OUR STAFF AND OFFICERS
Patrol Officers are responsible for handling the day-to-day response to calls for service, traffic enforcement, DWI enforcement, Traffic Crash Investigations, and response to special events. In addition to regular patrol duty.
Line officers currently work twelve-hour shifts. Modern policing requires officers to be more than a police officer. They are expected at many times to be attorneys, counselors, medical assistants, teachers, and sometimes even parents.
In the course of patrol, officers drive a fully marked patrol car. Officers are encouraged to interact with the public often. With this interaction, officers can better serve their communities by building trust with the citizens and getting to know the people they protect. This leads to a reduction in crime and helps clean up problem areas. When the citizenry knows the officers they are more likely to get involved and help the officer solve crime.
CHIEF OF POLICE
Chief Michael Baker started his career in Law Enforcement in 1991 in Canton Missouri. After two years he went to work for the Lewis County Sheriff's Office where he became the marijuana eradication officer. In 1995, Michael became the first K-9 handler in Lewis County and was able to utilize his K-9, not only for Lewis County but also for surrounding agencies. Michael then went to the LaGrange Police Department as an officer but quickly rose to the rank of Chief of Police for the department. In 2001 he left LaGrange and went into civilian work in collections and finance.
Michael got the opportunity to join the Palmyra Police Department in January of 2018 as a patrolman. In January of 2019, he was promoted to Sergeant and remained at that rank until October of 2021. Michael was then promoted to Captain serving under Chief Eddie Bogue until his retirement in 2024. At that time, he applied for and was chosen to be the Chief of the Palmyra Police Department and started the position in October of 2024.
Chief Baker enjoys riding his motorcycle, hunting, fishing, and anything to do with sports.
POLICE PERSONNEL
Sergeant
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Sergeant Carey attended Quincy University from 2016 - 2020 where he majored in criminal justice. He was hired by the Palmyra Police Department August 2020 and was sponsored by the department to attended Law Enforcement Training Institute Police Academy in Columbia, Mo. He graduated with a Class A Missouri POST license in December 2020. He began his career as a patrolman and was promoted to Corporal in October 2023 and then to the rank of Sergeant in November 2024.
Sergeant Carey's favorite part of the job is interacting with the citizens of Palmyra through proactive policing and getting to know the members of the community. The relationships he has formed with not only coworkers, but residents of Palmyra, is something he really cherishes and is proud of. He loves seeing the PPD team and the community work together to make Palmyra a great place to live.
His hobbies include fishing, working out, and watching football. He also enjoys barbequing outdoors and spending time with his family and dogs.
MICHAEL BAKER
Patrolman
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Officer Crane graduated from Palmyra High School in 2020 and has lived in Palmyra her whole life. She previously worked in customer service and after turning 21, she chose to attend and graduated from the Law Enforcement Training Institution in September of 2023.
Patrolman
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Officer Rathbone is a 2015 graduate of Palmyra High School. She joined the Army reserves in 2014 as an armored transport operator and served until 2022. She was hired by Palmyra Police Department in January of 2019 and attended the Law Enforcement Training Institute Police Academy. She joined the agency in April 2019 and began her career as a patrol officer.
Officer Rathbone took over the role as School Resource officer (SRO) for the Palmyra R-I School District in the fall of 2021.
Her favorite part of the job is getting to interact with the students every day. She is a positive and friendly face behind the badge. Her goal is to teach children that police officers are their friends and are there to help. She takes it as a great honor that she was given the responsibility for the safety and security of all the students and staff in the Palmyra School District.
She enjoys reading and spending time with family.
Patrolman
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Officer McKenna attended Law Enforcement Training Institute in Columbia, Missouri in 2024. After completing the training, he began his career as a patrolman in Palmyra, Missouri in June of 2024.
Officer McKenna's favorite part of the job is meeting and interacting with new people every day. He also feels privileged to be a voice for victims.
When not working he enjoys hunting, fishing and anything outdoors. When unable to enjoy the outdoors, he enjoys reading and watching movies.
Police Clerk/Records
Police clerk, Rebecca Jones began working in customer service over 30 years ago and has held that position in many different business settings. She also has a background working in information technologies and recently earned her associate in accounting in December 2023.
She was hired by Palmyra Police Department in June of 2023. Her favorite part of the job is assisting the community over the phone and in person. She feels that her coworkers are not only friends but her second family.
She enjoys spending time with family, reading suspense novels and quiet time quilting.
Reserve Patrolman
Officer Lanford started his career in law enforcement in 2010 for the state of Arizona working as a Corrections Officer. In 2012 he began working for the Maricopa County Sheriffs Office as a Detention Officer. In 2014 Lanford attended the Southern Arizona Law Enforcement Training Center (SALETC) in Tucson, Arizona working for the Arizona Department of Transportation as a Police Officer. In 2017 he became a Detective working criminal investigations for the ADOT Office of Inspector General. While working at the Inspector Generals Office he was assigned to the A.C.E. Taskforce working fraud investigations. Officer Lanford moved to Missouri in 2021 and joined the Palmyra Police Department.
Reserve Patrolman
Officer Martin started his career in law enforcement in 2014 for the state of Arizona. Officer Martin’s assignments in Arizona included Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Officer, K9 Handler, and Detective. Officer Martin moved to Missouri in 2021 and joined the Palmyra Police Department.
Reserve Patrolman
Corporal Anderson graduated from Hannibal High School in 2007 and later graduated from MACC Law Enforcement Training Center in 2010. He began his career with the Macon Police Department in Macon, MO. Anderson spent two and a half years with Macon before joining the Palmyra Police Department in May 2013.
