Hannibal High Grad Retires From Missouri Highway Patrol

A man who graduated from Hannibal High School more than 30 years ago is about to call it a career as the Missouri State Highway Patrol has announced his retirement.

A press release from the Missouri State Highway Patrol says that Captain Erik A. Gottman is retiring on August 1, 2026. This was announced by Colonel Michael A. Turner, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Captain Gottman was a member 27th Recruit Class on October 1, 1995 when he joined what was then the Missouri State Water Patrol. After the water patrol was incorporated into the Missouri State Highway Patrol in 2011, Erik Gottman was assigned to Troop B where he was promoted to captain in August of 2020.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Captain Gottman was born in Fort Knox, Kentucky before moving to Hannibal and graduating from Hannibal High School. He earned a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice administration from Hannibal-LaGrange College in 1995. Erik Gottman and his wife Ashley have one son, Colton.

My family has many who have served and are currently serving in law enforcement and it's a challenging life as much for the family as it is for the member who's serving. Congratulations to Captain Gottman on his distinguished career. We wish him and his family the best as his well-earned retirement life begins.