New Water Patrol Director

A familiar face at Lake of the Ozarks is rewarded for years of service to the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Water Patrol Division. Colonel J. Bret Johnson superintendant of the Highway Patrol announced last week that Captain Matthew Walz, who grew up in Jefferson City, takes over effective on Wednesday as Director of the Water Patrol Division. Walz brings plenty of experience to the position being appointed in 1990 as a communications operator. From there he entered the academy in 1994 graduating with his first assignment here at Lake of the Ozarks. Other assignments along the way included patrolling Table Rock Lake, St. Louis County, and back here at Lake of the Ozarks before serving as a training commander at General Headquarters in Jefferson City, and as district commander over the Central Missouri Region. Walz also serves on the National Boating Safety Advisory Council.