July 7, 2022
Three retire from SPD after 25 years of service
Springfield, Mo. – After 25 years of service to the citizens of Springfield, Major Tad Peters, Captain Culley Wilson, and Sgt. David Shanholtzer will retire in July from the Springfield Police Department. Peters, Wilson and Shanholtzer began as Springfield police officers in 1997 and have accomplished many notable achievements in their careers.
“Congratulations to Major Peters, Captain Wilson, and Sgt. Shanholtzer. As humble servants of our community, I commend their commitment to their profession and to the Springfield Police Department,” Chief Paul Williams said. “I am proud of their dedication and wish them the best of luck in retirement.”
Major Tad Peters
Peters graduated from the 42nd Springfield Police Academy in 1997. After graduating, he began his career as a patrol officer where he served as an acting Corporal, a field training officer, and a major crimes investigator.
In 2001, Peters was promoted to Corporal where he worked for in the Crimes Against Property Unit and the Robbery-Homicide Unit. Peters was promoted to Sergeant in 2009 and worked with the Inspections and Internal Affairs Unit until his promotion to Lieutenant in 2012. As a Lieutenant, he worked in both the Criminal Investigations Crimes Against Persons Section, and in Uniform Operations. In 2017, Peters was promoted to Captain and served as the division commander of the Support Service Division. Finally, in 2020, he was promoted to Major. In his time as Major, he has commanded both the Investigations and Support Services Bureau and the Uniform Operations Bureau.
During his career, Peters has graduated from Webster University, the Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command, PERF Senior Management Institute for Police, the FBI National Academy, and Leadership Springfield (Class 27).
Captain Culley Wilson
In 1997, Wilson graduated from the 42nd Springfield Police Academy. The first five years of his career were spent as a patrol officer and then as a Police Area Representative (PAR) officer.
When he was promoted to Corporal, Wilson served with the Community Services Section, responsible for the Citizen’s Police Academy and the Calaboose History Museum. He spent several more years as a Corporal assigned to the Special Victims Unit. In 2010, Wilson was promoted to Sergeant where he worked as a patrol supervisor, Property Crimes Unit supervisor, and Sergeant over the Inspections and Internal Affairs Unit. In 2014, he was promoted to Lieutenant where he served in patrol as a watch commander and in Criminal investigations as the Commander of the Crimes against Persons Section and finally, in 2020, he was promoted to Captain where he has served as the Zone 1/Southside Uniformed Operations Bureau commander.
Sgt. David Shanholtzer
Shanholtzer graduated from the 42nd Springfield Police Academy in 1997. His career began as a patrol officer serving as a major crimes investigator, field training officer, crisis negotiator, and crisis intervention team member. In 2006, he was promoted to Corporal and in 2018, he was promoted to Sergeant. Shanholtzer has served much of his career in the Uniform Operations Bureau.
Over the course of his career, Shanholtzer was awarded two Command Commendations, a Medal of Valor – Silver, and a Lifetime Achievement Award. In retirement, Shanholtzer plans to spend time with family and friends while pursuing outdoor adventures.
Image caption (download here): Major Tad Peters, Sgt. David Shanholtzer, and Captain Culley Wilson will retire in July with 25 years of service to the Springfield Police Department.
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Media Contact: PAO Cris Swaters
417-864-1786
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