(From Gov. Mike Kehoe)Today, Governor Mike Kehoe reported that in its first year of operations, Operation Relentless Pursuit (ORP) task force officers arrested or assisted in the arrests of 1,585 fugitives wanted for outstanding felony warrants.
The total includes individuals arrested in connection with a total of 26 murder or homicide charges. The arrests resulted in clearing 2,699 outstanding arrest warrants across 83 Missouri counties and the City of St. Louis. Additional arrests have taken place in the states of Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Texas. A total of 119 illegally possessed guns were also seized by ORP officers, who began field operations on April 7, 2025. All totals are through April 6, 2026.
“We launched Operation Relentless Pursuit last year because Missourians in cities, suburbs, and small towns want action taken to reduce crime. From day one, our administration made public safety our top priority, and ORP is a critical piece to our efforts,” Governor Kehoe said. “ORP officers hit the ground running and have made an incredible impact because of the relentless work of the Missouri State Highway Patrol and Sheriffs’ Deputies, along with many other Missouri law enforcement agencies that are committed to tracking down wanted felons who escaped justice for too long.”
ORP, established on Governor Kehoe's first day in office through Executive Order 25-02, is a regional anti-crime effort that emphasizes intelligence-led policing and cross-jurisdiction collaboration to apprehend the most dangerous fugitive felons. Data analysis showed there were over 17,600 active felony arrest warrants across Missouri in January 2025. Studies show individuals evading felony warrants are likely to engage in additional criminal activities, further endangering Missourians.
“Instead of slowing down, our ORP officers are actually continuing to increase the pace of their arrests of individuals wanted for violent felonies,” Department of Public Safety Director Mark James said. “In just the first three months of 2026, ORP officers have made arrests in 13 murders or homicides, equaling the total of 13 for those crimes in nine months of operations last year. The tremendous arrest figures are the result of ORP and assisting officers across the state who are sharing intelligence data and fully committed to working together to protect our communities.”
Over the last year, ORP officers have also made the following number of arrests or assisted in arrests that include these crimes: Rape, 24; Sex Trafficking, 14; Sex Trafficking of a Child Under 18, 5; Sexual Misconduct Involving a Child, 23; Possession of Child Pornography, 17; Kidnapping, 10; Manslaughter, 142; Domestic Assault, 106; Assault, 117; Felony Stealing, 18; Burglary/Robbery, 122; Unlawful Use of a Weapon, 70; Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, 58; Persistent DWI Offender, 14; Arson, 9; Drug Trafficking, 152; Possession of a Controlled Substance, 389; Miscellaneous Drug Charges, 430; Probation Violation, 196.
Apprehending dangerous criminals intent on avoiding arrest often requires extraordinary efforts including the use of confidential informants, surveillance, search warrants, license plate readers, SWAT team activations, breaching tools, explosives, chemical munitions, flash bangs, Highway Patrol aircraft, remotely controlled robots, and surveillance drones.
There are nine regional ORP teams composed of a Highway Patrol Division of Drug and Crime Control officer and a local Deputy Sheriff in each of the nine Patrol troops. These co-leaders act as liaisons with local law enforcement in the regions. A state appropriation funds the salary and benefits of the Deputy Sheriff in each Patrol troop along with overtime costs of participating local law enforcement agencies. Each of the regional liaisons received training from the U.S. Marshals Service, which often works alongside ORP officers to bring fugitives to justice.
“Operation Relentless Pursuit is succeeding because of the incredible investigative efforts and collaboration between ORP Deputy Sheriffs and Highway Patrol co-leaders in each of the nine regions and their local Sheriffs and police departments,” Christian County Sheriff and Operation Relentless Pursuit Co-Coordinator Brad Cole said. “The network of partnering law enforcement agencies is continuing to grow and that means our dedicated ORP teams will be able to capture even more wanted felons.”
“April 6 marked one year of Operation Relentless Pursuit,” Missouri State Highway Patrol Colonel Michael A. Turner said. “A year of focused, unwavering commitment by the Patrol and our law enforcement partners for a safer Missouri. We’re proud of the work accomplished but our mission continues. We will not slow down, and we will remain relentless in our pursuit of holding offenders accountable and standing up for victims.”
Members of the public with information that could lead to the capture of a Missouri fugitive can share it with the ORP team at this link.
Additional questions on ORP can be directed to the Missouri Department of Public Safety.
“We launched Operation Relentless Pursuit last year because Missourians in cities, suburbs, and small towns want action taken to reduce crime. From day one, our administration made public safety our top priority, and ORP is a critical piece to our efforts,” Governor Kehoe said. “ORP officers hit the ground running and have made an incredible impact because of the relentless work of the Missouri State Highway Patrol and Sheriffs’ Deputies, along with many other Missouri law enforcement agencies that are committed to tracking down wanted felons who escaped justice for too long.”
ORP, established on Governor Kehoe's first day in office through Executive Order 25-02, is a regional anti-crime effort that emphasizes intelligence-led policing and cross-jurisdiction collaboration to apprehend the most dangerous fugitive felons. Data analysis showed there were over 17,600 active felony arrest warrants across Missouri in January 2025. Studies show individuals evading felony warrants are likely to engage in additional criminal activities, further endangering Missourians.
“Instead of slowing down, our ORP officers are actually continuing to increase the pace of their arrests of individuals wanted for violent felonies,” Department of Public Safety Director Mark James said. “In just the first three months of 2026, ORP officers have made arrests in 13 murders or homicides, equaling the total of 13 for those crimes in nine months of operations last year. The tremendous arrest figures are the result of ORP and assisting officers across the state who are sharing intelligence data and fully committed to working together to protect our communities.”
Over the last year, ORP officers have also made the following number of arrests or assisted in arrests that include these crimes: Rape, 24; Sex Trafficking, 14; Sex Trafficking of a Child Under 18, 5; Sexual Misconduct Involving a Child, 23; Possession of Child Pornography, 17; Kidnapping, 10; Manslaughter, 142; Domestic Assault, 106; Assault, 117; Felony Stealing, 18; Burglary/Robbery, 122; Unlawful Use of a Weapon, 70; Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, 58; Persistent DWI Offender, 14; Arson, 9; Drug Trafficking, 152; Possession of a Controlled Substance, 389; Miscellaneous Drug Charges, 430; Probation Violation, 196.
Apprehending dangerous criminals intent on avoiding arrest often requires extraordinary efforts including the use of confidential informants, surveillance, search warrants, license plate readers, SWAT team activations, breaching tools, explosives, chemical munitions, flash bangs, Highway Patrol aircraft, remotely controlled robots, and surveillance drones.
There are nine regional ORP teams composed of a Highway Patrol Division of Drug and Crime Control officer and a local Deputy Sheriff in each of the nine Patrol troops. These co-leaders act as liaisons with local law enforcement in the regions. A state appropriation funds the salary and benefits of the Deputy Sheriff in each Patrol troop along with overtime costs of participating local law enforcement agencies. Each of the regional liaisons received training from the U.S. Marshals Service, which often works alongside ORP officers to bring fugitives to justice.
“Operation Relentless Pursuit is succeeding because of the incredible investigative efforts and collaboration between ORP Deputy Sheriffs and Highway Patrol co-leaders in each of the nine regions and their local Sheriffs and police departments,” Christian County Sheriff and Operation Relentless Pursuit Co-Coordinator Brad Cole said. “The network of partnering law enforcement agencies is continuing to grow and that means our dedicated ORP teams will be able to capture even more wanted felons.”
“April 6 marked one year of Operation Relentless Pursuit,” Missouri State Highway Patrol Colonel Michael A. Turner said. “A year of focused, unwavering commitment by the Patrol and our law enforcement partners for a safer Missouri. We’re proud of the work accomplished but our mission continues. We will not slow down, and we will remain relentless in our pursuit of holding offenders accountable and standing up for victims.”
Members of the public with information that could lead to the capture of a Missouri fugitive can share it with the ORP team at this link.
Additional questions on ORP can be directed to the Missouri Department of Public Safety.
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