2026 Police Explorer
Academy
This academy is dedicated to Police Officer David Lee who was killed in the line of duty on September 22, 2024. Officer Lee was assisting at a crash scene on Interstate 70 when a speeding vehicle lost control and struck him. The suspect was later sentenced to 15 years in prison. He had served with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department for 18 years. He is survived by his wife and two children.
2025 Police Explorer
Academy
This academy is dedicated to Detective Antonio Valentine who was killed in the line of duty on December 1, 2021. Det. Valentine died in a head-on vehicle crash when a fleeing suspect in a stolen vehicle crossed the road and struck his department vehicle. He had served with the St. Louis County Police Department for 14 years. He is survived by his 4 children and an Uncle, a St. Louis Metropolitan Police Sergeant.
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Det. Valentine was a United States Army combat veteran, serving as a Sergeant in the Army National Guard and retired from the Air Force Reserves.
2024 Police Explorer Academy
This academy was dedicated to Det. Sgt. Mason Griffith who was killed in the line of duty. Sgt. Griffith died by gunfire on March 12, 2023. He had served with the Hermann Police Department for over 12 years and was the part-time Chief of Police of the Rosebud Police Department and Reserve Deputy Sheriff of the Gasconade County Sheriff's Office. He is survived by his wife, two sons, mother, and father.
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The Chief Mason Griffith Foundation was founded in his honor. Please visit the page by clicking the button below.
