Organized Crime/Anti-Terrorism Unit

The Organized Crime Unit of the Missouri State Highway Patrol was formed in July 1992. The Organized Crime Unit was re-designated as the Organized Crime and Anti-Terrorism Unit (OCAT) in October 2001 following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The primary function of the OCAT Unit is the development, maintenance, and implementation of intelligence information in the arrest and prosecution of the organized criminal element career criminals, and extremists/terrorists groups in Missouri. The Unit currently consists of eight (8) sworn officers and one (1) civilian employee.

Two Joint Terrorism Task Forces were established in 2001, one is located in the Eastern District of Missouri (St. Louis area) and the other is in the Western District of Missouri (Kansas City area). The primary mission of these task forces is to investigate terrorist organizations and/or individuals planning or carrying out terrorist acts occurring in the state of Missouri and to apprehend individuals committing such violations. These task forces are lead by the Federal Bureau of Investigations and each having two members of the Missouri State Highway Patrol assigned as investigators. Several other federal agencies as well as local law enforcement agencies comprise the rest of these complex investigative Units. These task forces not only focus on international terrorists activities, but also on domestic extremists. The Unit is persistent in directing its efforts toward the monitoring and identification of domestic extremists and other subversive groups. The Unit has also provided invaluable extremist awareness training to members of the Patrol and other law enforcement agencies.

The Unit continues to support an active intelligence group dedicated to investigation of domestic extremists and other subversive groups throughout the Midwest. The group is comprised of agents representing the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, Secret Service, and other federal agencies along with the Kansas City Metropolitan Police and St. Louis County Police Department. This working group is tasked with the development, corroboration, and dissemination of extremist intelligence information in addition to the investigation of individuals or organizations involved in supporting domestic terrorist activities.

The Unit is also involved in a high priority criminal investigation: The investigation of 1st degree assault of a law enforcement officer. This is a nine year old case where Corporal Bobbie Harper was shot, while off duty and inside his home, by a domestic extremist. A Federal Fugitive Warrant has been issued for Timothy Thomas Coombs in connection with this sniper style shooting.

The Unit also sponsors an intelligence group that focuses on the Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs (OMG) and their activities throughout the State of Missouri and the Midwest. The OMG group is made up of federal, state, and local law enforcement officers.