MSHP Superintendent announces retirement Thursday
By Nicole Scott
Colonel Eric T. Olsen, the Superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol announced on Thursday afternoon that he will be retiring effective Feb. 1.
Colonel Olsen is the 24th Superintendent of the MSHP and has put 34-years into the state agency.
“I appreciate the support and friendships I have made across the state the last 34 years. The privilege to serve as a trooper has been a rewarding and humbling experience,” Colonel Olsen wrote on Thursday, Dec 26. “I thank my family as well for their unwavering support throughout my career.”
Missouri Governor Mike Parson spoke of the Colonels career and service to the state.
“Colonel Olson is a dedicated public servant whose commitment to law and order and improving public safety across our state will be greatly missed,” Governor Parson said. “Appointing Eric as MSHP Superintendent was one of the first appointments we made. After responding to natural disasters, train derailments, civil unrest, a global pandemic, and the list goes on, we couldn’t be more proud of the exceptional work Eric has done in leading our state’s top law enforcement agency.”
“On behalf of all Missourians, Teresa and I thank Eric and his family for their service and wish them all the best in his well-earned retirement,” Governor Parson concluded.
Colonel Olsen joined the MSHP on July 1, 1990, as a cadet with the 63rd Recruit Class.
Once Colonel Olsen graduated from the Patrol’s Law Enforcement Academy, he was assigned to Troop H where he was promoted through the ranks from Trooper to Corporal and Sergeant.
In 2004, Colonel Olsen was promoted to Lieutenant and assigned to Troop B in Macon, Missouri.
In 2014, Colonel Olsen was named Captain and commanding officer of Troop A in Lee’s Summit, Missouri.
Just a year later, Colonel Olsen was transfered to the Division of Drug and Crime Control and promoted to Director, then, in 2017, Colonel Olsen was promoted to commander of the Criminal Investigation Bureau in Jefferson City, Missouri.
Later that year, on Mar. 9, Colonel Olsen was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and named the Assistant Superintendent of the Patrol.
On Sept. 1, 2018, Colonel Olsen took over as acting Superintendent of the MSHP, on Mar. 5, 2019, Governor Parson named Colonel Olsen the 24th Superintendent and he was confirmed by the Missouri Senate on Mar. 14, 2019.
Colonel Olsen is a native of Chillicothe, Missouri, graduating from Chillicothe High School in 1986 prior to earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from William Jewel College in Liberty, Missouri.
Colonel Olsen additionally completed training in 2011 with the FBI’s National Academy in Quantico, Virginia and he was a participant in the 2023 FBI’s National Executive Institute.
Colonel Olsen and his wife have two sons.
