Officer Christopher Burrows of the Affton-Southwest Precinct and Officer Joshua Gocal of the South County Precinct were honored as the 2026 Police Officers of the Year by the South County Police Business Association at the organization’s annual awards ceremony held this year on Oct. 14 at River City Casino Hotel in Lemay.
Precinct addresses the crowd at the South County
Police Business Association’s annual awards ceremony on Oct. 14. (Photo by Ellie Marshall)
Recognized on stage first was Burrows. Originally from the United Kingdom, Burrows was in the Army for 22 years before retiring as a sergeant major and moving to the United States in 2011.
“It is truly, truly an honor to be standing up here now, accepting this from you and my peers. Thank you very much,” Burrows said.
Gocal was called to the stage next, along with South County Precinct Commander Captain Aaron Roediger.
“I want to thank everyone at the fourth precinct — sergeants, lieutenants, captains. This is a team thing, and we all work together to make it happen,” Gocal said.
South County Precinct smiles with his awards following his speech on stage at the South County
Police Business Association’s annual awards
ceremony on Oct. 14. (Photo by Ellie Marshall)
“I want to thank the South County Police Business Association and everyone in this room,” Roediger added. “The support you give us is phenomenal, and it really impacts the officers’ lives in a positive way. So thank you for everything you do.”
In addition to the commemorative plaques presented, both officers were awarded a $2,000 check, a certificate for two nights at the Red Oak Resort in Camdenton and a two-night stay at the Comfort Inn Suites. Resolutions from the Missouri Senate, the Missouri House of Representatives and the St. Louis County Council were also received by each officer. Local elected officials, including County Council members Mike Archer, Dennis Hancock, Rita Heard Days and Gretchen Bangert, State Sen. Doug Beck, State Rep. Jim Murphy and St. Louis County Assessor Jake Zimmerman, were present.
The celebrations did not stop there, however, as 11 $1,000 scholarships were awarded to 11 children of officers or employees from the two precincts.
