06/01/2026
Why We Serve
Name: Lt. Joe Renkemeyer #230
Where are you from and where did you go to high school? I grew up in Dutzow, Missouri and graduated from St. Francis Borgia High School. I now reside in the Krakow, Missouri area.
What did you do prior to getting into law enforcement and do you have any prior public safety experience? I owned and operated Pepple Creek Nursery, a garden center and landscaping business near Wentzville, Missouri. No, I don't have any prior public safety experience.
What academy did you go to? Eastern Missouri Police Academy.
When did you join Washington PD and why? 2011. Although I’ve lived on the outskirts my entire life, Washington has always been considered my hometown. It’s where my family shops, spends time together, attends school, and enjoys entertainment. When I decided to pursue a career in law enforcement, there was no other place I’d rather serve.
What is your current role within the department, and do you have any specialized training or assignments? I began my career as a Patrol Officer in the department’s Patrol Division and have since advanced through the ranks from Officer to Sergeant and now Lieutenant. I also serve as one of the department’s Taser and defensive tactics instructors.
Currently, I serve as the Commander of Uniformed Operations, overseeing two patrol platoons, each consisting of two squads made up of one Sergeant and three officers, along with two overlay shift Corporals. I also supervise the S.R.O./D.A.R.E. Unit, which consists of one Sergeant and four officers, as well as Traffic Safety and Code Enforcement. In addition, I oversee the department’s Field Training Program and Peer Support Team.
Why did you choose law enforcement as a career? After selling the nursery later in my adult life, I began searching for a challenging career that offered something different each day while also providing a sense of pride and accomplishment. Law enforcement fit those goals perfectly, and I decided to pursue it.
What’s one thing you wish the public knew or understood about law enforcement and one thing you didn’t know until after you started? I wish the public had a better understanding of the many roles our officers are expected to fill. On any given day, and often multiple times throughout the day, we serve as administrators, educators, mediators, investigators, community relations specialists, negotiators, medical responders, journalists, tactical responders, and counselors. While fulfilling all these responsibilities, we are also tasked with enforcing the ordinances of Washington and the laws of Missouri.
One thing I didn’t realize before becoming an officer is how supportive most people are of law enforcement. While a small minority may always hold negative views, and they sometimes have the loudest voices, most people show strong support, especially here in Washington.
What do you enjoy outside of work? Outside of work, I enjoy running a small hobby farm. My family raises a few cattle and hogs each year, we have laying hens, and we bale hay. It certainly keeps us busy. I also enjoy hunting and fishing, and of course, spending time with my family. We have four dogs—Milo, Bailey, Bella, and Coco—so it can be quite the zoo at the Renkemeyer household.
