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Former Dunklin County prosecutor appointed to state DPS director post
JEFFERSON CITY -- Missouri Governor Jay Nixon has appointed former Dunklin County Prosecuting Attorney Steve Sokoloff, of Kennett, as the new Deputy Director of the Missouri Department of Public Safety (MDPS). Sokoloff assumes his new responsibilities in Jefferson City on March 1, and will serve under MDPS Acting Director and Nixon's Deputy Chief of Staff, Peter Lyskowski. Sokoloff's duties will include overseeing the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Missouri Division of Liquor Control, the Missouri State Fire Marshal's Office, the Missouri Gaming Commission, the state's Police Officers' Standards and Training Administration, the Missouri State Emergency Management Agency and the National Guard. Sokoloff follows Andrea Spillars, who will stay on as a deputy director within the department.
"I appreciate the Governor's confidence in appointing me to this position," said Sokoloff. "I look forward to taking the responsibilities of the position and to facing new challenges. I think it will be interesting and challenging, in today's environment." Sokoloff's appointment will run for the duration of Nixon's administration, which ends on Jan. 1 of 2017. His office will be located in the Lewis and Clark State Office Building.
Sokoloff graduated from the University of Missouri Law School, in Columbia, and served as the county's Prosecuting Attorney from 1990 until August, when he was defeated in the primary election by challenger, Jeff McCormick, who ran unopposed in November.
Kennett's Public Safety Department Director, John Mallott, said he was glad to hear news of Sokoloff's appointment. "I think it will be good for southeast Missouri, and for us, as a community. He knows a lot of key people in law enforcement across the state, and other prosecutors. Any time you get a local guy at the state level, it's going to benefit us." Mallott added there are a lot of law enforcement meetings he attends at the state level, and he looks forward to Sokoloff being involved in those meetings, as well. "It's great to have that direct face. He understands the area and has a lot of personal knowledge about the position. He'll definitely have his hands full, because he'll have a wide range of responsibilities, but it will certainly be a plus for us."