JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Missouri Governor Mike Parson has ordered all U.S. and state flags to be flown at half-staff on Thursday at government buildings in Camden and Miller counties, as well as all police stations across the state, to honor an Osage Beach police officer who died in the line of duty.
Officer Phylicia Carson was on patrol just before 1:20 a.m. on August 31 when she noticed a speeding vehicle on westbound Highway 54 near Passover Road. Carson activated her police lights and attempted to conduct a traffic stop, but the offending driver sped off.
Carson pursued the vehicle onto Route A when her car began to skid, according to the crash report. Carson’s vehicle went off the road, struck a tree, and caught fire. Carson perished in the crash. She was 33.
“Officer Carson was a member of the Osage Beach Police Department for just under a year, but in that short period, she made a difference for Osage Beach and contributed to an enduring legacy of public service,” Parson said.
Chief Davis said Carson joined the department in June 2023. She leaves behind a husband and their six children.
“As Officer Carson prepared to enter into a law enforcement career, she wrote, ‘As a mother of six children, I want to know I can make a difference in the area I am raising my children. I want to show my children how to grow up and be outstanding members of society.’ These are values we can all embrace, regardless of our careers. Teresa and I lift up in our prayers Officer Carson’s husband, Miller County Deputy Sheriff Grant Carson, and their children, Teighan, Raye, Emlyn, Roma, Chevy, and Rhenner.”
The speeding driver was later apprehended in the area of Route A and Canary Lane, Davis said. No charges have been filed as of Saturday afternoon. However, the Camden County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office said the speeding driver may face an additional felony charge under the newly-implemented Valentine’s Law.
Officer Carson served in both Camden and Miller counties and lived in Miller County. Flags in both counties will also be at half-staff on the day Carson is laid to rest.
