Excelsior Springs residents may notice a familiar face back on patrol, as Officer John Miles returns to the police department alongside two new recruits, Joey Leasiolagi and Andrew Burkhalter. With a focus on community connections and teamwork, all three officers say they’ve found a home at ESPD.
Police blotter, Fire Calls, and EMS Runs for Excelsior Springs, Missouri, as well as Clay County Sheriff, Ray County Sheriff, and Missouri State Highway Patrol, reports for February 2, 2025. Remember, all parties are innocent until proven guilty.
Ray County Sheriff Gary Blackwell has identified Joshua Dawson as the suspect involved in the hours-long standoff in rural Ray County on January 31, 2025. Dawson, who had multiple felony warrants, refused to surrender for several hours before law enforcement deployed chemical munitions, forcing him to exit the home and be taken into custody.
The Excelsior Citizen has joined the ranks of Missouri’s most distinguished publications as the newest member of the Missouri Press Association, earning recognition alongside its growing list of national and local accolades that highlight its outsized impact in the world of community news.