JPD Chief Stewart announces retirement

Joplin Police Chief Matt Stewart has announced his retirement effective January 3, 2020. He will have served with the Joplin Police Department for 20 years effective that date, having started with the Joplin Police Department on January 3, 2000. Read the full press release from the city of Joplin below:

During his tenure with the Joplin Police Department he served in numerous positions from patrol, SWAT, Training, Internal Affairs, and Investigations. He was promoted to the rank of police chief in March 2016. Stewart is a graduate of the Missouri Police Chief’s Command College Session 3 and the FBI National Academy Session 256.

Stewart was crucial in implementing multiple organizational goals such as gaining accreditation with the Commission of Accreditation of Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). He has held multiple board positions within the Joplin community including:

• Ozarks Drug Enforcement Team, Board Member
• Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force, Chair
• One Joplin Human Services Committee, Member
• Children’s Center of Southwest Missouri, Executive Board
• Missouri Cyber Crimes Executive Board, Member
• Missouri Task Force on the Prevention of Sexual Abuse, Board Member
• Tri-States Major Case Squad, Former Chair
• CALEA Executive Director Regional Advisory Group, Member
• Mercy Hospital Board of Directors, Board Member

“Having been with the Joplin Police Department for a number of years, Chief Stewart brought a great deal of experience to the position,” said Interim City Manager Dan Pekarek. “He has been a strong leader for the City as well as the community. Most recently, he was instrumental in guiding the department through the upcoming change of the City’s police retirement benefit, and his work with our community service partners has created a collaborative environment to study and resolve issues within the city. I appreciate his service to the City and our citizens and wish him well in the next phase of his life.”