Events Upcoming
New Members
Today, Springfield Police Chief Joe Behl had the honor of swearing in twelve new Springfield Police officers during a ceremony attended by Mayor Misty Buscher, city officials, and proud family and friends. Each officer officially took the oath of service, marking the beginning of their careers with the Springfield Police Department.
The Springfield Police Department proudly welcomes the following officers to its ranks: Tayor Barlow, Sean Coffey, Mackenzie Durst, Zachary Frazho, Connor Goett, Dalton Gunterman, Cole Maddox, Kohl McAfee, Matthew Newquist, Yaakema Rose Jr., Michael Smothers and Reese Woodrum.
Of the twelve new officers, eleven recently graduated in August from the Macon County Law Enforcement Training Center, where they completed their basic law enforcement training. One officer joined the department through lateral transfer from another law enforcement agency, bringing valuable prior experience to the Springfield Police Department.
All twelve officers are currently assigned to the Springfield Police Academy, where they are undergoing additional department-specific training. In the coming weeks, they will be assigned to the Field Operations Division and begin the field training program, working alongside veteran officers as they transition into active service.
“This is an exciting day for the Springfield Police Department and for our community as we welcome 12 new officers to our ranks. Each of these officers has made a commitment to serve and protect others, and we are proud to have them join our department. As they begin this next chapter of their careers, we look forward to seeing the difference they will make for the people of Springfield. We welcome them to the SPD family and wish them continued success as they begin their service to our community,” said Chief Joe Behl
Officer Backgrounds
Officer Zachary Frazho is a graduate of Gothenburg High School and Sonoran Desert Institute. Officer Frazho has over ten years of law enforcement experience working previously at Buffalo County Sheriff’s Office where he served as a School Resource Officer and the Emergency Service Unit.
Officer Tayor Barlow is a graduate of Southeast High School.
Officer Sean Coffey is a graduate of Springfield High School
• Officer MacKenzie Durst is a graduate of Quincy Senior High School and attended MTI in Springfield.
• Officer Connor Goett is a graduate of Lanphier High School and received his Bachelor of Science in
Criminal Justice from Southern Illinois University. He is a member of the Army National Guard.
• Officer Dalton Gunterman is a graduate of Sacred Heart Griffin High School and received his
associate’s degree in criminal justice from Lincoln Land Community College and bachelor’s degree in
criminal justice from University of Illinois Springfield.
• Officer Cole Maddox is a graduate of Rochester High School and received his associate’s degree in
criminal justice from Lincoln Land Community College.
• Officer Kohl McAfee is a graduate of Lutheran High School.
• Officer Matthew Newquist is a graduate of Glenwood High School and received his bachelor’s degree in
history from University of Illinois Springfield.
• Officer Yaakema Rose Jr is a graduate of Lanphier High School and received his associate and
bachelor’s Degree from University of Missouri St. Louis.
• Officer Michael Smothers is a graduate of Belleville East High School and received his bachelor’s
degree in Pre-Medicine from University of Illinois Springfield.
• Officer Reese Woodrum is a graduate of Athens High School and attended Lincoln Land Community
College and Arizona State University.
