March 13, 2023

NAVARRO COUNTY, Texas - State troopers stepped in to take an injured colleague's daughter to a Daddy-Daughter dance he couldn't attend.

DPS trooper Curtis Putz was investigating a crash on I-45 in Navarro County during February's winter storm when he was hit by another vehicle.

Putz suffered several broken bones, including a broken hip, pelvis, femur, ribs, forearm and shoulder, according to his wife.

He also had a lacerated liver, lacerated arteries and road rash.

While Putz is on the long road to recovery several DPS troopers went the extra mile to share a special moment with his family.

Five DPS troopers showed up to take Putz's two fifth grade daughters to their final Daddy-Daughter dance.

The troopers brought the girls flowers and escorted them in freshly washed patrol cars.

Putz's wife Tosha said her husband was proud and thankful for his brothers in blue.

"I know it’s cliché, but they have restored my faith in humanity," Tosha Putz told FOX 4.

Putz asks everyone to slow down and move over if you see an emergency vehicle on the side of the road.

Friday, March 17, 2023 

NASHVILLE - On March 17, Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security Commissioner Jeff Long and Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) Colonel Matt Perry welcomed the newest graduating classes of Tennessee State Troopers at the Hermitage Hills Baptist Church on Lebanon Road in Nashville.

 The department simultaneously instructed a regular trooper cadet class and a lateral trooper cadet class. The regular trooper cadet class graduated 21 troopers that completed 16 weeks of rigorous training to prepare them for their new law enforcement career. The lateral trooper cadet class graduated 29 troopers. They completed 10 weeks of specialized training, which was designed to build upon their previous law enforcement training and experience. Each member of the lateral class is a prior Police Officer Standards and Training (POST) certified law enforcement officer.

Combined, these newest graduating classes have five troopers with associate’s degrees, nine troopers with bachelor’s degrees, and include 17 troopers with prior military service.

 Tennessee Governor Bill Lee served as the keynote speaker for the graduation. “Law enforcement is more than a career - it’s a calling. The Tennessee Highway Patrol plays an important role in protecting Tennesseans, and I commend Tennessee’s newest trooper class for answering this important call to protect and serve our state,” said Governor Bill Lee. “Tennessee stands with law enforcement, and we’ll continue to make strong investments to put additional officers on Tennessee roads, support our officers with high-quality training and provide the resources needed to protect Tennessee communities.”

“Today, we recognize the hard work and perseverance you have shown during several months of difficult physical and academic training,” said Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security Commissioner Jeff Long. "You are now part of a thin blue line that brings order during chaos. Congratulations on joining one of the most respected law enforcement agencies in the United States.”

"Joining any law enforcement agency makes a cadet a part of something far bigger than yourself. The citizens of Tennessee have placed their trust in us, and that trust must be earned every day,” said Colonel Matt Perry. “These cadets have embarked on a career of service in the Volunteer State. Every day as we don our uniform, we remember that service is at the heart of being a Tennessee State Trooper. Governor Henry Horton said it best when he said, ‘Go not as lords, but as servants of the people.’”

Trooper Michael Withers was named the top trooper cadet and was presented the Trooper Calvin Jenks Memorial Award for Excellence for achieving the overall highest average. The award honors the late Trooper Calvin Jenks, who was killed in the line of duty in January 2007. 

MARCH 16, 2023

JACKSON, Miss. —

The Mississippi State Senate passed a resolution honoring the retired director of the Mississippi Law Enforcement Officers' Training Academy, or MLEOTA.

Retired Lt. Col. Thomas Tuggle was recognized on the floor of the senate Wednesday for his career in law enforcement.

His law enforcement career spans 30 years.

Tuggle was assigned to MLEOTA 24 years ago, training hundreds of law enforcement officers across the state. Under his leadership, MLEOTA won 12 National Lawfit Championships in fitness training.

He spent the last five years of his career as the training academy director.

"We've had a not-so-proud history when it comes to law enforcement, bad history, negative history in Mississippi. But today we are some of the most respected law enforcement professionals in the country," Tuggle said.

Before becoming the director of MLEOTA, Tuggle worked under former director Pat Cronin. Cronin credits Tuggle with changing the image of law enforcement officers in Mississippi through hard work and discipline.

"He's brought great recognition to the state of Mississippi as it relates to law enforcement. We've always been viewed, you'll see us in the movies sometimes, as maybe someone with a big potbelly and sloppy looking. Well, he dispelled all of that in a short period of time. He is just a great individual," Cronin said.

Tuggle retired from the Mississippi Highway Patrol in 2022 but continues to assist and advocate for Mississippi’s state troopers as the Mississippi State Director for The American Association of State Troopers.

MARCH 15, 2023

The six-person search team eventually was able to escort the hikers, two males aged 47 and 53, out of the forest shortly before dawn.
According to Massachusetts State Police, the rescue operation began just before 8 p.m. Tuesday, when the Berkshire County Sheriff’s Dispatch Center forwarded a 911 call from one of the hikers to the State Police-Lee Barracks. The hiker told Troopers he and his friend had gone for a hike on the Alander Trail in the state forest, located in the southern Berkshires town of Mount Washington near the New York and Connecticut state lines. The caller said because of the bad weather and gathering darkness he and his friend could no longer see the trail markings, could not continue to a cabin they were headed to at the mountain peak, and could not retrace their steps back out of the forest because heavy falling snow had filled in their tracks. They estimated that they were approximately two miles into the forest.

Troopers and emergency dispatchers told the hikers to stay where they were while they began assembling a search and rescue team equipped with snowmobiles. While dispatchers and state Department of Conservation and Recreation personnel worked to obtain and plot the exact coordinates of the hikers’ location, Troopers from various Massachusetts State Police units, Egremont and Sheffield Firefighters, state Environmental Police, and DCR Rangers responded to a command post at the Egremont Fire Department on Route 23.

Meanwhile, in order to get snowmobiles to the search team that would deploy from the command post to the state forest, first responders had to clear roads between the command post and the entrance to the forest trail. Those roads were blocked by trees and power lines knocked down by the storm. Shortly before 9 PM, an MSP Troop B patrol supervisor, Egremont DPW personnel, and the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency began notifying public works crews, snowplows, and the utility company to respond to assist in that part of the mission. By 11:15 PM, National Grid employees had shut power to downed lines so the road to the trail entrances could be cleared.

A short time later, the six-person search and rescue team on snowmobiles -- consisting of two Troopers from the State Police Special Emergency Response Team, three Sheffield Firefighters, and a DCR Ranger – departed from the command post for the trail entrance at the edge of the forest. Because of two-foot-deep snow, however, the snowmobiles were unable to drive onto the trail. At 12:09 AM, the members of the rescue team dismounted and began the two-mile walk into the forest to the hikers’ coordinates.
After hiking for more than 2 ½ hours, at approximately 2:30 AM the search team found the hikers. The two men were suffering from fatigue and cold temperatures but were not injured. The group of eight then began the hike back out of the forest.
More than two hours later, at 4:48 AM today, the search team and the hikers came out of the forest and reached the DCR headquarters building near the trail entrance. Southern Berkshire Ambulance EMTs responded to examine the hikers and transported them to an area hospital for evaluation due to their fatigue and cold weather exposure.

March 10, 2023

The Georgia State Patrol graduated its 113th Trooper School Friday, March 10, at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center in Forsyth.

After 32 weeks of intense training, 33 new Troopers will report to one of 52 patrol posts around the state.

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp was the keynote speaker and gave the Oath of Office. Additional remarks were provided by Colonel Chris C. Wright, Commissioner of the Department of Public Safety, and Captain Clayton Kicklighter, Director of Training.

Trooper Cadets spend 20 weeks at the academy and 12 weeks training in the field. The Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council requires all peace officers to receive a minimum of 408 hours of Basic Mandate Training. At the completion of Trooper School these newly graduated Troopers have received more than 1,400 hours of training including driving, defensive tactics, vehicle stops, Spanish, criminal law and criminal procedure, firearms, accident investigation, and various other trainings.

During remarks to his fellow class members Trooper Deontress McNeal, the class president, reflected on the journey through Trooper School. 

“Our journey to today began last year, on July 17, 2022. As diverse individuals from all walks of life, we left our families, homes, and jobs on the quest to become a Georgia State Patrol Trooper,” said McNeal. “Today is about celebrating that diverse group of people that became one big, close-knit family. We completed the process, we are Troopers, and that is undeniably a big accomplishment to be proud of.”

Four of the graduates received special honors for top performance in various proficiencies. The honorees were:

Driving Proficiency – Phillip Johnson

Firearms Proficiency – Tyler Pettee

Top Gun – Caleb Crosswhite

Highest Academic Average – Thomas Ayres

Additionally, Trooper Thomas Ayres who had a 96.0 academic average, received the CPL Chadwick LeCroy scholarship to use toward obtaining a master’s degree from Reinhardt University. CPL Chadwick LeCroy, a GSP Trooper, was killed in the line of duty on December 27, 2010.

Trooper Kristoff Batson received the inaugural Patrick Dupree Leadership Award which is presented to the cadet that showed leadership throughout the entire class, even though he/she was not the class president.

“It is such an honor to receive this award, Batson said. “Patrick was not only an awesome colleague but a great friend. As I proudly wear my GSP badge and travel Georgia’s roadways serving the residents and visitors to our state, I will carry Patrick’s memory in my heart.”

Additionally, the following graduates were recognized for their leadership: Thomas Ayres, Vice President; Austin Byers, Secretary; David Holland, Chaplain; Claire Ctibor, Sergeant-at-Arms; and Andrew Thompson, Pennant Bearer.

March 2, 2023

BALTIMORE - Maryland State Police used its helicopter to rescue an injured mountain bike rider who was stranded in a remote trail for nearly eight hours.

Troopers said a 56-year-old man was injured while cycling through Meadow Mountain Trail, a 14-mile trail in Garrett County.

He told rescuers Wednesday that he spent nearly eight hours stranding in the trail.

The helicopter crew lowered a trooper/flight paramedic into a clearing below. 

The emergency responder secured the injured mountain biker in a patient extrication platform, commonly known as a "PEP Bag" and was hoisted approximately 100 feet in the air, according to Maryland State Police.

He was flown to a hospital in Morgantown, West Virginia for treatment, troopers said. 

DEKALB COUNTY, Ind. — An Indiana State Police trooper was killed Friday while trying to slow a pursuit on Interstate 69 north of Fort Wayne.

Troopers were working at the scene of weather-related crashes on I-69 in DeKalb County around 4:30 p.m. when other officers became involved in a police pursuit on the interstate. 

As the chase neared Master Trooper James R. Bailey's location, he attempted to deploy stop sticks to help end the pursuit. At that time, police said, Bailey was struck by the suspect vehicle.

The 50-year-old trooper was treated at the scene for his injuries before he was taken to a Fort Wayne hospital, where he died from his injuries.

Bailey, a 15 1/2-year veteran of ISP who lived in Auburn, is survived by his wife and their son and daughter.

Trooper Bailey is survived by his wife, son, and daughter, ISP said. Family notifications have been made.

The Indiana Fallen Heroes Foundation has established an official memorial fund to honor Master Trooper James Bailey. Donations can be made here.

Donations can also be made on Venmo at @indiana-fallen-heroes.

February 28th, 2023

As the women and men of the Delaware State Police continue to celebrate its Centennial Anniversary, the Division strives to honor the agency’s history through a variety of methods.

One of the ways the Division has acknowledged its lasting legacy is through the addition of several “throwback” retro patrol vehicles to the active fleet.

A total of eight varied, marked vehicle schemes will patrol the highways, neighborhoods, and business districts of the State for the remainder of the centennial year.  Six of the retro graphic designs depicted on these 2023 Chevrolet Tahoes are in the likeness of State Police vehicles from the 1930s to the 1980s.

In addition to these six designs, the Division has also deployed several Tahoes, which will display our centennial graphics, all commemorating this momentous occasion.

While these vehicles may harken back to decades of the past, make no mistake that they are equipped with all of the modern-day equipment that Troopers need to effectively uphold the laws of the First State and ensure the safety and well-being of all residents and visitors.

FEBUARY 28, 2023

Gazing north, troopers on the midnight shift drank in a spectacular show of Northern Lights, sharing their views with photos on Twitter. One photo shows the Mackinac Bridge arching over the icebound Straits, and it has the reddish glow of a squad car’s emergency lights contrasting with the chartreuse-green of Northern Lights descending over it in fuzzy green. Another photo shows a brighter display of wavy green, seeming to hang from the heavens like curtains, and filling the horizon of lake ice crested by a thin dark line of the Upper Peninsula’s shoreline.

The Northern Lights is a phenomenon also called aurora borealis, a term coined in 1619 by Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei — after the Roman goddess of dawn, Aurora, and the Greek god of the north wind, Boreas, according to Mike Narlock, head of astronomy and exhibits at the Cranbrook Institute of Science in Bloomfield Hills.

So, what lights up the sky? Narlock said the shows of Northern Lights that people see from the ground are caused by electrically charged particles from space entering the Earth's upper atmosphere at a very high speed, spewed by our solar system’s star — the Sun. The sun's emissions of high-speed particles are called solar flares.

“There’s also the aurora australis, which is the Southern Lights that people see if they’re closer to the South Pole,” Narlock said. The particles streaming from the sun enter the atmosphere but are guided and deflected by the earth’s magnetic field, which sculpts the eerie shapes of these light shows, he said.

Jan 27, 2023

ANTRIM COUNTY, Mich., (WPBN/WGTU) -- A northern Michigan food pantry got a few freezers to keep up with the high demand for meals being served weekly, but they didn't buy it. 

Michigan State Police learned that the Star Township Food Pantry in Antrim County needed a new freezer. 

So, they used money from the Michigan State Trooper Outreach Partnership to buy it for them. 

The food pantry helps improve local communities through donations. 

Troopers also volunteered at the food pantry on Thursday. 

“We want to give back and you know this is a great way to you know meet the community if we don’t get over to Antrim County or Otsego too often, its just a great way to connect with the community on a different level," said Sgt. Ashley Miller. 

Star Township Food Pantry said they service about 300 families a week. 

FEB 20, 2023

1,600 state troopers patrol road in North Carolina, and now everyone one of them has an AED or Automated External Defibrillator. 

Two NC State Troopers put their training to work when they found a man unresponsive in his vehicle.

“The adrenaline in the moment just takes over. You don’t really think about it,” Trooper John Eberle said.

Eberle and Trooper Caleb Kirby did not stop to think or hesitate to act when they saw 78-year-old Victor Pate looking lifeless in his truck on Interstate-40 near the Maple Avenue exit in Burlington on Feb. 3.

“He climbed into the backseat. I climbed into the front seat. We started getting him out,” Eberle said. “You stop thinking about what else is going on, and the training takes over, and you’re able to do what you need to do.”

Every two years, troopers get a CPR course and demonstrations on how to use an AED.

“It’s really easy to be told what to do, but getting that hands on training to know you’re doing it right to build confidence is big,” Eberle said.

Confidence they say they need as they respond to more medical emergencies along roads.

“I’ve had multiple scenario’s where I’ve pulled up on a collision, and the person may seem to be somewhat impaired, but they’re actually suffering from a diabetic episode or possible Alzheimers,” Kirby said.

A grant helped put the devices in troopers’ cars. It’s funding most of our local police departments and sheriff’s offices don’t have.

FOX8 check in with law enforcement agencies across the Triad and learned only the Burlington Police Department and Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office have AEDs inside vehicles paid for with grant money.

The Guilford County Sheriff’s Office purchased two AEDs for each of the three districts they serve. Deputies take them out during each shift.

Until they can be part of every agency’s equipment, knowing life-saving procedures is key.

“The more people we can get out to at least understand what they’re doing with CPR, it’s going to be able to help save a lot of lives,” Eberle said.

A representative from the Red Cross tells FOX8 interest in CPR and AED devices has increased with many schools and athletic trainers adding them to be ready if a player or student falls into cardiac arrest.

The Red Cross does offer assistance for anyone looking to purchase an AED.

January 20, 2023

The State Highway Patrol proudly welcomed 36 new troopers today at a graduation ceremony held for the 157th Basic Highway Patrol School. The ceremony commemorates 27 weeks of extensive training to prepare the graduates for a rewarding career in law enforcement.

The ceremony was held at the Shepherd’s Church in Cary at 10:00 a.m. Department of Public Safety Secretary Eddie M. Buffaloe, Jr. served as guest speaker and provided congratulatory remarks to the graduates. The oath of office was administered by Judge Jeffrey K. Carpenter of the North Carolina Court of Appeals. Colonel Freddy L. Johnson Jr., commander of the State Highway Patrol, provided remarks to the newest sworn members of the State Highway Patrol.

“As new state troopers, we feel you are ready to fulfill this role and be ambassadors who represent the State Highway Patrol,” said Johnson. “My charge to you is to be a leader in your community by your actions, your character and your important role as a law enforcement officer.”

Jan. 15, 2023

We all know that firefighters rescue helpless cats from time to time, but that doesn’t mean other first responders don’t pitch in when nature calls. Case and point: one Tennessee Highway Patrol trooper recently had to swoop in to save a helpless owl.

In a recent video, viewers can see the trooper rescuing the Tennessee owl after he stumbled upon the animal on the side of the road on Sunday.

Trooper takes time to assist Tennessee owl

“Trp. Crouser had a roadside safety chat with a feathered friend today. Thankfully Mr. Owl agreed with the trooper that the road was no place for an owl. Mr. Owl was thankful for the trooper’s kindness and guidance as it will keep us all safe,” an official with the THP tweeted after the incident.

In the clip, viewers can see the Tennessee owl flying from the road to a nearby telephone pole.

See video

https://twitter.com/i/status/1614704421233098752

Feb.10, 2023

A State Police helicopter helped find a missing and possibly suicidal man Feb. 10 in Medford, officials said Thursday.

Medford police notified troopers that a “potentially suicidal person” was missing, State Police wrote on Facebook. A State Police Air Wing helicopter responded from Westover Air Base, official said.

Footage posted by State Police shows the moment the aerial crew located the man’s heat signature below a bridge.

“The flight crew located the missing man under Revere Beach Parkway (Route 16) at the edge of the water of the Malden River and directed ground units to his location,” State Police said.

Officers approached the “young adult” and walked him to a waiting ambulance, State Police said. He was taken to a nearby hospital, officials said.

“Thank you to our partners at Massachusetts State Police for their assistance on this call and great job by our officers who worked tirelessly to find this individual,” Medford police said. “Amazing teamwork that resulted in getting this person the help that they needed.”

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=892478198655247

The MSP Air Wing unit is the “most comprehensive public safety aviation unit in the New England region,” according to the agency. Crews are positioned on air bases around the state, and can respond to incidents rapidly. 

The unit is often used to help locate people who have been reported missing, monitor large public gatherings, and respond to disasters. Specialized tracking technology on the aircraft also lets the unit assist in locating stolen vehicles. 

The Air Wing unit responds to more than 1,900 mission requests a year, according to Metro Aviation. 

Jan 24

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) -The Ohio State Highway Patrol released new video of a black cat being rescued by a trooper and a good Samaritan from a busy highway near Toledo.

Trooper Katie Thomas saw the cat huddled against the concrete barrier I-475 in Lucas County, and at first the cat looked like it was going to let her pick it up.

After retrieving gloves from her cruiser for the safety of her hands, she approached the cat a second time and in a heart-stopping moment the cat makes a runs for it, but retreated to the wheel well of the cruiser.

Clawing the tire the cat is eventually removed and rescued.

The feline was taken to the Toledo Humane Society where they promptly named it “Trooper.”

In the happy ending you’re looking for, Trooper has already found its forever home.