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Memorial Photos
Published in the Boston Globe - June 24, 2010
Sergeant’s funeral mixes sorrow, pride
BROCKTON — While the funeral of State Police Sergeant Douglas Weddleton unfolded yesterday with precision choreography, the simple words of a grieving son imbued the solemn pageantry with a painful, palpable humanity.
“You are my hero, you are my idol, and I hope I can continue to make you proud,’’ Mark Weddleton, 23, said tearfully during the funeral Mass. “Now, get some rest, Dad. You’ve earned it.’’
That recognition of a life devoted to family and public service was on moving display at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, where 3,500 law-enforcement officers from as far away as California paid tribute to the officer.
Weddleton, 52, was killed early Friday in an accident that involved two allegedly drunken drivers at an Interstate 95 off-ramp in Mansfield. Weddleton, who had been working a construction detail, was speaking to one of the drivers when another car struck the first vehicle, which then hurtled across the northbound ramp with Weddleton underneath.
Loss mingled with pride during the funeral. All available Massachusetts State Police stood motionless in silent ranks outside the church, where Governor Deval Patrick and other high-ranking state officials greeted Weddleton’s widow, four sons, parents, and two siblings as they arrived for the 11 a.m. funeral with a motorcycle escort.
Patrick leaned into the family’s limousine to offer condolences before eight State Police pallbearers, including six officers who had worked directly with Weddleton, slowly carried the metallic casket up several steps and into the church.
In addition to the State Police, law-enforcement officers from all the New England states stood behind the colors of their departments.
“We have all, each and every one of us, been diminished somewhat as that thin blue line has become a little thinner,’’ said the Rev. William Hamilton, a State Police chaplain whose sermon touched repeatedly on Weddleton’s legacy. “Doug, today, stands with us at this moment.’’
As much as Weddleton savored his job as a state trooper, Hamilton said, his love of family was the overriding force of his life.
“Each of you were truly Doug’s reason for living,’’ Hamilton said to the family seated before him. The last words Weddleton and his wife, Judith, shared were, “I love you,’’ the priest recalled.
Mark Weddleton amplified that overarching sense of caring and affection. “My father would always say, ‘I already have everything I need,’ ’’ said the trooper’s second-oldest son.
His father never missed one of his sporting events, Mark Weddleton said. He worked long and hard to support the family, and he never complained, Weddleton told the congregation.
“He did what came naturally to him,’’ the son said. “What my father lacked in size, he certainly made up in heart.’’
Although tributes to Weddleton’s character dominated the funeral, Hamilton acknowledged that the shock of the officer’s death, shortly after he had attended his youngest son’s middle-school graduation, would naturally give rise to bitterness.
“We are angry, we are sad, we are frustrated and feeling hopelessly abandoned, and we want answers to the ultimate question — why?’’ Hamilton said.
During the funeral, those questions were put aside as the focus became a life well-lived.
Colonel Marian McGovern, the State Police commander, called Weddleton “a man who showed us what the human side of policing is all about’’ and someone who “will live forever among the ranks of those police officers who made the ultimate sacrifice.’’
“You have taught us well,’’ McGovern said. “Your legacy will continue.’’
After the Mass, as the State Police bagpipe band played Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy,’’ Judith Weddleton slowly left the church, her arms supported by a trooper and her oldest son, Stephen. The other sons followed, their heads bowed during the brief walk to the limousine.
The pallbearers, moving in short, deliberate steps, bore the casket and a round-brimmed trooper’s hat to the waiting hearse.
During the service, dozens of townspeople stood quietly and respectfully outside the church, where loudspeakers relayed the words and music from inside the simple, red-brick building.
Mary Coulter-Bennett and her daughter, Mia, 9, each held American flags as they listened to the Mass. “I just wanted to show my respect,’’ said Coulter-Bennett, of Stoughton, whose husband and brother are State Police troopers.
Nearby, Abbie Burchsted of Brockton stood in tribute to a man who had lived three blocks from her. “I didn’t know him, but we’d see him outside with his boys and he’d wave,’’ said Burchsted, whose father had been a Boston police officer.
Following a motorcade from the church, Weddleton was buried in Melrose Cemetery in Brockton. There, a state flag was presented to his widow, and trooper’s hats were given to each of his sons. Three State Police helicopters flew overhead.
Each member of Weddleton’s recruit class, which graduated in 1983, approached the gravesite and laid a pair of white gloves on the casket. The gifts — from comrade to comrade — were interred with the coffin.
Published in the Boston Globe - June 23, 2010
BROCKTON – One of the sons of State Police Sergeant Douglas A. Weddleton today called his father his hero and said he hoped that the fallen trooper will now be able to get some well-deserved ''rest.''
"There isn't enough time in the world to truly express how much I love you,'' Mark Weddleton said during his father's funeral Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes Church. "You are my hero. You are my idol, and I hope I can continue to make you proud.''
Mark Weddleton, 23, the second oldest of the trooper's four sons, followed the State Police chaplain, the Rev. William Hamilton, to the front of the church overflowing with mourners, who included Weddleton's widow, Judy, and Mark Weddleton's three other brothers.
During his brief comments, Mark Weddleton also directly addressed his father, who was killed last Friday while working a construction detail on I-95 in a freak crash involving two alleged drunk drivers.
"Please continue to watch over us,'' Mark Weddleton, 23, said to his father. "Now, get some rest, Dad. You've earned it. ''
The funeral came to a close shortly before 1 p.m. Judith Weddleton was escorted from the church accompanied by one of her sons and state troopers. As the State Police honor guard bore Weddleton's casket outside, a drill instructor's hat -- part of the State Police uniform -- was placed atop it.
A private burial service was set to be held at Melrose Cemetery in Brockton.
Hamilton delivered the sermon at the funeral, saying that the death of Weddleton has hurt not just his family, but society as a whole.
"We have all, each and everyone of us, been diminished somewhat as that thin blue line has come a little thinner,'' Hamilton said. "No one has suffered a greater loss than … Doug's family.''
Earlier, Weddleton's casket was carried inside the church by a nine-member honor guard of Weddleton's fellow troopers in their dress uniforms of French and electric blue. The troopers were preceded by Weddleton's widow, sons, and his father.
An estimated 1,000 state troopers in dress uniforms with black bands across their badges stood in parade rest in total silence. Another 2,500 law enforcement officers from around the region, and other parts of the country, gathered on surrounding streets.
Governor Deval Patrick and Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray, Attorney General Martha Coakley and state Treasurer Timothy Cahill, among other political figures, attended the service.
On Tuesday, thousands of mourners stood patiently for hours under a searing afternoon sun for Weddleton's wake, which was also held at the church.
Weddleton was killed in a chain-reaction crash in Mansfield at 1:15 a.m. Friday. Weddleton had blocked a highway off-ramp with his cruiser.
He was speaking to the driver of one car who had tried to maneuver around his cruiser when another vehicle allegedly traveling at 65 miles per hour struck the first vehicle, which careened across the road with Weddleton underneath.
The Globe reported today on concerns among law enforcement and policymakers about officer safety at construction sites.
Mourners Tuesday recalled Weddleton’s stint as a hard-working teenage broiler cook at a local steakhouse. Others reminisced about the dedication to family that prompted Weddleton, 52, to work a paid detail early Friday in Mansfield. And long-ago classmates smiled as they spoke of an earnest, kind, and unflappable disposition.
“He’s just a family guy who worked the extra hours like we all did,’’ said Lieutenant James Mills, who commands the State Police station in Revere. “You like to think you’re in control, but you can’t control everything. You know that the minute you walk inside the door, and you hope that everything works out for you.’’
Behind Mills, a childhood friend of Weddleton’s held the metal badge that Weddleton had worn as a sixth-grade patrol boy at the Brookfield School here. Mark O’Flaherty, 53, had been Weddleton’s lieutenant as the 12-year-olds had helped their classmates negotiate the streets around the school at the beginning and end of each class day.
“I’m going to give it to his son,’’ O’Flaherty said of Matt Weddleton, 14, the trooper’s youngest child. “Doug wasn’t the biggest guy in the world, but he had the biggest heart.’’
Published in the Boston Globe - June 23, 2010
BROCKTON — Thousands of mourners stood patiently for hours under a searing afternoon sun yesterday, barely moving outside Our Lady of Lourdes Church as friends, co-workers, neighbors, and strangers gathered to pay respects to the family of State Police Sergeant Douglas Weddleton.
Some recalled Weddleton’s stint as a hard-working teenage broiler cook at a local steak house. Others reminisced about the dedication to family that prompted Weddleton, 52, to work a paid detail early Friday in Mansfield. And long-ago classmates smiled as they spoke of an earnest, kind, and unflappable disposition.
Weddleton, a married father of four, died on a northbound offramp from Interstate 95 in a chain-reaction crash involving two allegedly drunk drivers at 1:15 a.m. Weddleton, whose cruiser had blocked the ramp as part of a construction detail, was struck as he spoke to the driver of one car that had tried to maneuver around his cruiser. As Weddleton stood on the ramp, another car traveling at 65 miles per hour struck the first vehicle, which careered across the road with Weddleton underneath.
“He’s just a family guy who worked the extra hours like we all did,’’ said Lieutenant James Mills, who commands the State Police station in Revere. “You like to think you’re in control, but you can’t control everything. You know that the minute you walk inside the door, and you hope that everything works out for you.’’
Behind Mills, a childhood friend of Weddleton’s held the metal badge that Weddleton had worn as a sixth-grade patrol boy at the Brookfield School here. Mark O’Flaherty, 53, had been Weddleton’s lieutenant as the 12-year-olds had helped their classmates negotiate the streets around the school at the beginning and end of each class day.
“I’m going to give it to his son,’’ O’Flaherty said of Matt Weddleton, 14, the trooper’s youngest child. “Doug wasn’t the biggest guy in the world, but he had the biggest heart.’’
Doug Weddleton also was a milk boy, which meant that he would sell milk at school for 4 cents a carton and receive a free lunch in return. “I wouldn’t call him a teacher’s pet,’’ O’Flaherty said, “but he was very well thought of.’’
Another benefit of the extra responsibilities at the Brookfield School, O’Flaherty said, was that the student patrol could use the gym for floor hockey after the crossing job was over.
“He got there early, and he stayed late,’’ O’Flaherty said. “He was never late for his assignment.’’
Behind O’Flaherty, Mario Tavares stood quietly as he moved ahead slowly in line. Tavares, 47, did not know Weddleton, but he felt he had something in common with the family. His son, Jovany Eason, had been fatally shot in Dorchester last August, and Tavares wore a T-shirt with his son’s image on the front.
“I feel like he’s my son, too,’’ Tavares said of Weddleton.
Bob Tonucci, 73, recalled Weddleton as a broiler cook at the former York Steak House in Brockton. Tonucci, who had been general manager, described his teenage employee as “excellent, outstanding, and a heck of a nice person.’’
Tonucci, using a cane for support, was prepared to wait as long as the line took to inch its way around the corner, 100 yards away, and into the church. Weddleton, who later became a manager at the restaurant, was “one of the sweetest kids I ever knew,’’ Tonucci said.
The Rev. William Hamilton, a State Police chaplain who is scheduled to say the funeral Mass today, said the Weddleton family has shown remarkable resilience during the meetings he has had with them since the trooper’s death, a trait he attributed to Weddleton’s influence.
“He’s been their compass, he’s been their strength, and he’s been their support,’’ Hamilton said. “The love of this family is second to none.’’
The involvement of allegedly drunk drivers compounds the loss of someone who worked to protect public safety and improve the life of his family, said Hamilton. “We’re all diminished a little bit by this whole event,’’ said the priest, who added that “the Commonwealth is better because of people like Doug.’’
In the early evening, led to the church by a solitary bagpiper, the entire available force of the State Police filed silently into Our Lady of Lourdes to walk past the casket of a fallen comrade.
State Police from elsewhere in New England, as well as police from Boston, Brockton, and dozens of communities across Massachusetts, followed the troopers.
Published in the Attleboro Sun Chronicle - June 23, 2010
Can the breakdown lanes of our interstate highways be made safer?
The question looms large after State Police Sgt. Douglas Weddleton, 52, was killed early Friday at an Interstate 95 construction site. He had stopped one suspected drunken driver when a second suspected drunken driver rammed his pickup into that car, pushing it into Weddleton.
It also loomed large in 2004, when two tow truck drivers were mowed down on Interstate 495 in Norton. That incident prompted the Legislature to pass the "Slow Down, Move Over" law, requiring motorists to reduce their speed and move away from disabled vehicles.
The shortcomings of that law, however, were made obvious at 1:30 a.m. Friday in Mansfield. And nationally, traffic stops and construction details remain the most dangerous aspect of police work.
And while the names of Charles Sciolto, an Attleboro officer killed in 1968 while directing traffic at an I-295 site, and Mansfield Patrolman Walter Langley, killed in October 1983 in an accident similar to the one that killed Sgt. Weddleton, are more familiar, we have also reported the deaths of several civilians - most, with painful irony, acting as good samaritans - mowed down in the breakdown lane.
What's the answer? If there is one, police in particular would like to know. Rare is the experienced officer without a story about at least a close call with an inattentive, or drunk, driver at a road job or traffic site. Protective clothing? Sgt. Weddleton was wearing a bright yellow vest.
Better lighting at a traffic stop? The trooper had his rack of blue lights in operation.
Innovative road construction? Rumble strips are installed at the edge of all breakdown lanes we're familiar with.
A crackdown on drunk driving? The laws have been made vastly more stricter in recent years, as the two men charged in Friday's accidents will be learning.
A new law? As mentioned, "Slow Down, Move Over" is on the books.
None of these reforms could save Sgt. Weddleton's life when he was confronted with not one, but two apparently impaired drivers at the same time.
Tomorrow, his church in Brockton will be filled with mourners who are likely to include a virtual army police officers from all over the Northeast region in respect to a fallen comrade.
A similar degree of respect would dictate that the state employ at least a platoon of officers for intensified enforcement of the work area laws and for special details in the first few hours after midnight. Traffic is generally light at that time, but as Friday night's events proved, it can be a far more dangerous time on the road than rush hour.
Published on WHDH-TV - June 22, 2010
BROCKTON, Mass. -- Family, friends and loved ones gathered Tuesday to say goodbye to a Massachusetts state trooper killed on duty.
The wake for Sgt. Douglas Weddleton (photo) was held at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Brockton. He was killed when he was struck by an alleged drunk driver in Mansfield while reportedly conducting a sobriety test on another driver on Interstate 95 north in Mansfield early Friday morning.
His fellow troopers stood at attention, while others carried his casket into the church. The line of people waiting to view the casket stretched a couple hundred of yards up Torrey Street.
"He's not alone in this. You just look around, and when you see the crowd of law enforcement and public safety that will be gathered here, you see these people go out every single day, and without counting the cost, put their lives on the line for us," said Father William Hamilton, a state police chaplain.
At the wake, a new state police cruiser marked with Sgt. Douglas Weddleton's number (1031) was parked at the entrance.
"He was a mentor, the best word I can describe. Everybody in the department adored this man," said Father William.
Sgt. Douglas Weddleton was a 28-year veteran of the Massachusetts State Police, most recently working in the Foxboro Barracks. He received two commendations over the course of his career for his excellent police work.
He leaves behind a wife, Judith, and four sons ranging in age from 14- to 26-years-old. He is remembered as a man who worked weekends to put his family through college. The couple was set to celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary this summer.
On Tuesday, the victim's four sons escorted their mother into the sanctuary.
"It's tough. The boys are gonna be strong for Mom, you know, but it's a tough situation," said Tom Branco, a family friend.
Sgt. Weddleton's youngest son's entire softball team showed up to support their teammate.
"He's strong, strong kid. Matt (the youngest son) showed up at the game the next day, and I'll tell you what, he's a trooper, played like a champ, and you just gotta appreciate what you have today," said Chris Disangro, Matt Weddleton's coach.
Thousands from the law enforcement community came to pay their respects, including Congressman Stephen Lynch and the former commander of the state police who knew Sgt. Douglas Weddleton well.
" It just goes to show how dangerous the job can be, just being on that highway. I've done just about every job on the state police, and being a road trooper is extremely dangerous," said Col. Mark Delaney (Ret.).
Flags lined city streets ahead of the wake.
"A lifelong Brocktonian, born and raised here. Someone who was... a real key part of this community," said state Sen. Thomas Kennedy (D-Brockton).
A funeral Mass will be held Wednesday morning at 11 a.m.
"It reawakens the danger that these men and women face every day," said state Sen. Kennedy.
Father William spoke with the sons after the crash on Father's Day.
"He's been their compass. He's been their strength. He's been their support and continues to be at this particular this time, and that's what is getting them through. Sometimes, between tears, there was laughter. Sometimes, between the laughter, there were tears," said Father Williams.
The state trooper's family released their first statement on Monday.
"On behalf of the Weddleton family, I want to express their sincere gratitude for the outpouring of support since Doug's tragic and untimely passing... Doug was a great man. Not a minute goes by when we don't think about him and how he has touched our lives in however large or small a way," said Jackie Archand, a family friend.
The trooper's father, David Weddleton, also expressed his grief to 7NEWS on Monday. He looked over a Father's Day card he got from his son on Friday, the day the trooper was killed in the line of duty.
"I miss him already so much... He did everything wonderfully. It's going to be rough for his wife and for the boys," said David Weddleton.
Anthony Perry has pleaded not guilty to motor vehicle homicide and drunk driving charges. He has been free on bail.
On Monday, 43-year-old Kenneth Weiand of Walpole, the man the trooper initially pulled over, posted $1,500 cash bail. He has been charged with first-offense OUI.
Weiand had spent the whole weekend in jail, being held without bail pending a psychological evaluation, which took place Monday morning.
"He continues to experience some symptoms of an expectable stress reaction. In my opinion, it's not enough to qualify as a mental illness," said clinical psychologist Arthur Pearson in court Monday.
Weiand, who apparently has a six-page driving record, failed six sobriety tests the morning of the alleged crash, according to state police. A police report states he banged his head against a prison cell wall and made potentially threatening statements toward his family, such as, "When I get out of here, I don't know what I will do to them or myself."
However, Weiand's wife apparently wants her husband to come home.
The judge ruled he is not a threat to himself and can stand trial. He also has reportedly been charged with speeding a dozen times over the years but no OUIs.
Published in the Boston Globe - June 22, 2010
BROCKTON -- Thousands of mourners stood patiently for hours under a searing sun today, barely moving outside Our Lady of Lourdes Church as friends, co-workers, neighbors, and strangers gathered to pay respects to the family of State Police Sergeant Douglas Weddleton.
Some recalled Weddleton's stint as a hard-working teenage broiler cook at a local steak house. Others reminisced about the dedication to family that prompted Weddleton, 52, to work a paid detail early Friday in Mansfield. And long-ago classmates smiled as they spoke of an earnest, kind, and unflappable disposition that never seemed to change.
Weddleton, a married father of four, died on a northbound off-ramp from Interstate 95 in a chain-reaction crash involving two allegedly drunk drivers at 1:15 a.m. Weddleton, whose cruiser had been blocking the ramp as part of a construction detail, was struck as he spoke to the driver of one car that had tried to maneuver around his cruiser.
As Weddleton confronted the driver, another car traveling at 65 m.p.h. struck the first vehicle, which careered across the ramp with Weddleton underneath.
Weddleton's wake began this afternoon, and doors were scheduled to remain open until 7:15 p.m.
The funeral Mass will be said at 11 a.m. Wednesday, and private burial services will follow at the Melrose Cemetery in Brockton.
Weddleton was a Brockton resident. Donations in his memory can be made to the Weddleton Family Fund, c/o Mutual Bank, 777 Belmont St., Brockton, MA 02301.
Published on WPRI - June 22, 2010
BROCKTON, Mass. - Hundreds gathered Tuesday to remember a Massachusetts state trooper killed tragically on the job.
A wake was held for Sgt. Doug Weddleton at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Brockton.
Weddleton had just pulled over one suspected drunk driver on I-95 in Mansfield last Friday, when he was struck and killed by another DUI suspect.
Weddleton's colleagues from the Massachusetts State Police Foxboro barracks formed an honor guard outside the church as his casket arrived early Tuesday afternoon.
At 6 P.M., a procession of law enforcement from across New England was scheduled to file past the trooper's casket, in tribute to their fallen colleague.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday morning.
50 Rhode Island state troopers will be among those in attendance.
Two men are facing drunk driving charges in connection with Sgt. Weddleton's death. Both suspects, Anthony Perry and Kenneth Weiand, are currently free on bail.
Published in the Enterprise News - June 21, 2010
BROCKTON — The family of state police Sgt. Doug Weddleton, killed in the line of duty, is grateful for the outpouring of support from the community, a family spokeswoman said Monday.
Weddleton, 52, of Brockton, was killed Friday morning working a paid detail on Interstate 95 in Mansfield.
Jacki Archard, a close friend of the Weddleton family, spoke on their behalf in front of Our Lady of Lourdes Church on West Street Monday afternoon.
“Since Doug’s tragic and untimely passing, support shown for every member of their family is just a testament to how greatly Doug was loved and respected and how sorely he will be missed,” Archard said.
Weddleton was “a great man, a loving husband, a devoted father, a dear son and brother, a supportive uncle, a great friend to many and a hardworking and dedicated sergeant for the Massachusetts State Police,” she said.
“Not a minute goes by where we don’t think about him and how he has touched our lives in however small or large a way,” Archard said. One of Weddleton’s sons created a Facebook page Friday to honor his father.
“The greatest father in the world. Most hardworking, nicest, likeable guy ever. R.I.P Dad! I love you so much!” he wrote. People wishing to pay their respects to the Weddleton family may do so during the wake on Tuesday, she said.
Visitation will be held in Our Lady of Lourdes Church, 439 West St., Brockton, on Tuesday from 1:15 to 7:15 p.m. The funeral service will follow on Wednesday at 11 a.m., with burial at Melrose Cemetery, 88 North Pearl St., Brockton.
Donations in Weddleton’s memory can be made to the Weddleton Family Fund, c/o Mutual Bank, 777 Belmont St., Brockton, MA 02301.
Meanwhile, an alleged drunken driver who police say set off the series of events that killed Weddleton will not be committed for additional mental health evaluations.
Bail was set at $2,500 Monday for Kenneth R. Weiand, 43, of Walpole. He is charged with drunken driving in connection with the crash that killed Weddleton.
Weddleton was killed about 1:30 a.m. Friday while working a construction detail on Interstate 95 near exit 6 in Mansfield. Police say his cruiser was blocking an off-ramp when an Acura sedan driven by Weiand attempted to exit the highway there and came to a stop. Weddleton activated his cruiser’s blue lights and got out to speak with Weiand.
While the trooper was speaking with the driver, a pickup truck driven by Anthony Perry Jr., of Boston, slammed into Weiand’s car, pushing it into Weddleton, a married father of four, and causing the fatal injuries.
Bristol County Assistant District Attorney Derek Coyne said Weiand’s blood-alcohol level was .20, more than twice the .08 concentration police typically use as a threshold for drunken driving.
Coyne said Perry’s blood-alcohol level was .07. Though that is below the .08 threshold, the law allows police to charge suspected drunken drivers with blood-alcohol concentrations lower than .08 if the arresting officer has reason to believe the person is intoxicated.
According to the Bristol County district attorney’s office, Attleboro District Court Judge Daniel O’Shea on Tuesday denied a defense motion to have Weiand civilly committed for further mental health evaluations.
Assistant District Attorney Derek Coyne had asked the court to set bail at $15,000 cash.
Weiand’s case was continued to Aug. 5 for pretrial hearings.
Perry was released after posting $10,000 bail following his arraignment Friday.
Published in the Boston Herald - June 21, 2010
State police are preparing to bury one of their own in a solemn ceremony this week that will host law enforcement from across the nation as hundreds are expected to converge in Brockton to honor the fallen trooper.
State Police Sgt. Douglas A. Weddleton, a Brockton father of four sons, was killed when an alleged drunken driver slammed into another car Weddleton had pulled over on suspicion of drunken driving early Friday morning. Weddleton, who joined the troopers in 1983, worked out of the Foxboro Barracks.
“We will provide a send-off befitting a hero,” said State police spokesman David Procopio. “Because that’s how Sgt. Weddleton lived, and that’s how he died.”
The funeral is planned for Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Brockton. Procopio said cops from across the country plan to send contingents of officers to pay their respects to Weddleton, who for years worked in the state police ballistics unit.
California Highway Patrol and state police in Texas plan to send delegations to the funeral, and the state police office has been flooded with calls from other law enforcement agencies who want to attend, Procopio said.
Weddleton, 52, graduated Brockton High School in 1976, and received a degree in criminal justice from Curry College.
He will be buried with full honors, including the State Police Color Guard as well as the State Police Pipes and Drums.
Weddleton was working a road detail on Interstate 95 in Mansfield early Friday morning when he pulled over suspected drunken driver Kenneth Weiand. Moments later, a Ford pickup driven by Anthony Perry plowed into the back of the stopped car, which struck and killed Weddleton, authorities said.
Perry, 45, of Hyde Park, pleaded not guilty to motor vehicle homicide and drunken driving in Attleboro District Court and was released on bail. Weiand, 43, of Walpole also was charged with drunken driving, but held in custody pending a mental health exam.
Published in The Boston Globe - June 21, 2010
BROCKTON – State Police Sergeant Douglas Weddleton today was described as an ideal father, son, uncle and brother whose death is an irreplaceable loss for his family and close friends, a family spokeswoman said today.
"Not a minute goes by that we don’t think about him and how he's touched our lives in some way,'' Jackie Archard, a close family friend, told reporters outside Our Lady of Lourdes Church here this afternoon.
Archard, who was flanked by law enforcement officials as she spoke, declined comment after reading her brief statement to reporters.
Our Lady of Lourdes on Wednesday will be the site for both Weddleton's wake and funeral mass, a public memorial service that is expected to draw hundreds of police officers from the region.
“Sergeant Weddleton will be buried with full ceremony honors as befitting a trooper killed in the line of duty,’’ said State police spokesman, David Procopio. “It will be a hero’s sendoff.’’
Archard met with reporters a few hours after the man who allegedly began the fatal chain of events appeared in Attleboro District Court for the second time since his arrest early Friday morning.
Kenneth Weiand, 43 and of Walpole, was held without bail over the weekend in order to allow a court mental health expert evaluate him and determine wherther he was a threat to himself or his family if released from custody.
Clinical psychologist Arthur Pearson testified in court today that Weiand was anxious, hopeless and feeling overwhelmed last Friday, but has now recovered.
"He witnessed what could be described as a horrific event on Friday,'' Pearson told District Court Judge Daniel O'Shea. "He was hopeless about the loss of his family. He continues to suffer some type of stress reaction'' but is no longer overwhelmed by a sense of hopelessness.
After listening to Pearson, O'Shea set bail at $2,500 cash, less than the $15,000 requested by Bristol County prosecutors.
Weiand's attorney, Jack Diamond, said he expects his client will post bail sometime today. A number of Weiand's relatives and friends were court today, but they declined to comment.
Weiand, 43, was allegedly driving drunk early last Friday when he drove into a closed-down ramp on I-95 in Mansfield, prompting Weddleton, to get out of his cruiser to stop Weiand's car.
As Weddleton was talking with Weiand, a second alleged drunk driver, Anthony Perry of Hyde Park, drove his pickup truck into the ramp and slammed into the Acura. Weddleton was dragged to his death, authorities said.
Weiand was arrested at the scene and arraigned Friday where he pleaded not guilty to drunk driving and other charges.
Perry also pleaded guilty on Friday and was released on $10,000 cash bail.
On Sunday, the slain' trooper's father talked to the Globe about the Father's Day card he got in the mail at his Brewster home.
“Happy Father’s Day, All our love, ’’ David Weddleton, 73, read during a phone interview from his Brewster home.
“He must have sent it Thursday,’’ the elder Weddleton said. Hours later, the son Weddleton yesterday described as a “super kid’’ was gone.
The Father’s Day card was signed by Douglas Weddleton’s own four sons — Steven, 26; Mark, 23; Ross, 18; and Matt, 14 — and by him and his wife, Judith.
Three troopers standing in front of Douglas Weddleton’s Brockton home on Sunday said his family was not available for an interview. At least five vehicles were parked in the circular driveway of the modest light-colored home. A basketball hoop stood at one side of the driveway.
David Weddleton said on Sunday his son often visited him on the Cape with his family. “He was a wonderful son, the best,’’ Weddleton said. “He was a great family guy. He was terrific. I couldn’t ask for anything better.’’
David Weddleton added that one well-wisher captured his feelings in a sympathy card. “Somebody wrote, ‘He’ll always be in your heart,’ which is true,’’ Weddleton said.
Published on MyFox Boston - June 21, 2010
The death of a Massachusetts state trooper has prompted some to take another look at the state's Move Over Law, which was not enough to save the 28-year veteran of the department.
Sgt. Douglas Weddleton pulled over a driver on Route 95 Friday morning in Mansfield and was out of his cruiser when a pickup truck struck the other car, pushing it into Weddleton.
Anthony Perry, the driver of the pickup, pleaded not guilty to several charges, including negligent motor vehicle homicide. Perry had just watched the Celts-Lakers game.
The driver of the first vehicle, Kenneth Weiand, faces charges of drunk driving. Kenneth R. Weiand, 43, of Walpole, was ordered by District Court Judge Daniel O'Shea to be held in custody on $2,500 cash bail. Judge O'Shea denied a defense motion to have Weiand civilly committed for further mental health evaluations. He is due back in Attleboro District Court for a pretrial hearing on August 5.
A funeral Mass for Sgt. Weddleton is planned for Wednesday morning at Our Lady of Lourdes church in Brockton.
Some are now questioning whether the Move Over Law is working. The law was enacted last year to reduce dangers to public safety workers.
FOX25 spoke with State Trooper Dana Cresta. Cresta was struck by a drunk driver coming home from a Celtics game in October of 2008. He says there may never be a way to stop drinking and driving, but the Move Over Law is a step in the right direction.
Published in the Boston Globe - June 20, 2010
A state trooper who was killed early Friday morning allegedly by a drunk driver after he had stopped another drunk driver will be remembered at a funeral Wednesday morning at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Brockton.
Visitation will be held at the church Tuesday from 1:15 to 7:15 p.m. at the church for Sgt. Douglas Weddleton, 52, of Brockton. A funeral Mass will be said at 11 a.m. Wednesday.
A fund has been set up for the family: Weddleton Family Fund, c/o Mutual Bank, 777 Belmont Street, Brockton, MA 02301.
At about 1:30 a.m. Friday, Weddleton, a father of four, stopped Kenneth Weiand, 43, a state probation worker, in his Acura on Interstate 95 in Mansfield and began talking to him when a Ford truck slammed into the car. Weddleton was dragged across three lanes of the highway and killed.
The driver of the truck, Anthony Perry, 45, a carpenter who lives in Hyde Park, was arraigned in Attleboro District Court Friday morning on charges including negligent motor vehicle homicide and operating under the influence of alcohol. He had been watching the NBA finals at a Rhode Island bar that night.
Weiand was arraigned in the same court Friday morning on charges of driving under the influence of alcohol.
Published in the Boston Herald - June 20, 2010
What State Police Sgt. Tim Luce chose to remember on the eve of Father’s Day was the way his friend Sgt. Douglas Weddleton always chose to greet him.
“It didn’t matter where we were, or what the particular circumstances happened to be,” Luce said, “the first words out of Doug’s mouth once he saw you were always the same.
“ ‘How’s your family?’ he’d ask without fail. It speaks volumes about the kind of guy he was and what was important to him. And with Doug, family was everything.”
Indeed, Weddleton was working a detail Thursday night to save for tuition for his four sons. He died after a Celtics [team stats] fan, returning from a Rhode Island bar, plowed his pickup truck into the back of a car the trooper had stopped at about 1:20 a.m.
“He worked the night details . . . so he could put his kids through college,” said Norm Zaleski, who had been close friends with Weddleton for 25 years and coached Weddleton’s four sons in the Brockton West Baseball league.
“If you want to know the No. 1 guy who stood on this earth, it was him,” said Zaleski, remembering how the doting dad had volunteered with the Little League program ever since his oldest son Stephen, now 26, joined T-ball.
“He did just about anything we need,” Zaleski said of Weddleton. “ ‘All- around Utility Dad,’ that’s what we called him.”
Weddleton made it to every one of his sons’ games, Zaleski said. And he was always optimistic about the season.
The trooper’s colleagues knew him as a man who had “that calming influence on everyone who came into contact with him on the job,” Luce said. “No matter how bad the scene, he was the guy who never let his emotions or his ego get in the way. I know how proud he was to be a sergeant, yet he never wore his stripes heavy, as we say.”
Weddleton was sworn in as a trooper in 1983 and promoted to sergeant in 1996. He had received commendations for apprehending a suspect wanted for kidnapping and raping a 14-year-old girl, according to state police spokesman David Procopio, and for helping to capture suspects in a New Bedford bank robbery.
“He was known as a worker, he was known as trooper’s trooper,” state police Col. Marian McGovern said Friday. “He was someone here that could be relied on at any time and for anything.”
After hearing about Weddleton’s tragic death, Zaleski visited Weddleton’s widow, Judith, and four sons - Stephen; Mark, 23; Ross, 18; and 14-year-old Matt.
“I just hugged her,” he said, “because that was the only thing I could do.”
Published in the Boston Herald - June 20, 2010
Two years ago, a drunken Celtics fan - bound for home and oblivious to the flashing lights of tow trucks and a state police cruiser - struck Trooper Dana Cresta on a stretch of the Mass Pike in Newton.
The impact threw Cresta some 27 feet in the air, catapulting him headfirst into a Jersey barrier. His face was smashed. His vision threatened. Bones in his shoulders, back and feet were broken.
But Dana Cresta, father of three from North Reading, survived. And his near-death experience proved enough to shame the Legislature into breathing life into something called “The Move Over Law.”
That law was on the books early Friday morning when Anthony Perry came barreling up Interstate 95 in his pickup truck from a Rhode Island bar after watching the Celts-Lakers game.
Sadly, “The Move Over Law” wasn’t enough to save State Police Sgt. Douglas Weddleton, as he perished on patrol by an exit ramp, questioning another driver who would prove to be much drunker than Anthony Perry.
“(Friday) was a tough day for me, for all of us,” Dana Cresta said yesterday. “It’s frustrating - heartbreaking, really - to see that this stuff just keeps happening over and over again. People just don’t seem to learn. We just don’t seem to be getting the habitual drunks off the road.”
Later this week, Dana Cresta will attend the funeral for the colleague he knew as “Dougie.”
“I won’t be in uniform, though,” he sighed, “but I will definitely be there.” Cresta’s life in the two years since his head bounced off the windshield of Patrick Sullivan’s car has been a series of surgeries followed by a brief return to the job, only to be followed by more reconstructive surgery.
“I’m facing the possibility of a forced retirement now,” he said. “It’s not the way I want things to go, not now, not with things like tuition to pay for.”
Ironically, Cresta’s colleagues who mourned the loss of Doug Weddleton’s “calm, steady wisdom,” say the 52-year-old father of four was in that precarious position of patrolling the highway at night precisely to ease the approaching challenge of college tuitions for his sons.
Once a veteran ballistics expert within the State Police specialized unit, Weddleton opted to return to “uniform work” after some 15 years, due to the opportunity for more details like the one which tragically cost him his life.
His death is a grim reminder that a drunk behind the wheel in the middle of the night is a threat every bit as lethal as a thug with a gun. Dana Cresta referred to it as “a perfect storm of life-threatening conditions.”
“When you’ve got darkness, compounded by factors like alcohol, altered road conditions and things like a World Series win or a Finals loss, the result can be treacherous for those of us on the road,” he said.
Even a trooper as seasoned, careful and deliberate as Doug Weddleton, his friend Sgt. Tim Luce said, can be overtaken by disaster coming out of nowhere in a split second.
“Every holiday, every playoff game, every special event can pose a threat that elevates the danger,” Luce said. “We are always aware that when something out of the ordinary like that is going on and you’re out on the road, it can affect you in a direct way. These details always come with serious risk. And no one understood that better than Doug.”
Sgt. Douglas Weddleton will be remembered this week as a trooper who led by example . . . and, though not a shot was fired, a hero who lost his life in the line of duty.
Published on NECN (New England Cable News) - June 20, 2010
The death of a Massachusetts state trooper on Friday morning has prompted another look at the state's Move Over Law.
Sgt. Doug Weddleton died Friday after being hit by an alleged drunk driver, while dealing with another alleged drunk driver he had already pulled over. The 28-year veteran was working a construction detail in Mansfield on I-95 North at the time.
Now, some are questioning whether the Move Over law is working.
"Absolutely not. We risk our lives every day to help people and nobody cares, they just drive by you -- nobody moves over, they don't care if they hit you," Pete Cloutier said.
Feelings were raw in North Attleborough, where the flag was flying at half staff at Achin's Garage. That is where tow truck drivers are familiar with the dangers of busy highways and the professional risks faced by their friend Trooper Doug Weddleton.
"He was an excellent gentleman to deal with. He wasn't one of those guys where everything has gone to his head, down to earth nice guy, a troopers guy yeah but also a man's man," tow truck driver Don Achin said.
It is common for the state police to call the crew from Achin's Garage up to 30 times a day to provide service on Massachusetts highways. The Move Over Law was enacted last year to reduce dangers to public safety workers
The loss of a public safety worker hit a raw nerve in North Attleborough where the echo of tragedy is painful
"In 1968 we lost an officer at a construction site on 95 which he was struck while serving a detail," Sgt. Jim McDonald with the Attleboro Police said. "And then last year a public works for the water department was struck and killed on (Route) 152 again by a motorist not paying attention."
The loss of Jeffrey Burgess just last year and patrolman charles Sciulto so long ago is not forgotten here in the North Attleborough, where the hope is that the the spirit of the Move Over Law will be respected, along with the memory of Trooper Doug Weddleton.
"What I say is to the public is please pay attention, slow down," Sgt. McDonald said. "If you see an emergency vehicle if you do see a tow truck, a disabled motorist that is out there working on a car themselves, slow down, move over, and if you have to slow down on a side street and stop to avoid an accident or a tragedy such as this."
"If there is anything that is good that come from this hopefully it will be the fact that people will pay attention and move over," Achin said.
Of all the New England States, Massachusetts has the highest number of construction zone fatalities. Rhode Island has the lowest, and officials there attribute that to a law similar to the Move Over Law.
Published in The Patriot Ledger - June 19, 2010
MANSFIELD — State Police Sgt. Douglas Weddleton of Brockton had just stopped an Acura sedan trying to drive onto a closed Interstate 95 ramp.
Seconds later, the 52- year-old Weddleton, working a construction detail on the highway, was fatally injured Friday morning after a second suspected drunken driver in a Ford F-150 pickup truck slammed into the car, pushing the vehicle into him.
Weddleton, a married father of four, was rushed to Sturdy Memorial Hospital in Attleboro, where he was pronounced dead.
“To see four young boys who idolized their father and to have to tell them that their father is no longer with them will remain forever in my heart,” state police Col. Marian McGovern, who visited the family Friday, said at a press conference at the Foxboro state police barracks.
Now, the driver of the truck that killed Weddleton faces charges of drunken driving and motor vehicular homicide. Anthony Perry, 45, of Boston, was arraigned Friday in Attleboro District Court, where bail was set at $10,000.
The driver of the car Weddleton originally stopped, Kenneth R. Weiand, 43, of Walpole was also arraigned in Attleboro District Court on charges of drunken driving. He was held pending a mental health evaluation.
Both men have long records of motor vehicle offenses – most for speeding – and have had their licenses suspended or revoked in the past, according to Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles records.
Perry, accused of causing the fatal crash, was found at fault in six “surchargable” accidents in the state since 1987, including two within two months in 1993. He had his licence suspended once, the records show.
Weiand, the other driver, also has a long record of motor vehicle offenses dating to 1987, including 11 convictions for speeding. He lost his license once for speeding offenses and briefly twice for failing to pay fines on time, according to the motor vehicle records.
Neither man had any drunken-driving convictions. State police Friday were tracking down from where the two drivers were coming at the time of the fatal crash.
Weddleton, was working a road construction detail when the crash occurred at 1:26 a.m. on Interstate 95 northbound near the exit to Interstate 495.
Weddleton had used his cruiser to block an off-ramp from I-95 to I-495 while construction work was being done when an Acura sedan tried to drive around his vehicle.
McGovern told reporters Weddleton got out of his cruiser and, while standing there, a Ford pickup truck struck the Acura. The impact pushed the Acura into Weddleton and then across all three travel lanes before stopping on the left side of the highway, she said.
Trooper Mike Peters, who was also working the detail, rushed to Weddleton and began CPR. Weddleton’s blue lights were on and he was in uniform and wearing a yellow vest at the time, McGovern said.
She said the way he positioned his cruiser likely prevented injuries to the construction workers at the scene.
McGovern and others called Weddleton a hard-working state police officer, devoted to his job and to his family.
“To give you an indication of the type of person he was and the type of worker, from his home to his detail, he had stopped three vehicles that were operating negligently,” McGovern said. “He was known as a worker, he was known as a trooper’s trooper.”
Brockton Police Chief William Conlon called Weddleton a “quiet, humble, caring great guy” who was devoted to his family and could always be found at his sons’ sports games, cheering on the boys.
“He was a cut above,” Conlon said.
Weddleton, who was promoted to sergeant in 1996, worked in the firearms identification unit – also known as the ballistics unit – from 1993 to 2008 and was well-known in law enforcement circles throughout the state.
“He was a true gentleman,” said Brockton officer Darvin Anderson, who knew Weddleton through his ballistics analysis work.
“He wasn’t a big rough and tough guy,” said Anderson, a K-9 officer whose dog is trained to find guns. “He looked like an accountant.”
After years in the ballistics unit, Weddleton returned to the uniform division two years ago and most recently worked out of the Foxboro barracks.
“He wanted to spend more time with his family,” said state police Lt. Stephen O’Reilly, head of the detective unit assigned to the Bristol County district attorney’s office. “He was an awesome guy.”
O’Reilly’s unit – along with the state police accident reconstruction investigators – are now gathering more information about the crash.
Published in the Attleboro Sun Chronicle - June 19, 2010
FOXBORO - For most of his 28-year career with the state police, Sgt. Douglas Weddleton worked in the ballistics unit but was reassigned two years ago to the Foxboro barracks because he wanted to be back on patrol so he could spend more time with his family.
The 52-year-old married father of four sons attended the eighth-grade graduation of his 14-year-old son Matt Thursday before working a road construction detail on Interstate 95, where he was fatally struck by an alleged drunk driver around 1:30 a.m. Friday.
"The family of the Massachusetts State Police has suffered a great loss today," a somber looking Col. Marian McGovern, superintendent of the state police, said on the steps of the Foxboro barracks.
She was backed by a group of equally somber looking troopers with black bands over their badges in mourning and two of her assistants in business suits.
"He was known as a worker. He was a trooper's trooper," McGovern said. By stopping an alleged drunk driver from trying to drive around his cruiser and get on the ramp to Interstate 495 North before the crash occurred, McGovern said Weddleton potentially saved construction workers nearby from being injured or killed.
"These are the calls that you don't want to get. To hear this news was more than devastating," McGovern said.
The last trooper who died in the line of duty was Capt. Richard Cashin, 52, in January 2009 in Saugus. Cashin, the highest ranking officer killed while on duty, was driving his unmarked cruiser when he struck a utility pole responding to a call.
The state police commander noted that Weddleton, a Brockton resident, had earned at least two commendations during his career, including one in which he was on his way to a construction detail when he arrested a suspect in a kidnapping and rape of a 14-year-old girl.
In the incident in Canton in 1985, Weddleton stopped the suspect's car 10 minutes after hearing a radio broadcast for assistance. In the car, police found a knife, a stocking mask and other items described by the victim.
In 1992, while a trooper assigned to the Middleboro barracks, Weddleton anticipated the escape route of three New Bedford bank robbery suspects. After stopping their vehicle, he arrested two of the three. The third escaped but was later arrested.
Moments after the press conference ended, Lt. Jeff Stuart, commander of the Foxboro barracks, came out and lowered the state flag and the U.S. flag to half staff.
Weddleton was sworn in as a trooper in 1983 and worked in patrol before being assigned to the state police ballistics unit in 1993. He worked in the unit for 15 years and was known for his friendly demeanor and diligence.
Promoted to sergeant in 1996, Weddleton was one of the state police ballistics experts who worked with North Attleboro police when 65-year-old Arthur Paradis fatally shot his 65-year-old wife Carole in their mobile home in February 2004.
Funeral arrangements for Weddleton are pending. He is survived by his wife Judith and four sons, Steven, 26; Mark, 23; Ross, 18, and Matt, 14.
State police have received numerous calls from law enforcement agencies from around the country indicating their planned attendance at the funeral, including departments in Connecticut, Texas and Pennsylvania.
The state chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving issued a statement upon news of his death.
"We offer our heartfelt condolences to Sergeant Weddleton's wife Judith and their four children and his extended Massachusetts State Police family," interim Director David DeIuliis said, noting that Weddleton died enforcing drunken driving laws.
"At MADD, we believe that the men and women of law enforcement are everyday heroes. Public service, specifically enforcing our traffic laws and keeping our roadways safe, is a difficult and dangerous job, and we should thank those who do it," he said.
Published in the Attleboro Sun Chronicle - June 19, 2010
The crash that killed state police Sgt. Douglas Weddleton was a body blow to anyone who regularly works beside busy highways, where death is only an arm's length away.
Don Achin, owner of Achin's Garage in North Attleboro, said its nerve-wracking anytime he sends one of his tow truck drivers out on the highway.
"It's extremely dangerous," he said.
Weddleton was killed by an alleged drunk driver early Friday morning after he had pulled over another driver suspected of driving under the influence.
Achin, who estimated his company sends drivers onto area highways 20 to 30 times a day, said motorists regularly ignore the state's new "Slow Down, Move Over" law that requires drivers to slow their speed and move away from disabled vehicles, police cruisers and tow trucks. "Nobody pays any attention to the 'Move Over' law," he said.
The law, which fines violators $100 for failure to comply, was passed after two tow truck drivers were killed while assisting a disabled vehicle on Interstate 495 in Norton in 2004.
The driver that caused the 2004 accident was sentenced to four to five years in prison for vehicular homicide while under the influence of alcohol.
Wrentham Police Chief James Anderson said the "Move Over" law can be difficult to enforce because the officers who notice the infraction are usually preoccupied with another traffic stop or disabled vehicle.
Rhode Island State Police Capt. Jamie Pereira said his state has a similar law that has become more effective as motorist become more familiar with it.
"People who are aware of the law move over to the left if that lane is available to them," he said. "It creates a safer environment."
Weddleton's is the latest in a number of deaths that have heightened concerns about workers exposed on the side of busy highways.
In Attleboro last September, Jefferey Burgess, a 35-year-old city water department worker, was struck by a minivan while he worked to repair a water main on South Main Street at Bayberry Hill Road.
Just a week before that, Weymouth police Officer Michael Davey, 34, was killed when a driver ran a stop sign, striking the officer while he directed traffic at a construction site.
In June 2006, state Trooper Paul F. Barry, 38, was killed when his cruiser struck an unoccupied dump truck on Interstate 495 in Wrentham. And in an incident eerily similar to Friday's tragedy, Mansfield Patrolman Walter P. Langley was killed by a suspected drunk driver on Oct. 2, 1983, while he was investigating a stopped vehicle on Route 140 whose driver was later charged with drunk driving as well.
And on May 31, 1968, Attleboro Patrolman Charles V. Sciolto, 41, a 14-year veteran of the force, was struck and killed by a vehicle as he directed traffic during construction of Interstate 295.
Achin said he knew Weddleton through the trooper's work as a tow truck dispatcher for the state police, and said he was shaken by news of his death - and the circumstances.
"What happened was a tragedy, but I'm sure Doug would want people to learn from it," he said.
Rhode Island's Pereira said accidents like Friday's can serve as reminders for fellow officers about the dangers they face on the road, and the need to remain always vigilant.
"It heightens their awareness," he said.
Wrentham's Anderson said officers are trained in the police academy on how to best protect themselves during a traffic stop, including using the cruiser's lights and off-setting the the cruiser from the other vehicle to create a small lane of protection.
Still, he said, an officer's best protection is often paying attention.
"You have to remain vigilant and remain aware of your surroundings," he said.
For others who work in the road, it can be difficult to pay attention to the task at hand while worrying about cars and trucks speeding by.
"You can't do your job, and do it well, when you're watching traffic," said Mark Cook, Mansfield's highway operations manager.
Cook said his department hires detail officers when necessary, but on quick jobs, must rely on workers watching out for themselves and others.
He said highway department crews go to great lengths to make sure they are visible to motorists by wearing bright clothing and clearly marking their work zones with cones and flashing lights.
But no matter how well an officer, tow truck driver or construction worker prepares, they remain at the mercy of passing motorists.
"You can't control the people who are driving," Pereira said.
Anderson said drivers today have too many distractions while they're behind the wheel, putting themselves and those working in the road at risk.
"Between cell phones, texting, iPods, people are doing a lot more than driving," he said.
Achin said he hopes Friday's tragedy will stand as a wakeup call for drivers and put an end to "senseless" accidents.
"It's totally avoidable. There's no reason for it," he said.
Published in the Attleboro Sun Chronicle - June 19, 2010
MANSFIELD - For a police officer patroling the highways, danger can strike as swiftly and thoughtlessly as a summer storm.
State police Sgt. Douglas Weddleton, a father of four, was killed on Interstate 95 early Friday after he pulled over a suspected drunk driver, then was struck and killed moments later, allegedly by another drunk driver.
The incident is almost a mirror image of a tragedy involving a Mansfield police officer and family man who was killed a quarter-century ago when he stopped to investigate a car pulled over on Copeland Drive.
Patrolman Walter Langley, 34, of Attleboro, was struck and killed after he got out of his cruiser Oct. 2, 1983, to investigate the parked car.
A witness said the officer was returning to his cruiser when he was hit by a passing car. The driver was later charged with drunk driving and vehicular homicide. Also charged with drunk driving was the driver of the car that had pulled over.
Langley left a wife, Dawn - it was a second marriage for both - and five children from their blended family: Patrick, 12, Walter, 10, Gerard, 8, Jeffery, 8, and Michael, 6.
Dawn Langley told The Sun Chronicle at the time that her husband spent as much time as he could with the boys playing ball or going out for pizza, but the strain of extra detail work or overtime to make ends meet never left enough time.
"It might not have been quantity time, but Walter always made sure it was quality time," she said.
Some 400 police officers from throughout Massachusetts and Rhode Island attended Langley's funeral.
Published in the Boston Globe - June 19, 2010
Men accused of driving drunk; officer mourned
BROCKTON — A veteran state trooper was killed while on a highway traffic detail in Mansfield early yesterday morning in a bizarre accident in which one alleged drunk driver plowed into another, trapping the trooper under a car as his body was dragged across the highway.
Sergeant Douglas Weddleton, a 52-year-old father of four, had parked his cruiser at the entrance to a highway exit ramp on the northbound side of Interstate 95 with his blue lights flashing to prevent traffic from entering about 1:30 a.m. when an alleged drunk driver in an Acura tried to maneuver past him, police said.
Weddleton stopped the Acura and began talking to the driver, Kenneth Weiand, a 43-year-old state probation worker. At that moment, police said, a Ford truck driven by Anthony Perry, a 45-year-old carpenter from Hyde Park who had been watching the NBA Finals at a Rhode Island bar, slammed into the Acura, police said. Perry later told police he was traveling at 65 miles per hour, according to court documents.
The force of the impact caused the Acura, with Weiand inside, to veer left, striking Weddleton and trapping the trooper underneath the car. He was dragged across three lanes of the highway, as the nearby construction workers desperately banged on the Acura’s windows, trying to get the car to stop, according to a State Police report.
Perry was arraigned yesterday on charges including negligent motor vehicle homicide and operating under the influence, and Weiand was charged with driving while under the influence of alcohol. Both men pleaded not guilty yesterday in Attleboro District Court.
Yesterday, mourners brought flowers and food to the trooper’s family at their Brockton home, where a trooper stood sentry outside to keep media away.
“He was a dedicated police officer and even more so a devoted and loving husband and a doting father to his four boys, of whom he was extremely proud,’’ said Colonel Marian McGovern, the State Police superintendent, who notified Weddleton’s family. “To see four young boys who idolized their father and to tell them their father was no longer with them will remain forever in my heart.’’
Weddleton had worked 15 years in the department’s ballistics unit, but left in 2008 to patrol highways out of the Foxborough barracks so he could spend more time with his wife and children.
Shortly before working at the roadside detail, he had attended a graduation ceremony for his youngest son. From there, he rushed straight to the road construction site in Mansfield.
Melanie Martin, a family friend and neighbor, said that Weddleton liked to work in his yard and drive his sons to baseball practice. Weddleton leaves his wife, Judith, and his sons, Steven, 26; Mark, 23; Ross, 18; and Matt, 14.
“I can’t say enough wonderful things about him,’’ Martin said of Weddleton. “The man didn’t have an evil bone in his body. He was always in a happy mood. I’m sure that he saw a lot of tragedies at work, but he never let it affect him. He will just be deeply missed.’’
Perry, who was wearing a Paul Pierce Celtics jersey when he was arrested, told police he had been drinking at a Rhode Island bar before the crash. He said he drank three beers and a cocktail, prosecutors said in court yesterday.
The chemical breath test showed he had a blood alcohol level of .07, just below the state limit of .08, said his lawyer, Robert J. Galibois.
“This is a misdemeanor case,’’ said Galibois, who said Perry had no criminal record. “The only thing that elevates this to a felony is an OUI [operating under the influence]. And the OUI will not survive.’’
Prosecutors said they based their drunk driving charge against Perry on his appearance and actions after the crash. His eyes were glassy and red, and he had trouble maintaining his balance, prosecutors said.
Perry, who was arraigned separately from Weiand, was ordered held on $10,000 cash bail. He posted bail and left the courthouse without speaking to reporters.
Weiand, who lives in Walpole, was ordered held pending a mental health evaluation. Prosecutors said that while he was being held in a cell after the crash, he struck his head and fists against the wall and told a trooper he feared for his wife and daughter’s safety.
“When I get out of here, I don’t know what I will do to them or to myself,’’ he said, according to court documents.
Weiand, who wore a light blue dress shirt, lowered his head in court as prosecutors described the details of the crash.
Prosecutors said a chemical breath test administered after the crash showed Weiand had a blood alcohol level of .20.
Both Perry and Weiand had long records of driving violations since the 1980s, according to records from the Registry of Motor Vehicles.
Perry had been involved in six accidents and was issued three speeding tickets.
Weiand had also been involved in six accidents and received more than a dozen citations, including 11 for speeding.
Both men’s licenses were revoked indefinitely yesterday after the Registry found they were an “immediate threat’’ to public safety. Weiand’s license had been suspended for 180 days because he refused a breathalyzer test, said a Registry spokeswoman.
Weiand had been working as an assistant electronic monitoring coordinator in the state’s Probation Department since May 2008.
“As a result of his recent arrest, appropriate administrative action will be taken in compliance with the personnel policies and procedures of the Administrative Office of the Trial Court,’’ Coria Holland, the agency’s spokeswoman, said in a statement. She said she could not elaborate on what actions the office might take.
Weddleton was sworn in as a trooper in 1983, the same year Trooper George L. Hanna was fatally shot during a traffic stop in Auburn.
Over his career, Weddleton received two department commendations: one for helping to catch a suspect wanted in the rape and kidnapping a 14-year-old girl, and another for his help apprehending two robbery suspects.
Weddleton died the same day police had scheduled a fund-raiser in Dorchester honoring Trooper Mark Charbonnier, who was fatally shot in 1994 during a traffic stop in Kingston, and Richard Dever, a sergeant in the Suffolk sheriff’s department, who was stabbed to death outside a Charlestown bar in 2005.
More than 300 troopers and officers from other agencies gathered at Florian Hall observed a moment of silence for Weddleton.
“It’s kind of hit home,’’ said State Police Sergeant Dean LeVangie, who had known Weddleton for 22 years. “He was a true family man. A South Shore guy.’’
Published on WCVB - June 18, 2010
Two people were arrested and charged early Friday in connection with the death of a 28-year veteran Massachusetts State Police trooper who was struck and killed overnight on Interstate 95 north.
State police authorities said Sgt. Douglas Weddleton, 52, of Brockton, was outside his cruiser on Interstate 95 north near exit 6 in Mansfield working a construction detail when he was hit just before 1:30 a.m.
"It goes to show you that there is no ordinary shift. All police officers and troopers, especially on these highways, have to be diligent and remain diligent, because the dangers are out there. And this only strikes home how dangerous it really is," said State Police Col. Marian J. McGovern.
McGovern said Weddleton, who was assigned to the Foxborough barracks, was using his cruiser to block an offramp from Interstate 95 to Interstate 495 north while construction work was being performed when an Acura sedan tried to get around his vehicle to enter the blocked offramp.
Weddleton had stopped the Acura to perform a sobriety test on the driver when a Ford-150 pickup truck plowed into the Acura from behind, causing the Acura to hit Weddleton and throw him across the highway, McGovern said.
"The impact of the crash pushed the Acura into Sgt. Weddleton and then across all three travel lanes, where it came to rest on the left side of the highway, causing Sgt. Weddleton to suffer serious injuries," said McGovern.
A colleague, Trooper Mike Peterson, witnessed the crash and ran to give CPR to Weddleton, who had taken safety precautions and was wearing a reflective jacket and had his cruiser lights flashing.
Weddleton was taken to Sturdy Memorial Hospital in Attleborough but did not survive, troopers at the scene said.
The driver of the Acura, identified as Kenneth Weiand, 43, of Walpole, was charged with operating under the influence of alcohol. He was hospitalized briefly after the crash. He was held without bail pending a mental health evaluation.
Prosecutors said a breath test administered after the crash showed Weiand had a blood alcohol level of .20. The state limit is .08.
The driver of the truck, identified as Anthony Perry, 45, of Hyde Park, was charged with negligent motor vehicle homicide, operating under the influence and speeding, violating the move over law and negligent operation. He was released on $10,000 bail after his arraignment.
Perry's defense attorney Robert J. Galibois, said Perry's breath test registered .07, which is below the state's threshold for filing drunken driving charges.
Prosecutors said both men failed field sobriety tests.
Team 5 Investigates reported that Weiand was cited 11 times for speeding and has been involved in six accidents prior to Friday's crash. His license had been suspended three times.
Perry's license has been suspended twice, has been involved in six crashes, has been cited three times for speeding and twice for failing to stop.
Registry of Motor Vehicles told Team 5 that it has revoked the licenses of both men indefinitely.
McGovern described Weddleton as a dedicated police officer who had spent many years with the state police ballistics unit. She said he and his wife, Judith, have four sons ranging in age from 26 to 14.
"He had just attended his youngest son Matt's eighth-grade graduation last night before reporting for his detail," McGovern said.
"To see four young boys who idolized their father and to have to tell them that there father is no longer with them will remain forever in my heart," McGovern said.
She said because Weddleton's cruiser was parked where it was, he likely prevented some construction workers from being seriously injured.
Weddleton was sworn in as a trooper in 1983.
Published in the The Boston Globe - June 18, 2010
ATTLEBORO – The Hyde Park man who was allegedly driving drunk when his truck slammed into a state trooper, killing him, told police he was driving 65 miles an hour as he entered an exit ramp in Mansfield early today, a prosecutor said in court.
Anthony Perry, 45, pleaded not guilty in Attleboro District Court today to charges of negligent motor vehicle homicide, operating under the influence, negligent operation, speeding, and a violation of the move-over law. Bail was set at $10,000 cash.
Perry, according to Bristol County prosecutors and State Police, was the second vehicle involved a chain-reaction crash that killed Sergeant Doug Weddleton, 52, who was working a road construction detail on Interstate 95 northbound near the exit to Interstate 495.
The driver of the other vehicle, Kenneth Weiand, 43, of Walpole, was ordered held pending a mental health evaluation after Judge Daniel O'Shea was told Weiand was making suicidal statements, punching the walls, and slamming his head into walls while awaiting to be arraigned today.
Not guilty pleas were entered on Weiand's behalf to charges of operating under the influence of alcohol. Prosecutors said a chemical breath test administered after the crash showed Weiand had a blood alcohol level of .20, well above the state limit of .08.
Earlier today outside the State Police barracks in Foxborough, Colonel Marian McGovern, the State Police commander, described Weddleton, 52, as a dedicated trooper, a devoted husband and proud father of four children.
"He was a dedicated police officer and even more so a devoted and loving husband and a doting father to his four boys of whom he was extremely proud," McGovern said.
McGovern said that Weddleton had placed his cruiser with its blue lights flashing, blocking a ramp from Interstate 95 to Interstate 495 when a car tried to get around him onto the ramp.
Weddleton, wearing a yellow safety vest, got out of his cruiser to stop the car when a pickup truck slammed the car from behind, pushing the car forward into him and fatally injuring him.
A fellow trooper at the construction site ran to Weddleton's aid after the crash. Weddleton was then transported to Sturdy Memorial Hospital in Attleboro, where he was pronounced dead.
McGovern said that Weddleton, in blocking the ramp, had prevented construction workers from potentially suffering serious injuries from the cars.
In court today, Bristol Assistant District Attorney Derek J. Coyne told the judge Perry told police after the crash that he did not see anyone ahead of him as he drove his F-150 pickup onto the closed exit ramp.
He also told police he was driving at 65 miles an hour and that he had been drinking at a Rhode Island bar before the crash. Perry allegedly told police he had three beers and one mixed drink, called sex on the beach, at the club.
But Perry's defense attorney Robert J. Galibois, said Perry's breath chemical test registered .07 – below the level necessary to file drunk driving charges.
"This is a misdemeanor case. The only thing that elevates this to a felony is an OUI (operating under the influence),'' said Galibois, who said Perry was a union carpenter without any prior criminal convictions."And the OUI will not survive.''
Prosecutors said the OUI charge against Perry was based on his actions at the scene when he failed field sobriety tests. His eyes were glassy and red and he had trouble maintaining his balance, they said.
Both Perry and Weiand have been cited for numerous driving violations since the 1980s, according to records from the Registry of Motor Vehicles.
Perry had been involved in six accidents and was issued more than a dozen tickets, including three speeding tickets. The records also showed he had completed a driver safety course in 1997. Weiand had also been involved in six accidents and received more than a dozen citations, including 11 for speeding.
Both men's licenses were revoked today indefinitely after the Registry found they were an "immediate threat" to public safety. Weiand's license had already been suspended for 180 days because he refused a Breathalyzer test, said Registry spokeswoman Ann Dufresne.
Weddleton was a 28-year veteran of the department who had served for many years in the ballistics unit.
"He was known as a worker. He was known as a trooper's trooper. … This is a huge loss to our department," said McGovern.
Weddleton left behind his wife, Judith, and his sons, Steven, 26, Mark, 23, Ross, 18, and Matt, 14. He had just attended Matt's eighth-grade graduation before reporting for his detail Thursday night.
A constant flow of friends and family bearing food and flowers came and went today from Weddleton's house, which is perched on a hill in Brockton, while a state trooper manned a cruiser out front.
Melanie Martin, 39, who lives next door, said her family moved to their home in 2002 and were immediately befriended by the Weddletons.
"We became really good friends. Literally, we just watched each other's families grow up," she said.
She said Weddleton could often be seen mowing his lawn and playing with his kids. He advised her once about her kids, "Enjoy them while they're little, because they grow so fast."
"I can't say enough wonderful things about him. The man didn't have an evil bone in his body. He was always in a happy mood. I'm sure that he saw a lot of tragedies at work but he never let it affect him. He will just be deeply missed. I feel so bad for the kids," she said.
Weddleton had been assigned to the Foxborough barracks since October 2008. Before that, he had served in the ballistics lab for15 years and before that he had various assignments at the Middleborough Troop D Headquarters, the Middleborough barracks speeding enforcement team, and the Norwell barracks, State Police said today.
In 1985, he received a commendation for apprehending a suspect in Milton who was wanted by the Canton police for the rape and kidnapping of a 14-year-old girl. In 1992, he was commended for figuring out the escape route and capturing two of three suspects fleeing after a New Bedford bank robbery.
The investigation of the crash is continuing. "The outcome of the investigation could result in additional charges which will be determined by the facts and the law once we have analyzed all the evidence," McGovern said.
Parts of Interstates 95, 295, and 495 were closed after the crash but have now reopened.
Published in the Boston Herald - June 18, 2010
A veteran state trooper and beloved dad of four was fatally struck by a drunk driver after he had pulled over another suspected OUI motorist in Mansfield early this morning, state police said.
Col. Marian McGovern said Trooper Doug Weddleton, 52, was in full uniform and wearing a safety vest at about 1:20 a.m. at the detail on I-95 in Mansfield when he pulled over the driver of an Acura who was weaving on the roadway. As he spoke with that driver - identified as Kenneth Weiand, 43, of Walpole - another driver, Anthony Perry, 45, of Hyde Park allegedly smashed a Ford truck into the Acura, which dragged Weddleton across three lanes, McGovern said.
Perry faces charges of negligent motor vehicle homicide, operating under the influence, negligent operation, speeding and violating the “move over” law. Additional charges are possible pending the results of the investigation. Weiand, who authorities said refused to take a Breathalyzer test, is charged with OUI.
Both Perry and Weiand have lengthy driving records. Perry had his license suspended and reinstated twice during the 1980s and early 1990s. His record includes six surchargeable accidents, several speeding tickets and twice failing to stop for police. Weiand received 11 speeding tickets and had his license revoked three times and was involved in six surchargable accidents between 1987 and 2009. Neither man had an OUI charge on his record before today, according to the Registry of Motor Vehicles. Both men’s licenses were revoked today.
The state’s top cop decried the “senseless” accident that killed a man she described as a “a trooper’s trooper.”
Weddleton had parked his cruiser so he protected the construction workers at the detail, rather than himself, McGovern noted.
“(He was) a dedicated police officer and even more so a dedicated, loving husband and a doting dad,” McGovern said.
The trooper, a 28-year veteran of the force, is survived by his wife, Judith, and four sons, ages 14 to 26. The boys all idolized their dad, and Weddleton had attended his youngest’s eighth-grade graduation just hours before the accident, McGovern said.
Weddleton had worked in the state police ballistics unit for many years before transferring to the Foxboro barracks two years ago in order to spend more time with his family and go back to his mission of protecting the state’s highways, McGovern said.
An arraignment of the suspects is expected to be held later today in Attleboro.
Published on MANSFIELD (WBZ) - June 18, 2010
A veteran Massachusetts state trooper was killed in a crash on Interstate 95 in Mansfield early Friday morning.
It happened in the northbound lanes near the Route 495 exit (Exit 6) just before 1:30 a.m.
State police say Sgt. Doug Weddleton was working a road construction detail and had just pulled over a suspected drunk driver in an Acura.
While he was on the side of that car, he was struck by a Ford 150 pickup truck and pinned to the Acura.
Police say the driver of the pickup was also drunk.
Sgt. Weddleton died from his injuries at Sturdy Memorial Hospital in Attleboro.
"He will live on forever among the ranks of those brave police officers who gave the ultimate sacrifice in the performance of their duties," said Superintendent Marian McGovern, the commander of the State Police.
He was 52 years old, married with four sons ranging in ages from 14 to 26. He was a 28-year veteran of the department and stationed at the Foxboro barracks.
Police say Sgt. Weddleton had attended his son's eighth grade graduation Thursday night, just hours before the crash.
McGovern broke the news to Weddleton's family.
"These are calls you do not want to get," she said. "To hear this news is more than devastating."
The two suspected drunk drivers were arrested.
The driver of the Acura, 43-year-old Kenneth Weiand of Walpole, was later taken to Norwood Hospital to be evaluated for an undisclosed medical condition.
Weiand is charged with drunk driving.
The pickup driver, 45-year-old Anthony Perry of Hyde Park, is charged with motor vehicle homicide, drunk driving, speeding and violating the Slow Down, Move Over law.
"It goes to show you there is no ordinary shift. This only strikes home how dangerous it really is," McGovern said.
The state enacted Slow Down, Move Over in March 2009.
The law requires drivers approaching a scene to leave the lane closest to the incident and slow down to a reasonable speed. If the driver is unable to change lanes, the law requires that they slow down.
Funeral arrangements for Sgt. Weddleton are pending. The Massachusetts State Police today began receiving numerous calls from law enforcement agencies from around the country indicating their planned attendance at the services. Among them were departments from Connecticut, Texas and Pennsylvania.
In Memory of Sergeant Doug Weddleton
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