Highway Patrol Launches STORM Team to Enhance Safety

The Missouri State Highway Patrol has announced the creation of a new initiative aimed at improving public safety throughout the state. Colonel Michael A. Turner, superintendent of the Patrol, unveiled the Strategic Traffic Operations and Rapid Mobilization (STORM) team, a specialized group designed to proactively target criminal activity and dangerous driving on Missouri roadways.

The newly formed STORM team consists of 23 troopers with a wide range of expertise, including canine units, officers trained in impaired driving enforcement, hazardous moving specialists, interdiction officers, and motorcycle officers. The Patrol’s Aircraft Division will collaborate closely, providing aerial support during STORM operations.

Operational since September 1, 2025, the STORM team has already begun deployments across the state. The first major operation took place on September 16, 2025, when ten STORM team members and the Aircraft Division conducted a focused enforcement effort throughout Jackson County.

Their primary targets were hazardous driving behaviors and drug-related activity. The operation led to 72 traffic stops, 89 warnings, 5 citations for speeding, 14 citations for hazardous moving violations, and 27 citations for non-moving violations. Additionally, officers made 18 misdemeanor arrests and 12 felony arrests and seized one firearm.

The STORM team is expected to be deployed as needed across Missouri, concentrating on areas with high crash rates and significant criminal activity. According to the Patrol, STORM will also assist other law enforcement agencies in tackling issues like street takeover events and related criminal conduct. The initiative reflects a broader commitment by the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Department of Public Safety to make Missouri safer for residents and visitors alike.

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story.