The Missouri State Highway Patrol announces new graduate troopers who are assigned to the northwest Missouri district.
November 2nd will be the first day for Andrew Hecker of Chillicothe, who is assigned to Nodaway and Worth counties, Braeden Elifrits of Harrisonville, who is assigned to Gentry and Harrison counties, and Andrew Colson of Maysville, who is assigned to Daviess and DeKalb counties.
Hecker, Elifrits, and Colson are among 33 troopers who graduated October 16th as part of the patrol's 126th recruit class.
News release from the Missouri State Highway Patrol:
Captain Andrew O. Tourney, commanding officer of Troop H, St. Joseph, is pleased to announce the assignment of three new troopers to Troop H. The new troopers were members of the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s 126th Recruit Class and graduated from the Patrol’s Law Enforcement Academy on October 16, 2026. The new troopers will report for duty in their respective assignments on November 2, 2026.
Trooper Andrew J. Colson, a native of Maysville, MO, has been assigned to Zone 10, which serves the citizens of Daviess and DeKalb counties. Tpr. Colson’s field training officer will be Corporal Dylan W. Wilburn. In 2022, Trooper Colson graduated from Wilson Academy in Savannah, MO, and North Central Missouri College in Trenton, MO, with an Associate of Applied Science and Technology. Prior to his employment with the Patrol, Tpr. Colson was employed by Altec in St. Joseph, MO, as an engineer technician. Tpr. Colson is married and has three children.
Trooper Braeden L. Elifrits, a native of Harrisonville, MO, has been assigned to Zone 3, which serves the citizens of Gentry and Harrison counties. Tpr. Elifrits’ field training officer will be Corporal Bryce T. Quiring. Tpr. Elifrits graduated from Harrisonville High School in 2022.
Trooper Andrew D. Hecker, a native of Chillicothe, MO, has been assigned to Zone 2, which serves the citizens of Nodaway and Worth counties. Tpr. Hecker’s field training officer will be Trooper Anthony J. Kempa. Tpr. Hecker graduated from Chillicothe High School in 2024. In 2026, he earned an Associate of Arts in Criminal Justice at North Central Missouri College in Trenton, MO. Prior to his employment with the Patrol, Tpr. Hecker was employed by the Chillicothe Correctional Center as a correctional officer.
