As part of a planned trip back home to Missouri, I trailered my Special Service Package (SSP) Mustang and scheduled a side trip to the Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) General Headquarters in Jefferson City, Missouri.  On April 16, 2010 I had the pleasure of reuniting my 1993 MSHP SSP Mustang with its original Trooper.  Lt. Vince Rice is now the Assistant Director of the MSHP's professional standards division (i.e. internal affairs).  Lt. Rice was the only Trooper assigned to my SSP while it was in-service with the MSHP from 1993 to 1995.

I presented Lt. Rice with a framed photograph that documented through pictures the evolution of this SSP from in-service days with the MSHP and Cottleville, MO PD along with photos before and after the return to MSHP in-service specifications.  Much to my surprise the MSHP and Lt. Rice presented me with one (1) of his original license plates (632 HP), which had adorned this SSP.  A formal ceremony took place in front of my SSP, which was photographed for an upcoming issue of the MSHP Patrol News.  My father joined me for this trip and we also met up with a couple other SSP enthusiasts, including an owner of a 1989 MSHP SSP, which has been meticulously returned to in-service specifications.



This reunion attracted much attention from the MSHP and a dozen or so Troopers (mostly officer level) stopped by to view my SSP as it was displayed in front of MSHP HQ.  Additionally a member of the MSHP public relations team stopped by for a quick interview.  She has written an article that will publish in the May/June issue of the MSHP Patrol News magazine.  While meeting with Lt. Rice I had the opportunity to ride in the passenger seat while he drove us around the General HQ grounds in his old SSP.  He also was gracious in signing the underside of the deck lid along with several other items associated items.

This was a great opportunity, which followed an earlier in-person meeting my father and I had in the MSHP Museum with Lt. Rice on November 14, 2008.  At that time I made a committment to him that once this SSP was returned to in-service specifications I would trailer it in for a reunion.  This all became possible after completing that project in February, 2010.  This nearly two (2) year project, which included having this SSP stripped to bare metail and repainted back to original white from the black and white DARE colors used by the City of Cottleville, Missouri.  Sourcing the period correct equipment for installation took sixteen (16) months in and of itself.I feel very fortunate to have had this opportunity.  It is with great pride and pleausure that I will be preserving this unique piece of Missouri State Patrol (MSHP) and Ford Mustang history.