Community Safety
The Community Safety Unit is responsible for prosecuting cases related to safety of the community, such as driving while intoxicated, property offenses, leaving the scene of an accident, and careless and imprudent driving. The Community Safety Unit also works with the Springfield Police Department PAR (Police Area Representative) to help solve long-term neighborhood problems. The Community Safety Unit Attorneys are:
Zack graduated Summa Cum Laude in the Honors College from Southwest Missouri State University (now Missouri State University), double majoring in Criminology and Sociology. He received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law in May 2008. Zack joined the Warrant Unit in the Greene County Prosecutor's Office in November of 2012, reviewing felony and misdemeanor cases submitted by law enforcement, preparing investigative subpoenas, and reviewing search warrant applications. In 2013, he moved to the General Crimes Unit where he focused on prosecuting driving while intoxicated offenses, minors in possession of alcohol, domestic violence, and Missouri Department of Revenue administrative license refusal hearings. In 2015, Zack was assigned to represent the Prosecutor’s Office in the Greene County Treatment Courts. Also in 2015, Zack was promoted to Senior Assistant in the Major Crimes Unit and assigned to handle a drug distribution, manufacturing, and trafficking caseload. Zack oversaw the office’s Criminal Activity Forfeiture Act cases, and the office’s United States Department of Justice Equitable Sharing Agreement. In January 2022, he was promoted to 1st Assistant Prosecuting Attorney and has led the General Crimes Unit, Restorative Justice Unit, and now the Community Safety Unit. Zack is a licensed Missouri Department of Public Safety Specialist Instructor and teaches at the Springfield Police Academy.
Anna Runestad joined the Grrene County Prosecutors office in August of 2023. She graduated from Iowa State University with a B.A. in Criminal Justice in 2019 and then from Drake Law School with her Juris Doctorate in 2021. During law school Anna worked with the wrongful convictions clinic, and after graduation spent a year working in landlord tenant and family law for Iowa Legal Aid in Waterloo, Iowa before moving here to Missouri to Join the Greene County Prosecutors Office.
Bethany joined the Greene County Prosecutor's Office in February 2023. She received her Bachelor's from Missouri Baptist University in Criminal Justice. Bethany graduated from the University of Missouri's School of Law in 2019.
Hannah joined the Greene County Prosecutor's Office in August of 2023. She graduated cum laude from Southeast Missouri State University in 2020 with a major in Criminal Justice and a minor in Mass Communication. She then attended the University of Missouri School of Law and graduated with her Juris Doctorate in 2023. During law school, Hannah served as an intern at the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Missouri in Cape Girardeau and as a Rule 13 intern at the Cole County Prosecuting Attorney's Office. She also worked at Harper, Evans, Wade, and Netemeyer in Columbia, Missouri and was a member of the Missouri Law Review as well as an associate editor of the blog.
Kaylee joined the Greene County Prosecutor’s office in August 2023. She grew up in Springfield, but moved to North Carolina after her freshman year of high school. Kaylee graduated Magna Cum Laude from Queens University of Charlotte Honors College with a degree in Psychology and a minor in Sports Management. Kaylee received her Juris Doctorate from William H. Bowen School of Law in Little Rock, Arkansas. During law school, she worked for U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services and the Pulaski County Defender’s Office. She interned with our office during the summer of 2022 as Rule 13 and is excited to be back.
Kordyn Turner joined the Greene County Prosecutor’s Office in August of 2023. He hails from the great state of Arkansas, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude with a B.A. in History from Henderson State University in 2020. He went on to obtain his law degree from the University of Arkansas Fayetteville in May of 2023. While in law school, Kordyn clerked at the Fayetteville City Prosecutor’s Office. Kordyn is a proud member of the Community Safety Unit.
Nicole joined the Greene County Prosecutor’s Officer in August of 2023. She graduated summa cum laude from Millikin University in Decatur, IL with a major in English Writing, Composition, and Rhetoric with a minor in Philosophy of Law. She then attended Saint Louis University School of Law and graduated with her Juris Doctorate in 2023. During law school, Nicole interned with the Missouri State Public Defender’s Office and participated in SLU’s Criminal Defense Clinic. She also served as a research assistant for one of SLU’s professors, Chad Flanders, and worked as a teacher’s assistant for SLU’s Moot Court classes.
Rachel joined the Greene County Prosecutor's Office in August of 2021. She graduated cum laude from St. Lawrence University in 2018 with a major in psychology and minors in mathematics and education. She then attended the University of Missouri School of Law and graduated with her Juris Doctorate in 2021. During law school, Rachel worked at Harper, Evans, Wade, and Netemeyer in Columbia, Missouri, and was on the editorial board of the Missouri Law Review.
Ted joined the Greene County Prosecutor’s Office in November of 2022. He graduated from the University of Missouri – Kansas City School of Law in May of 2021 and received his B.S. in Business Administration from Montana State University in 2012. Prior to law school, Ted worked for the Montana State Auditor’s Office as a Financial Examiner and the Montana Army National Guard as an Armor Officer. During law school, Ted interned for the Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance and the Missouri Attorney General’s Office and was a member of the UMKC law review.