Missouri/Illinois Chapter
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Leadership
John Yeast
LEDA Instructor | LEDA Steering Team Member | LEDA MO/IL Chapter President
John Yeast is a well-regarded public safety veteran with a career spanning over three decades of steadfast dedication. He is employed full-time with the St. Charles County Ambulance District, where he serves as the Director of Technology and Chief Information Security Officer. John established the district’s inaugural UAS program, which supports the Regional Urban Search & Rescue (US&R) Team, the Regional Homeland Security HAZMAT Response Team, and the ambulance district during large-scale or critical incidents.
In addition, John is employed by the St. Charles County Police Department as the Commander of the Aerial Intelligence Unit, leading a regional, multi-disciplinary UAS team. He is also assigned to the St. Charles County Regional SWAT Team as a tactical drone operator.
Widely recognized as a leading authority in UAS operations, John is an international subject matter expert, distinguished speaker, and trainer. He has led training initiatives across the country and played a key role in launching or revitalizing hundreds of public safety UAS programs nationwide. With tens of thousands of UAS flight hours, John has responded to numerous critical incidents and hundreds of tactical operations. His unwavering commitment to training, collaboration, and technological advancement continues to drive UAS proficiency and strengthen team capabilities across the industry. John also leads several active roles in state and national legislative efforts and is a liaison for the Missouri Law Enforcement Legal Coalition.
John currently serves the Law Enforcement Drone Association (LEDA) as a Steering Committee Member, senior Instructor, and the Missouri & Illinois Chapter President. His goal is to be a resource for public safety agencies across both states and to support the growth of UAS training and program development in alignment with LEDA’s national standards.
Tom Davis
LEDA Missouri/Illinois Chapter Vice President
Tom Davis is a Deputy with the Cape Girardeau County Sheriff’s Office in Missouri and serves as the Vice President of the Missouri/Illinois Chapter of the Law Enforcement Drone Association (LEDA). Tom began his law enforcement career in 2011 in the Jail Division, where he rose to the rank of Lieutenant before transferring to the Business Operations Division. He currently manages his agency’s Drone Program.
In this role, Tom supports the integration and coordination of UAS operations for a wide range of public safety missions including search and rescue, scene documentation, tactical response, and disaster assessment.
Tom is a strong advocate for interagency collaboration and continues to work with departments across Missouri and Illinois to promote consistency and professionalism in law enforcement drone operations. He has also been actively involved in legislative advocacy efforts in Missouri, working to protect and preserve public safety agencies’ access to effective and affordable UAS technology. As Vice President of the Missouri/Illinois LEDA Chapter, he supports education, standardization, and the advancement of UAS programs throughout the region.
Richard Wiginton
LEDA Missouri/Illinois Chapter Secretary
Richard Wiginton has been a dedicated member of the Creve Coeur Police Department since 2005, serving as a Patrol Sergeant for nearly twelve years. Recognizing the transformative potential of unmanned aerial systems in law enforcement, he spearheaded the creation of the department's drone program in 2016 and has expertly supervised its growth and operations ever since.
Under his leadership, the Creve Coeur Police Department's drone program has become an invaluable asset, responding to numerous critical incidents. Richard's commitment to safety and proficiency is evident in the comprehensive training he has provided to officers within the department, equipping several of them to become skilled drone pilots.
Beyond the Creve Coeur Police Department, Richard has actively collaborated with multiple law enforcement agencies across St. Louis County, providing invaluable guidance and support in the establishment of their own drone programs. His expertise extends to pilot training, where he has instructed officers from various agencies, fostering a higher standard of operational excellence and safety within the region.
A dedicated member of the Law Enforcement Drone Association (LEDA) since 2022, Richard has been a certified NIST proctor for basic drone proficiency, further demonstrating his commitment to standardized training and professional development within the drone community.
Richard is driven by a passion to support and empower local agencies in the development and advancement of their drone programs. His goals include fostering pilot proficiency, promoting a thorough understanding of state and federal regulations governing UAS operations, and ultimately maximizing the positive impact of drone technology in the daily efforts of law enforcement professionals.
Nick Karpel
LEDA Missouri/Illinois Chapter Steering Committee
Nick Karpel is an IT Systems Engineer with the St. Charles County Ambulance District (SCCAD), responsible for the backbone mission-critical healthcare infrastructure that delivers reliable uptime, with a compliance-ready and secure posture. He also serves on SCCAD’s Technical Response Unit as a UAS Pilot, providing real-time reconnaissance for the Regional Homeland Security HAZMAT Response Team, Regional Urban Search & Rescue (US&R), Fire, and EMS operations during critical incidents. Concurrently, Nick also serves as a UAS Pilot for the St. Charles County Police Department, deploying drones in support of SWAT, Bomb, Patrol, and Emergency Management. In addition,
Nick is also an instructor with Remote Tactical Solutions (RTS) Group, turning lessons learned in the field into training that helps other first responders integrate UAS into their operations.
Nick currently serves the Law Enforcement Drone Association (LEDA) as a Steering Committee Member for the Missouri/Illinois Chapter.
Dan Gearhart
LEDA Missouri/Illinois Chapter Steering Committee
Dan Gearhart is a Patrol Deputy employed by the Platte County Sheriff’s Office, Platte County, Missouri. With almost 18 years of public service, he began his law enforcement career in 2007 as a Military Police Officer in the Army. In 2012 he was hired as a lieutenant for the Cleveland (OH) Public Library, Safety & Protective Services Division. In 2016 he moved to Missouri and was hired by the Smithville Police Department, reaching the rank of sergeant in 2018. In 2022 he attended the Platte County Sheriff’s Office First Responder Drone Academy, and became Part 107 certified later that year. He was the first UAS Pilot at the department and crated the UAS unit. In 2023 he moved to the Platte County Sheriff’s Office. He is assigned to the Patrol Division, Traffic Unit, as a DWI Enforcement Deputy. He also participates in the CRASH team and Special Vehicle Unit as a drone operator.
Dan became a LEDA member in 2022 and has attended several LEDA events. He has been dedicated to bringing LEDA best practices to his agencies, while increasing safe, responsible UAS use throughout the public safety space.
Kyle Myrick
LEDA Missouri/Illinois Chapter Steering Committee
Kyle Myrick began a career in law enforcement in 2021 and joined the Cape Girardeau County Drone Team in 2022. He has gained experience in both outdoor missions and interior operations, including tactical SWAT deployments. Completed St. Charles Regional SWAT School as a member of the Cape Girardeau Special Response Team (SRT).
Kyle currently serves with the Cape Girardeau Police Department, with a professional focus on
integrating Drones as First Responders (DFR) and leading the development of CGPD’s first
dedicated drone team.