Kansas City, Turner graduated from North Kansas City High School in 1992 before beginning his law enforcement education. He holds additional degrees from Metropolitan Community College in Kansas City and Columbia College in Lake of the Ozarks. He and his wife, Stacy Hodges Turner, have two children, Evan and Elizabeth, and a grandson, Rowan.