Master Sergeant Matthew Halford is a 19-year veteran of the Missouri State Highway Patrol.  He began his career Saline County, Troop A, before moving to Boone County, Troop F, where he spent thirteen years.  He was promoted to Corporal in 2013, and in 2019, he was promoted to his current position, in Cole and Callaway Counties, Troop F, where he serves as a Master Sergeant.  In addition to his patrol duties, Trooper Halford has served as an FTO, Defensive Tactics instructor, member of the Mid-Missouri Major Case Squad, and is an Interdiction for the Protection of Children instructor. 

Sergeant Halford started negotiating in 2009 and has responded to numerous crisis incidents across the State of Missouri.  He is active in the field of crisis negotiation both in and outside the Patrol.  In 2013, he became the negotiator team leader for the Troop F SWAT Team.  Since then, he has also assumed the state coordinator role for the Patrol Negotiators.

Sergeant Halford is an active member of the Missouri Association of Crisis Negotiators and has served on their Board of Directors since 2013.  Sergeant Halford has instructed and facilitated numerous training events across the United States.  

Before starting his law enforcement career, Sergeant Halford double majored in Art and Psychology and received his degree from William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri.  In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family and running from one sporting event to the next.