Mountain Grove K-9 Officer Chris Page, left, speaks with Corporal Mike Crabtree inside Crabtree’s office during the night shift.
A stack of fingerprint records sit inside the shelf of the Mountain Grove Police Station’s main office.
The following was produced during the Missouri Photo Workshop.
Mountain Grove, MO — Patrolling the streets, the officers of the Mountain Grove Police Department (MGPD) work all hours of the day. There is no such thing as a routine traffic stop. Some turn up narcotics, while others assist a teen in need. In a period of twenty four hours, officers can run into someone with an outstanding warrant, shoplifting at a local business or engaging in a dispute.
Hang out long enough in the police station and you’ll find officers taking smoke breaks, filling out paperwork, talking about cases or a grabbing a quick moment alone to prepare for the day. Officer Sean Mclear, age 21, new on the force, puts it best when talking about life as a police officer in Mountain Grove, “[There’s] not a single day that you’ll do the same thing.”
Day by day, shift by shift, the law enforcement officers and support team of the MGPD see it all.
From left, Mountain Grove Police Officer Sean McLear, Chief Danny Bledsoe, Corporal Danny Sprague and Field Training Officer Scott Linton hang out in the Police Station during the day shift.
Mountain Grove Police Corporal Mike Crabtree is reflected in the mirror of his patrol car during a traffic violation stop. Crabtree oversees two other officers during the night shift which covers the entire town.
Mountain Grove Police Corporal Mike Crabtree, left, and K-9 Officer Chris Page respond to a domestic call. “Any time children are involved, that’s the heartbreaking part.” says Page.
Mountain Grove Police Corporal Mike Crabtree speaks with a man in the back of his patrol car. The man was arrested for violating his probation and giving false information to a police officer.
Mountain Grove Police Corporal Mike Crabtree pats down a man brought in for violating his probation and giving a false name.
Mountain Grove K-9 Officer Chris Page, left, talks with Chief Danny Bledsoe while Page is monitoring cars for possible speeding violations just on the edge of town. Page’s dog and K9 partner Rochus joins Page while out on patrol.
Mountain Grove K-9 Officer Chris Page, left, and Cathy Murray take a smoke break. Murray helps run the station’s front desk and dispatch during the morning shift.