Two Southwest Missouri State Highway Patrolmen see promotions

Captain D. Scott Sater, commanding officer of Troop D, Springfield, is pleased to announce the following promotions effective November 1, 2023:

Corporal Eric I. Mueller will be promoted to the rank of sergeant and will remain in Zone 1, Greene County, as the zone supervisor. Mueller was appointed to the Missouri State Water Patrol on January 4, 2004, as a member of the 32nd Water Patrol Recruit Class. After graduating, he was assigned to Lake of the Ozarks. Mueller became a member of the Missouri State Highway Patrol on January 1, 2011, after the two agencies merged. He transferred to Zone 10, serving Webster County on September 1, 2012. Mueller was promoted to the rank of corporal on April 1, 2018, and designated assistant zone supervisor in Zone 10, serving Webster County. In September 2020, he transferred to Zone 1, serving Greene County. Sergeant Mueller is a native of Branson, Missouri, where he graduated high school in 1999. He earned a bachelor’s degree at Missouri Southern State University in Joplin, Missouri, in 2003. Sergeant Mueller is married to Ashley Mueller and together they have two children, Avery and Emery.

Corporal Robert R. Wilkins will be promoted to the rank of sergeant and will remain in Troop D, Zone 21, marine operations. Wilkins was appointed to the Patrol on July 1, 1994, as a member of the 67th Recruit Class. After graduating from the Patrol’s Law Enforcement Academy, Wilkins was assigned to Zone 5, serving Jasper County until 1998. He then transferred to Zone 9, where he served Christian County. Wilkins transferred to Zone 21, marine operations, in 2016. He was promoted to the rank of corporal on August 1, 2019.  Sergeant Wilkins is a native of Branson, Missouri. He graduated from Branson High School in 1989. Sergeant Wilkins is married to Trina Wilkins and together they have four children, Hope, Donavan, Trey, and Zella.