James "Jim" Stever Named Carl Junction’s New Chief of Police

CARL JUNCTION, Mo. — Carl Junction has appointed a new chief of police following the retirement of Chief Mark McCall, who served in the position for 25 years. James "Jim" Stever has been promoted to lead the department and recently joined Newstalk KZRG to discuss his background, public safety concerns and priorities for the department.

Stever brings decades of law enforcement experience to the position. He graduated from Southwest Missouri State University (SMSU), now known as Missouri State Southern University in 1991 and joined the Joplin Police Department in April 1992. After 20 years of service, he retired from the department in 2012.

In 2013, Stever joined the Carl Junction Police Department as a patrol sergeant, serving in that role until 2021, when he was promoted to assistant chief.

"After Chief McCall left after 25 years of service, I was promoted to the new chief," Stever said.

Chief Says Carl Junction Remains a Safe Community

With a new chief taking the wheel, community safety remains an important topic for residents. Stever said he believes Carl Junction continues to be a safe place to live, with relatively low crime rates compared to larger cities.

"Oh, I think we have a very safe community. As you know, Carl Junction is a bedroom community. Our crime level is low. We do have everything that a bigger city has. We just have a lot less of it. So this is a great community to live in," Stever said.

One recurring issue the department faces is theft from vehicles. Stever said these incidents sometimes occur in waves, with periods of little activity followed by an increase in vehicle break-ins.

"We may go a month or two without any. And then all of a sudden, we may have an individual or individuals that start to break into cars again," Stever said.

He encouraged residents to lock their vehicles and remove valuables rather than leave them unattended.

"Basically, don't leave anything in your vehicle that you don't want to lose," he said.

Stever emphasized that stolen firearms are a particular concern when vehicles are targeted. He urged gun owners to secure their firearms and keep a record of each weapon's serial number.

"Every time you purchase a firearm, just make a log of it, write down the serial number in case it does get stolen," Stever said.

He explained that recording serial numbers allows law enforcement to enter stolen firearms into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC), a nationwide database that can help officers identify and recover stolen weapons.

Department Adjusting to New Leadership

As Stever settles into his new position, he said the department is running smoothly but that he plans to evaluate its operations and identify opportunities for improvement.

"I think things are running smoothly, but as always, as every new manager comes into an organization, you need to take everything in and then try to make some changes that you know will improve the department in the long run. And that's what I'm trying to do," Stever said.

In addition to his new leadership responsibilities, Stever is working to fill two vacant patrol officer positions. He said recruitment and retention remain ongoing challenges for law enforcement agencies throughout the Four States region.

"We are right now two patrol positions down. So we're trying to actively recruit people to fill those positions," Stever said. "I think every organization, every police department in the Four States area is having those issues, recruitment and retention issues. So we've been trying to address those issues for some time."

How to Contact the Carl Junction Police Department

Stever encouraged residents to contact law enforcement when they have concerns or need assistance. For non-emergency matters, residents can call 417-649-7070 , which connects them to Jasper County Central Dispatch (JASCO). Dispatchers can relay information and send an officer when necessary. Residents who wish to speak directly with the chief can also request to do so.

For emergencies, residents should call 911 so dispatchers can send an officer immediately.

As Stever begins his tenure as chief, his priorities include maintaining Carl Junction's low crime rate, addressing vehicle thefts, strengthening the department and filling vacant patrol positions.