Michael Turner named next MSHP superintendent after Eric Olson’s retirement
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The Missouri State Highway Patrol will have a new superintendent on Feb. 1.
Gov.-elect Mike Kehoe’s office announced in a Thursday press release that Maj. Michael Turner will take over the role and await confirmation from the Missouri Senate.
Col. Eric Olson will retire after serving more than 34 years, the patrol announced in a press release on Thursday. He first joined the patrol in 1990 and became the 24th superintendent of MSHP following a 2019 appointment by Gov. Mike Parson.
“I appreciate the support and friendships I have made across the state the last 34 years,” Olson said in the MSHP release. “The privilege to serve as a trooper has been a rewarding and humbling experience. I thank my family as well for their unwavering support throughout my career."
Olson is from Chillicothe and graduated from Chillicothe High School in 1986, the release says. He has a bachelor of arts degree in psychology from William Jewel College and completed the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia, in 2011, the release says. He also attended the FBI National Executive Institute in 2023.
“I’m humbled to receive this appointment and look forward to working with Governor-Elect Kehoe and incoming DPS Director James to take care of our troopers on the road, enforce laws to improve public safety, and strengthen the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s distinguished reputation as the state’s premiere law enforcement agency,” Turner said in the release from Kehoe’s office.
The release says Turner was appointed to the patrol in 1996 and served in several counties in Troop F – which covers much of Mid-Missouri – including Camden, Miller, Callaway, Moniteau and Morgan counties. He has served several roles in Troop F, including being the region’s SWAT Team leader from 2004-11 and was picked as the designated commanding officer of Troop F in 2015, the release says.
He was named the commander of the Support Services Bureau in 2019 and the commander of the Field Operations Bureau in 2022, the release says.
The release says Turner was born in Texas, but grew up in Kansas City. He has an associate of arts degree from Metropolitan Community College, a bachelor of arts in criminal justice from Columbia College and a master of arts in social and criminal justice from Lincoln University, the release says. He is also a graduate of the St. Louis University Law Enforcement Leadership and Organizational Change program and the Missouri Police Chief's Association Command College, the release says.
