In an era where recruitment and retention of law enforcement officers present increasing challenges nationwide, the Osage Beach Police Department is taking a proactive approach—investing not just in equipment and technology, but in the future of its officers.
One officer benefiting from this commitment is Sergeant Bobby McCrorey, a 42-year-old Oklahoma native whose career path took a few unexpected turns before landing him in uniform.
McCrorey originally enrolled in college but had a change of heart in 2005 and moved to Eldon to be closer to his family. A few years later, he felt the pull toward public service and enrolled in the police academy, where he completed the Missouri POST (Peace Officer Standards and Training) requirements—720 hours of rigorous training—graduating in 2011.
After applying to a few local agencies, McCrorey ultimately joined the Osage Beach Police Department in September 2011—his top choice and what he considered the premier department at the time. He has served here ever since, steadily rising through the ranks.
Promoted to detective in 2018, McCrorey voluntarily returned to patrol in 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic to help cover staffing shortages. “It wasn’t about the title,” he said. “It was about stepping up when the community needed it most.”
By 2021, he was promoted to corporal, and just one year later, he advanced to sergeant, a position he leads with a collaborative style. “I lead from the mud,” he said. “I’m in the midst of it with them. It’s not about barking orders, it's about listening, collaborating, and building trust.”
That philosophy extends to community engagement, which McCrorey considers essential to effective policing. “You can’t police a community you don’t understand or one that doesn’t trust you,” he emphasized. “Trust is the foundation. Without it, you're doomed to fail.”
That foundation of trust is mirrored internally, where the City of Osage Beach, in partnership with the Police Department, has made substantial investments in officer development. McCrorey recently graduated from the Missouri Police Chiefs’ Command College, a prestigious program that prepares officers for an executive leadership role.
McCrorey, the first of five Osage Beach Police Sergeants to be afforded the opportunity, wrote an essay to department leaders explaining why he wanted to attend.
“I believe that leadership isn’t something that can be taught overnight; it’s cultivated through continuous professional and personal learning,” he wrote. “I love where I work and the bonds I have made since I began my career at Osage Beach. My last goal is to retire where I began my law enforcement career.”
From November until a couple weeks ago, McCrorey drove to Jefferson City one week each month, attending college-level courses in areas like staffing, budgeting, media relations, mental health, and high-profile incident management.
The coursework applies directly to law enforcement and counts toward a master's program—one McCrorey is now pursuing. With a Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice from Columbia College already under his belt, he’s just five courses away from earning a master’s degree from Lincoln University.
With help from the City’s tuition reimbursement program—which means that up to 100% of the cost of tuition is reimbursed to the employee for job-related coursework, based upon grades obtained—McCrorey balances full-time police work, higher education, and family life. He and his wife Danielle are raising five children, ages 8 to 18.
"Working overnights while going to school definitely takes a toll, but I’m incredibly grateful," said McCrorey. "The City’s investment in me is about building well-rounded officers who can form lasting, meaningful relationships with the community we serve."
Osage Beach Police Chief Todd Davis believes that kind of investment is critical to the department’s long-term success.
“When we invest in our officers, we’re investing in the safety and future of our community,” Chief Davis said. “Ongoing education and advanced training not only develop leadership within the department—they build confidence, accountability, and deeper trust with the public. Supporting our officers' professional growth strengthens the department as a whole.”
As he looks to the future, McCrorey’s aspirations include potentially attending the FBI’s elite National Academy in Quantico and advancing to the rank of lieutenant or beyond before retirement. For now, though, he’s focused on the team around him—his squad includes Corporal Holly Vernon and Officers Justin Hutzler and Ryan Leonard—and ensuring Osage Beach remains a model for community policing.
L-R: Chief Todd Davis, Danielle McCrorey, Sgt. Bobby McCrorey, Lt. Michael O'Day on Graduation Day