Bill Willoughby, who serves as the investigator for the Platte County Prosecuting Attorney's Office, now leads the association representing criminal investigators across Missouri. Willoughby ran unopposed for the position with the Missouri Investigators Association (MOIA) earlier this year.

MOIA helps law enforcement agencies share information and provides educational opportunities for government investigators. Its signature event is an annual conference, attended by about 120 investigators from dozens of law enforcement agencies.

Willoughby said, "I've always been guided by the saying that, 'We don't rise to the level of our expectations. We fall to the level of our training.' I'm honored to help lead this organization as we work to improve training, networking, and information-sharing for criminal investigators. By helping investigators become better at their jobs, I am confident we are making all Missourians safer."

Willoughby has been the investigator of the Platte County Prosecuting Attorney's Office since 2015. In that role, among many other duties, he helps prosecutors locate and prepare witnesses for trial. He has also assisted on cold case investigations. He also serves as a liaison between the prosecuting attorney's office and front-line law enforcement agencies.

Willoughby retired with the rank of Captain from the Gladstone Department of Public Safety after 30 years of service, where he worked as a patrolman, a detective, and a field sergeant. He was also a firearms instructor, department armorer, and defensive tactics instructor. He served as a member of the tactical unit and as one of the tactical commanders.

Prior to his tenure in Gladstone, Willoughby worked for the Platte City Police Department and the Platte County Sheriff’s Department. His law enforcement career began in 1977.

Willoughby has attended the Administrative Officer’s Course at the Southern Police Institute in Louisville, Kentucky and the Missouri Police Chiefs Command College in Jefferson City, Missouri.

Platte County Prosecuting Attorney Eric Zahnd said, "Platte Countians are fortunate that the prosecuting attorney's office is full of highly qualified people who work hard every day to achieve justice. Bill Willoughby has been a leader in law enforcement for decades. I consider myself lucky to work with him, and it's no surprise his colleagues selected him to lead this statewide criminal investigators association."