The Missouri Association of Prosecuting Attorneys recognized Edward Smith with the 2024 Outstanding Support Staff Award and Keith Freie as the 2024 Missouri Prosecutor of the Year. Each year MAPA recognizes a prosecutor and prosecuting attorney support personnel for exemplary skills and service. 

Smith joined the Warren County Prosecuting Attorney’s office on Aug. 7, 2023 as an investigator. Edward Smith is being recognized for extended hours of service to victims, witnesses and law enforcement. Smith worked tirelessly to assist law enforcement and victims. 

Smith is POST certified in the state of Missouri and has 30 years of combined experience in law enforcement and security operations. He served as the Director of Public Safety at St. Louis University and is a highly trained and seasoned leader. Additionally, Smith holds a Department of Defense security clearance. As a law enforcement officer, Smith was a member and leader of a County Regional SWAT team. He is an expert in use of force, firearms, tactical operations and civil unrest. Smith has extensive experience in developing and managing law enforcement training programs at the federal, state and local levels. As a subject matter expert on active shooter events, he has also trained many community leaders and businesses in preparation for an active shooter event. Smith is currently the investigator for the Warren County Prosecuting Attorney’s office where he has leveraged his wealth of experience to make a tremendous impact on those he works with and serves on a daily basis. 

Freie has been a Missouri licensed attorney for 12 years and has served as a prosecutor for over nine years. Freie began his service as an assistant prosecuting attorney working between Montgomery and Gasconade counties in 2014. He served Warren County as an assistant prosecuting attorney from June 2018 to April 2022. 

Freie has been serving as the Montgomery County prosecuting attorney since April 16, 2022. He was first appointed as the Montgomery County interim prosecuting attorney by Judge Jason H. Lamb. He was subsequently elected by the citizens of Montgomery County in November, 2022. Freie was appointed interim prosecuting attorney for Warren County in October, 2023, serving in that role contemporaneously with his role as the Montgomery County prosecuting attorney. 

“I am honored to be recognized for my contributions to the community. I am deeply humbled to be recognized when there are so many people who deserve recognition. The award means recognition for my staff who made this service possible by their devoted and unconditional sacrifice. I will be forever grateful for their service and friendship. The staff of the Montgomery and Warren County Prosecuting Attorney’s Offices should be commemorated on their unwavering service to the citizens of their respective counties and this state,” said Freie. 

Smith and Freie were both honored at the MAPA Annual Conference at the Lake of the Ozarks on Aug. 29, 2024. Freie was also honored by the Missouri Bar Association on Sept. 18, 2024 in St. Louis during the annual meeting.