For those of you who don't know- the Missouri Gaming Commission is under the Missouri Department of Public Safety.
Gov. Nixon names former St. Louis County Police Chief Jerry Lee as Missouri Public Safety Director
JEFFERSON CITY – Gov. Jay Nixon today named former St. Louis County Police Chief Jerry Lee as the new director of the Missouri Department of Public Safety. Lee is a 38-year veteran of the St. Louis County Police Department who retired as chief in July 2009. He will replace former DPS director John Britt, who stepped down from the position last week.
“Chief Lee has been an invaluable asset for law enforcement in the St. Louis area for several decades,” Gov. Nixon said. “His insight and experience in law enforcement will serve the people of Missouri well as Public Safety Director, and I appreciate him taking on the responsibilities of this position.
“I also want to again express my great appreciation to former Director Britt for his capable service to the state of Missouri,” the Governor continued. “He played a key role in guiding the state’s response to the many natural disasters we have experienced recently and in overseeing the efficient and seamless merger of the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Missouri State Water Patrol.”
“I am honored and humbled to serve Governor Nixon and the citizens of Missouri as the Director of the Department of Public Safety,” Lee said. “My number one priority is to ensure that the Department continues to do everything it can to keep Missouri families safe from crime, terrorism, and natural disasters and to support our law enforcement community.”
During his career with the county police, Lee commanded multiple divisions within the department, including operational support, patrol, staff services, criminal identification, security services, tactical operations and drug enforcement. He was appointed Chief of Police on June 1, 2004.
In August 2010, Gov. Nixon appointed Lee to the St. Louis City Board of Police Commissioners. The five-member board is responsible for oversight of the operation of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. He is resigning from the board to assume his duties as department director.
Lee served on the training, ethics, awards and professional standards committees for the Missouri Police Chiefs Association. He is past president of the Eastern Missouri FBI National Academy Associates; past president of Law Enforcement Officials of St. Louis County; past chairman of the St. Louis Area Police Chiefs Association; past member of the Midwest High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Advisory Board; and past member of the Law Enforcement Policy Advisory Board.
Lee’s appointment will be subject to confirmation by the Missouri Senate. DPS Director Andrea Spillars has been serving as acting director of the department since the end of last week, when Britt’s tenure ended.
