Police say a Vermont State Police trooper who collapsed after apparently being exposed to an opioid-like drug during a traffic stop was revived by fellow troopers who administered the overdose-reversal drug Narcan.  Acting Sgt. Brett Flansburg stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation in Leicester late Friday. Flansburg searched the car after a passenger admitted swallowing a small bag of cocaine.  He collected a small quantity of heroin, an empty plastic baggie and a syringe.  The passenger was taken into custody by other troopers. Flansburg began to feel ill and he collapsed in the parking lot of the New Haven barracks.  Other troopers administered two doses of Narcan. He received a third dose on the way to the hospital.  Flansburg was later released from the hospital.  Detectives are launching a full investigation into the incident and testing is underway to determine what substance made acting Sgt. Brett Flansburg ill. "Now there is a new threat that we're seeing up close: the risk of exposure to powerful drugs that can kill in even tiny amounts," Col. Matthew Birmingham, the head of the state police, said Saturday.  "This is so troubling and disconcerting, and it places members of law enforcement at unnecessary risk of possibly losing their lives. " Similar incidents have been reported in other parts of the country in which police officers overdose after accidentally coming into contact with opioid-based drugs.

3/19/19

Two Indianapolis men were arrested for dealing marijuana after a traffic stop on Interstate 70 Wednesday morning. A state police trooper stopped a box truck on I-70 eastbound near the Mooresville/Plainfield exit for following too closely. While talking with the men, the trooper detected the aroma of marijuana and searched the vehicle. During that search, the trooper discovered the men were transporting approximately 250 pounds of marijuana and 50,000 vape cartridges filled with THC in the cargo area of the truck. The street value of the marijuana is estimated at $2.5 million, while the vape cartridges are valued at about $1 million.

3/19/19

A Michigan State Trooper was saved with Narcan after coming into contact with a mix of fentanyl and cocaine Wednesday. Troopers were in Lincoln Park, Mich. on a drug bust when at 3:30 p.m. troopers stopped a vehicle in the 800 block of Capitol, assisting the Downriver Area Narcotics Association task force. At some point during vehicle and driver search, one of the troopers came in contact with a cocaine and fentanyl mix. He started to have symptoms consistent with an overdose, according to MSP Lt. Mike Shaw.  "The trooper's partner recognized those signs and immediately administered two doses of Narcan," he said. "Troopers keep them in their cruisers at all time. Immediately the trooper started to recover but was taken to the hospital as a precaution." Shaw said that dealing with cocaine and fentanyl can be very dangerous. "The trooper did not even realize he came in contact with the drug," he said. "It can get into your system through your skin, breathing or eyes. Depending on what it’s cut with you can die from an amount small enough to fit on the head of a pin."

3/18/19

A Colorado State Patrol trooper was killed Wednesday in Weld County when he was struck by a vehicle on Interstate 76. Cpl. Daniel Groves was outside his patrol car checking on a vehicle that had slid off the roadway when he was hit by a 2001 Volvo driven by John Carpenter, 58, of Centennial, the patrol said. Groves, who joined the State Patrol in 2007, was taken to Platte Valley Medical Center in Brighton where he was pronounced dead. Carpenter also was treated at the hospital for minor injuries. The cause of the crash is under investigation but the State Patrol is looking at high speed under poor driving conditions as a possible factor.

3/18/19

A Florida family got the star treatment in the City of Brotherly Love when their 3-year-old daughter got to be the boss Wednesday of her own patrol. She's in Philly to fight cancer with help from the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.  Princess Rose Ramirez arrived at State Police Troop K with patrolmen at attention as Lt. Joseph Altieri handed over command to the brave 3-year-old battling cancer.  "We hope her first big hat will keep her strong and determined through this extremely difficult fight," Lt.  Altieri said.  Rosie has stage 4 neuroblastoma.  Florida State Police Sgt. Jose Ramirez and his wife, Nicole, a former prosecutor, had to temporarily relocate from Orlando to Philadelphia for Rosie's treatment.  The little fighter has had four rounds of chemo so far and surgery to remove most of the large tumor that also forced the removal of one of her kidneys. "It's very emotional we have the kind of support from complete strangers," Sgt. Ramirez said.   A GoFundMe page has been set-up to help with expenses.  If you wish to donate, please click here.  If you want to follow her journey, visit the Team Princess Rose Facebook page, here.

3/14/19

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol will be featured on the A&E show Live PD, according to a tweet from the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety. The show, which airs on A&E on Friday and Saturday nights, documents police night shift work in real time at departments across the country. Crews will carry OHP live beginning with the March 29 episode, according to the tweet.

3/13/19

More than five dozen new California Highway Patrol officers were sworn in Friday morning in West Sacramento. It’s a day 29 weeks in the making. “I’m super proud of myself obviously. I know they’re really proud of me too,” said Officer Michael Qualls. Sixty-three cadets stood before their friends and family to be officially sworn in as officers of the law, taking the same oath as every CHP officer before them. But these cadets are the first to do it before California’s new governor. “Incredible heroism and sacrifice these people make every single day, putting themselves on the line and I think that needs to be recognized,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said. Newsom attended the graduation ceremony and says the work of law enforcement officers is more important now than ever. “Conditions that have changed radically since I started in public service. The issues of mental health, the issues out on the streets of homeless and the interactions, a lot of very difficult challenges, and of course the most vexing— the issues of implicit bias and de-escalation,” Newsom said. As they shook hands with the governor and accepted their badges, many of the new officers reflected on the sacrifices it took to get here. “I was super nervous. I expected to like never see my family, never talk to them, be tortured here and you’re still kind of tortured and you see them a lot less, obviously, but when you do get to see them, it’s just enough to get you through the next week,” Qualls said. Not just sacrifices on their part, but those their families made too. “Very difficult, actually. I learned a lot about myself, so today I see it also as my graduation because I had to learn to do a lot of things without him, so definitely is crazy to learn how to be a single parent in a way, but it was worth it,” said Qualls wife, Brieana. Qualls was named most inspirational by his peers. And his wife says she isn’t at all surprised. “Never once did I ever say he was going to fail. I knew he was going to make it and I knew how much this was meant for him. He was meant for this job,” Brieana said. Gov. Newsom says his schedule next Monday and Tuesday will be devoted to meeting with lawmakers to discuss issues surrounding policing and use of force.

3/11/19

Gov. Mike Parson appointed Col. Eric T. Olson as the 24th Superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol on Tuesday afternoon. Parson said Olson has been the acting superintendent since Sept. 1. Olson replaced Colonel Sandy Karsten, whom Parson appointed as the Missouri Department of Public Safety Director in August. "Eric has the background experience a colonel needs," Parson said. Olson served as a Troop Commander for Troop A and an overseer for the patrol's division of Drug and Crime Control. "In all these positions, Eric has worked closely with the local law enforcement, he also has extensive experience working with federal law enforcement and the joint terrorism task force," Parson said. Olson was appointed to the Highway Patrol in July 1, 1990. He is also a graduate of the FBI's National Academy. Olson said he thanks Parson for the opportunity to lead the Highway Patrol. "This is certainly a humbling experience for me and I will do my best to represent the patrol that is consistent with those that have gone before me," Olson said. He said he wants to identify potential law enforcement needs for the citizen of Missouri and how the patrol can best contribute to public safety is a high priority. "Closely examining the use of allocated resources, safety for all patrol employees, opportunities to improve public service and strengthening diversity and recruiting for the agency will also receive my full attention," Olson said. Karsten said she believed Olson was the best choice to lead the Highway Patrol.

3/8/19

A GoFundMe account has been set up for an Alabama State Trooper who was critically injured in a weekend tornado.  The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency says the family of State Trooper Sgt. Robert Burroughs set up the account in the wake of Sunday’s massive tornado in Lee County.  Burroughs, who is with the Opelika Highway Patrol Post, was injured when the tornado struck and destroyed his home.  As of Tuesday, he remains in the Intensive Care Unit at East Alabama Medical Center in Opelika.  “Troopers responded to the community immediately following the storm and remain,” ALEA spokesman Cpl. Jess Thornton said.  “Troopers have a strong sense of comradery and will surround the Burroughs family at this time and offer support both short and long term.”  Burroughs is among more than 40 victims who were taken to area hospitals after the tornado devastated southern Lee County Sunday afternoon.

3/5/19

On Thursday, February 28, Montana Highway Patrol graduated nine new troopers for the MHP’s 65th class. The men and women who graduated completed 20 weeks of rigorous training and many graduates received recognition in areas of physical fitness and academic leadership. In a room full of family, friends, and loved ones, the troopers took their first steps into their careers after being sworn in. Brennen Plucker was honored with the Michael Haynes Memorial Grant for his exceptional work in training. The award is in memory of State Trooper Michael W. Haynes, who was killed on duty in his patrol car, which was struck by a drunk driver in March 2009. After being sworn in Plucker said, “Today’s important to me because this is the next step, this is the transition from my time in training to being out on the road and being able to make the impact that I set out do from the start.”

3/4/19

A bridge on Interstate 81 is being named after fallen Virginia State Police Trooper Lucas Dowell. The Virginia House of Delegates and the Virginia Senate both unanimously passed a resolution this month to name a bridge in Smyth County after the officer. The bridge crosses over Whitetop Road and is located in Chilhowie. Dowell graduated from Chilhowie High School in 2009. The trooper died on Feb. 4 after being hit by gunfire while executing a search warrant at a residence in Cumberland County. Dowell was serving on the tactical team assisting the Piedmont Regional Drug and Task Force. Police returned fire and killed the suspect, identified as Corey Johnson, 44. Now that the bill has passed, the Virginia Department of Transportation would place and maintain appropriate markers indicating the designation of the bridge. The Senate passed it unanimously on Feb. 20 and the House passed it unanimously on Feb. 23. An effort also is underway to name bridge over the U.S. 29 Bypass at the Ambriar exit into the town of Amherst after Dowell. The petition was started by Steve Martin, owner of Martin's Body and Paint Shop in Amherst. Dowell was assigned to patrol Lynchburg and Amherst and Campbell counties and was based at the state police’s office in the Town of Amherst.

3/4/19

Honorary police officer and cancer patient, Abigail Arias is now a Texas Ranger.   Earlier this month, Freeport police department made her dreams come true by making her an honorary police officer.  On Monday, her dreams were taken to the next level as she became an honorary Texas Ranger.  Abigail was taken on a tour of the state capital and was also given a Texas Ranger hat, badge, and a pair of pink boots.  Senator Larry Taylor even presented Abigail with a Senate Resolution in honor of her bravery during her fight with cancer.

2/1/19

State Police treated a boy who's battling a genetic disease to a huge surprise. Luis Aguilar is only 4 years old. He suffers from spinal muscular atrophy, which affects his nervous system.  State Police heard that Aguilar's big wish was to have his picture taken in a cop car. "He's a kid. He loved it. Before his mom left she said, thank you for making my son's dream come true," State Police said. The special operations team not only took pictures with Aguilar, but they also took him for a ride and even showed him how their equipment works.

To watch the video, go to: https://youtu.be/lyRUJb_jsEg 

2/27/19

The West Virginia Senate and House recognized members of the West Virginia State Police on Wednesday on the occasion of the agency’s 100th anniversary, which will be celebrated later this year. On June 19, the WVSP will celebrate its 100th anniversary, according to the West Virginia Department of Military Affairs & Public Safety. The state Senate celebrated Wednesday with the passing of Senate Resolution 52, and the state House honored the state police with a pre-floor session ceremony. According to the resolution, during the coal mine wars of the early 20th century, Gov. John Jacob Cornwell advocated for the formation of a statewide police force that would be a neutral agency between business and labor. On March 29, 1919, in a session of the West Virginia Legislature, a bill was passed creating the Department of Public Safety, also known as the West Virginia State Police. The resolution said it was passed after “hours of negotiation and heated debate.” It was signed by Cornwell on March 31, 1919, making it the sixth oldest state police agency in the country. The agency’s mission is to enforce criminal and traffic laws statewide, according to the resolution. It continues by saying, “with emphasis on providing basic enforcement and citizen protection from criminal depredation throughout the state and maintaining the safety of the state’s public streets, roads and highways.” In 1948, the West Virginia State Police Academy was constructed in Institute, where all West Virginia law enforcement officers are trained and certified. Other entities with the state police are the West Virginia State Police Forensic Crime Laboratory, the West Virginia Criminal Identification Bureau, the West Virginia Automated Police Network System and the West Virginia Intelligence Exchange. The resolution thanked the members of the state police for 100 years of serving citizens with “integrity, fairness, respect, honesty, courage and compassion.” “Therefore, be it resolved by the Senate: that the Senate hereby recognizes the West Virginia State Police on the occasion of its 100th anniversary; and, be it further resolved, that the Senate extends its most heartfelt thanks to the men and women of the West Virginia State Police for their dedication and commitment to protecting the citizens of West Virginia; and, be it further resolved, that the Senate extends its sincere gratitude and appreciation to the West Virginia State Police for the sacrifices they make every day to ensure our safety ...,” the resolution said.

2/25/19

The first ever American Idol and current superstar Kelly Clarkson had a surprise up her sleeve when she brought her “A Minute and a Glass of Wine” tour to Sprint Center last Thursday night.  At one point during her show she invited two Kansas Highway Patrol troopers to join her on stage, and the crowd went wild.  The two troopers, Lamonte Jackson and Mike Pagel, work as Kansas Capitol police officers. Clarkson played a portion of the police car karaoke video the two created in May 2018 before they joined her with their own microphones.  Clarkson even chimed in as their backup singer as they performed, “Stand By Me.”  See the awesome moment in the video above. 

To watch video, go to:   https://www.facebook.com/kellyclarkson/videos/2007963972651813/

Please note:  The actual time on the video with the troopers and Kelly Clarkson begins at 14.23 minutes.

2/22/19