Operation Trooper Relief

STATE TROOPERS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY ASSIST AFTER HURRICANE KATRINA

AAST Begins Operation Trooper Relief

Many state troopers in Louisiana and Mississippi who lost everything in Hurricane Katrina set aside their personal needs to help others. Hundreds of troopers are still working long shifts in unspeakable conditions to aid the community, without regard for the problems faced by their own families.

Seeing the tremendous need to assist these officers, the American Association of State Troopers immediately set its wheels in motion. First, AAST worked with the Oregon State Police Officer's Association on a project where members of the Oregon State Police and surrounding communities could assist their counterparts affected by the storm. Operation Trooper Relief, headed up by Sr. Trooper Jeff Leighty of the Oregon State Police, garnered donations of greatly needed items which were transported to troopers in Louisiana and Mississippi.

In one day Leighty received enough donations to fill two tractor trailers. The tractor trailers and drivers were donated by M & M Towing of Woodburn, Ore., and retired Oregon State Police troopers volunteered their time to escort the trucks to the affected areas.

"The bond of brotherhood crosses state lines as law enforcement officers do whatever they can to help each other," said AAST president Wayne York, Oregon State Police, retired. "Although these troopers are across the country from us, we feel their pain and want to help in any way possible."

According to Sgt. Bobby Reed of the Mississippi Highway Patrol, many troopers whose homes were destroyed have been living out of their cars. Supplies have been issued to the public, but many troopers do not receive adequate assistance.

AAST is spending thousands of dollars toward the effort to get food, water and supplies to troopers and their families in the devastated areas.

Hundreds of state troopers from coast to coast were deployed into Louisiana and Mississippi to assist with recovery efforts - a true example of brothers helping brothers.

"Sending troopers to the affected areas is a gesture of cooperation with a neighboring state law enforcement agency that is far more than just an act of professional courtesy," said Col. Steve Dozier, director of the Arkansas State Police. "This is an act of human compassion that hopefully will go a long way to help our neighbors get through what must be unimaginable agony."

The AAST Brotherhood assistance fund was established to help troopers, and trooper families who have suffered catastrophic events in their lives such as illness or injury, and loss or damage or loss of life from natural disasters. Currently AAST is responding to hurricane Katrina by providing resources to the troopers working in the disaster areas by sending water, generators and other supplies into the affected areas.

If you would like to help the Highway Patrol, Highway Safety Patrol and the State Police in the affected areas, please send donations to:

AAST Brotherhood Assistance
1949 Raymond Diehl Road
Tallahassee, FL 32308

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