New York State Policeposted on Facebookthat a trooper was able to rescue a bald eagle.

State Police say someone driving in Orange County reported a hurt bald eagle on the side of a busy road. The eagle was reportedly seen in the Town of Blooming Grove.

State Trooper Bryan Whalen responded to the call and used his division-issued jacket and a K-9 trooper's bite sleeve to corral the eagle, then safely put it into a kennel.

The eagle was taken to a rehab facility in New Paltz in Ulster County to get treatment, according to state police.

The Texas Department of Public Safety held a dedication ceremony for a part of I-35 to honor a fallen DPS trooper.

The department dedicated the road portion for DPS Trooper Thomas Nipper, who was killed during a traffic stop on November 4, 2017. 

"He served the citizens of Texas longer than I've been alive. I'm 43, about to be 44, and he served two-thirds of his life wearing a badge and a gun and protecting total strangers and that was his calling," said Sgt. Bryan Washko with Texas DPS.

The Trooper Thomas Nipper Memorial Highway, created by the 87th Texas Legislature, consists of a section of I-35 from Temple to Belton in Bell County from mile markers 297 to 294. 

"Trooper Nipper heroically put his life on the line to protect this community, and he will always be remembered for his unwavering commitment to the people of Texas," DPS Central Texas Regional Director Todd Snyder said. "This memorial roadway will serve as a constant reminder of his courageous and faithful service."

Amy Nipper Schmoyer said she will always remember her Dad as incredibly funny, outgoing and caring. She hopes you'll honor her Dad with on his stretch of road by honoring those who serve.

"Officers everyday are putting their life on the line for us and they don't know when they go to work if they are going to come home. They do it for the love of their family and community but it's their higher calling and their willing to make that sacrifice," she said.

Nipper, 63, died in November 2017 from injuries sustained in a crash while conducting a traffic stop on southbound I-35, near Midway Drive, in Temple. He joined the DPS in 1982 and was stationed in Temple at the time of his death. 

Nipper is survived by his wife and three children. 

^{_{A 27-year veteran of the Iowa State Patrol was shot and killed during an attempt to end an hours-long standoff with an armed man in Grundy Center, the Iowa Department of Public Safety said Saturday.}} 

^{_{Sgt. Jim Smith, described as "a hero" by the head of the Iowa Department of Public Safety, was fatally shot while attempting to arrest Michael Thomas Lang, 41, of Grundy Center, authorities said.}}

^{_{Lang, who ran unsuccessfully for Grundy County sheriff in 2020, was charged with first-degree murder and is being held on a $1 million cash bond. He suffered multiple gunshot wounds during the standoff and was hospitalized in critical condition, police said.}}

^{_{"Sgt. Jim Smith died a hero ... he sacrificed himself protecting others," Stephan Bayens, commissioner of the Department of Public Safety, said as he led off a Saturday news conference at Grundy Center High School.}}

^{_{"Sgt. Jim Smith was a friend. Sgt. Jim Smith was a brother. Sgt. Jim Smith was a son. Sgt. Jim Smith was a husband. Sgt. Jim Smith was a dad. Sgt. Jim Smith was a protector of the innocent. Sgt. Jim Smith was a guardian of justice. Sgt. Jim Smith was a man of God," Bayens said in an emotion-filled statement. "Sgt. Jim Smith, and I'm going to keep saying his name until his sacrifice has been seared upon the hearts of anyone that can hear my voice."}}

^{_{To honor Smith, Gov. Kim Reynolds announced she would order all flags in Iowa to be flown at half-staff from sunrise to sunset on the day of his burial. Some already were at half-staff in Grundy Center on Saturday afternoon.}}

^{_{She released a statement Saturday addressing the killing.}}

^{_{“It’s with deep sorrow that we recognize the loss of Iowa State Patrol Sgt. Jim Smith, a courageous hero who died in the line of duty,” Reynolds said. “Sgt. Jim Smith was a loving husband, father of two, and a pillar of the community. I along with the entire state of Iowa grieve for his family and friends as they try to cope with this devastating loss. Today we are once again reminded of the selfless sacrifices the brave men and women in uniform make. Let us never forget their bravery and that of their loved ones.”}} 

^{_{At the news conference, Mitch Mortvedt, assistant director of the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, described a tense chain of events before and after Smith's death. According to Mortvedt, about 7:22 p.m. Friday, Grundy Center police attempted to stop a vehicle driven by Lang, who the officers believed had been barred from driving. Lang instead fled, and a chase ensued into southeast Grundy Center.}}

^{_{Lang pulled over on 250th Avenue, exited his vehicle and assaulted a Grundy Center police officer while yelling "shoot me" multiple times, Mortvedt said. He said Lang disarmed the officer, took his Taser and radio, and put the officer in a chokehold.}}

^{_{A Grundy County deputy arrived to assist and drew his firearm, commanding Lang to put his hands up. Lang instead yelled "come get me," got back in his vehicle and drove off, Mortvedt said.}}

^{_{Law enforcement officials pursued Lang but eventually lost sight of him and proceeded to his home in the 300 block of G Avenue in Grundy Center. There, officers saw Lang's vehicle and Lang entering his home through the garage, Mortvedt said.}} 

^{_{Lang's father arrived and informed officers that "his son had multiple firearms inside the residence, including a .410-caliber shotgun," Mortvedt said.}}

^{_{A perimeter was set up around the house and surrounding areas, and neighbors were evacuated. About 8:55 p.m., an "entry team" consisting of four Iowa State Patrol troopers and a Hardin County sheriff's K-9 unit arrived, Mortvedt said.}}

^{_{Officers announced themselves and entered the home. Mortvedt said that as the entry team was "clearing" the upstairs of the house, Smith was hit by gunfire.}} 

^{_{"Members of the entry team observed Lang emerge from the doorway holding a black pump-action shotgun," he said.}}

^{_{Some members of the entry team removed Smith from the residence while others retreated to the basement, where they heard Lang make "several statements" about shooting Smith and "expressed the desire to shoot more police officers," Mortvedt said.}}

^{_{Lang barricaded himself in the house until about 11:50 p.m., when an Iowa State Patrol tactical team "attempted to make entry into the residence with an armored personnel carrier," Mortvedt said. The armored carrier was one of two such vehicles that had been in use for only a few weeks, he said.}}

^{_{Lang fired on the vehicle, and members of the tactical unit fired back, striking him multiple times.}}

^{_{Police then took Lang into custody and transported him to the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics, where he was listed in critical condition, Mortvedt said. No other injuries were reported.}}

^{_{Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller said in a Saturday statement that he was saddened by Smith's death.}}

^{_{"He was a dedicated public servant and courageous law enforcement officer," Miller said. "My heart goes out to his family and friends, as well as to his colleagues on the Iowa State Patrol."}}

^{_{U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson issued a statement on Twitter, saying, "I was heartbroken to learn that Sgt. Jim Smith died in the line of duty yesterday. This is a terrible loss."}}

^{_{She asked for prayers for his family, friends and the Iowa State Patrol.}}

^{_{"We can never take the selfless sacrifice our brave law enforcement officers make every day for granted," she wrote.}}

^{_{Smith was the 11th trooper in Iowa State Patrol history to be killed in the line of duty and the first in almost 10 years, according to the Iowa Department of Public Safety. The most recent previous death was on Sept. 20, 2011, when Trooper Mark Toney died in a car crash in Warren County as he attempted to make a traffic stop.}}

^{_{Smith was only the second Iowa trooper to die in a shooting in the line of duty. The first was Trooper Oran "Nanny" Pape, who was one of the "Original 50" Iowa patrolmen. He was shot and killed on April 29, 1936, by a suspect believed to have stolen a vehicle, according to the Department of Public Safety.}}

^{_{The department's headquarters in Des Moines is named after Pape.}}

^{_{Smith is the third Iowa state public safety employee to be killed on the job in the past three weeks. Two employees at the Anamosa State Penitentiary, registered nurse Lorena Schulte, 50, and correctional officer Robert McFarland, 46, died March 23 after allegedly being attacked by inmates who were attempting to escape the prison, state authorities say.}} 

At a ceremony in the office of Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen, three heroic Montana Highway Patrol troopers were presented the ‘Award of Valor’ for conspicuous bravery in the line of duty.

MHP Public Information Officer Sergeant Jay Nelson provided details, starting with Trooper Alex Hiday, in relation to the March 15, 2019 shooting of fellow trooper Wade Palmer at the hands of Jonathan Bertsch.

“Trooper Hiday on March 15 of 2019, responded to the assistance of trooper Wade Palmer who was shot multiple times after locating a homicide suspect north of Missoula,” said Nelson. “Trooper Hiday responded soon thereafter and provided lifesaving medical attention to Trooper Palmer and removed him from the scene, where the suspect was still at large. Trooper Hiday continued to provide this life saving medical attention until Trooper Palmer arrived at the hospital. Trooper Hiday then responded back to the scene to help locate the suspect who was eventually brought into custody.”

The next trooper honored was Sergeant Wren, after an incident that occurred near Kalispell.

“The suspect was spotted by a Flathead County Sheriff's deputy,” he said. “The suspect did not stop for the deputy and was pursued by the Flathead County Sheriff's Office, Lake County Sheriff's Office and the Montana Highway Patrol. This pursuit ended on Highway 35 near Woods Bay in Lake County. Upon the pursuit ending, the suspect shot at the deputy and Sergeant Wren multiple times. Both Sergeant Wren and the deputy returned fire and eventually killed the suspect.”

The final recipient was Trooper Connor Wager, who rescued a woman who was trapped inside her upside-down vehicle in a frigid river.

“Trooper Wager entered the near freezing river tethered to only a rope due to the fast-moving current,” he said. “Trooper Wager had to hold on to the vehicle and then break through the rear window with a rescue tool. He eventually saved the driver of the motor vehicle and was able to pull himself and the driver back to the shore to safety.”

All three troopers received the Award of Valor, the highest award given by the Montana Highway Patrol.

The trooper that Hiday rescued, Wade Palmer, was himself twice presented with the Award of Valor.

Lonnie Eaton has patrolled a million miles.

In his 30-year career with the Washington State Patrol, the trooper has had the highs of chasing freeway speeders at 100 mph and the lows of comforting grieving accident survivors.

He began his career in Kelso, patrolling Interstate 5 in 1991. At two of his first three fatal wrecks, he was assigned as the lead investigator.

“You just try to be a good human,” he said. “It’s a hard thing to deal with. It’s a sad time and you have just got to try to help.”

But once he left the scene, he found comfort in his faith. “There’s always someone else with me,” said Eaton, a deacon at the Naselle Assembly of God.

Freeway patrol was a rush. “If you haven’t hit 100 mph, you are having a bad day,” he laughed. “I enjoyed that.”

Eaton was transferred to Raymond in 1999. Soon after, the detachment moved to Naselle, where he had graduated from high school in 1985. It meant he and his wife, Kim, could raise their two children in a supportive environment. He coached sports and savored community liaison work like school drunken-driving awareness programs or taking kids to “shop-with-a-cop.”

But it offered challenges. “In your hometown, you are going to stop people — and people that you know pretty well,” he said.

For minor offenses, options of a verbal or written warning or a ticket offer flexibility. “I probably gave people one break, but they then know I’m out here,” he said. “They get one opportunity and then they know that I had to do what I have to do.”

Eaton admits he became somewhat hardened. “When I first started, I was naive. I would take what people threw at me,” he said. “But about eight or nine years in, I started being … I found that my grace has disappeared.

“I never had any real issues with anybody,” he added. “I feel like I have done a pretty good job being as professional as I can. When I stop and contact people I will listen, but I’m not going to start an argument about it.”

Eaton signed up as a cadet during the week of rioting in Los Angeles after the police beating of Rodney King was caught on video. In the intervening 30 years, support for law enforcement has diminished. He has mixed views about recommending it as a career. “It’s a lot harder for me to to do that,” he said.

“In my first seven or eight years on the freeway, I never wore my (bulletproof) vest,” he recalled. “Maybe that was feeling young and ‘invincible?’”

Now protective gear is mandatory; his Chevrolet Tahoe was equipped with a rifle, as well as a shotgun with nonlethal rounds.

“You had a feeling then that people were not out to get you,” he said. “I feel you have to be way more concerned and on top of your game.”

Academy trainees watched a video of officers being shot. “Your No. 1 job is to make it home at night,” he said, repeating his instructors’ mantra. “You get training and walk up to a car and know what might happen. You must be cordial, but you have to be prepared.”

Although he discovered weapons while making arrests, they have never been used to threaten him. “I have never had any really hairy things happen to me,” he said. “No one has tried to use a gun against me.”

One sad memory was returning from an oil change in Warrenton. A car stopped on top of the Astoria Bridge.

“I thought he had broken down,” Eaton said, as he recalled the memory of watching the driver get out and jump to his death. He radioed the U.S. Coast Guard while managing stopped traffic. “There was no eye contact. I didn’t have a chance to say anything,” he said.

His 1991 academy classmate, Capt. Ron Mead, of Bellevue, attended Eaton’s retirement party. “He was a big man with a small voice,” Mead chuckled, recalling their first meeting. “You have left the profession and the agency better for your 30 years’ service.”

That was echoed by his supervisor, Sgt. Brad Moon. “He is just a natural leader, a calm and humble person, not easily excitable, and he is good with people at the scene (of an accident),” he said. “It’s not just a motto: ‘service with humility.’”

A Michigan State Police trooper who was known for his "contagious" smile and an unmistakable voice died of complications from COVID-19.

Trooper Herman Brown was 57 and was in his 27th year on the force. Michigan State Police confirmed his death.

Brown worked from the Monroe Post, working in Monroe and Lenawee counties for almost three decades, the Dundee Police Department said.

"Thank you for keeping all of us a little bit safer over the years Herman. We are going to miss your very recognizable voice checking into service nightly with dispatch saying 'Dispatch this is Unit 1414. I'll be checking into service and carrying prep number 1480 and I'll be taking a mighty bite out of crime in that Area 1 today.'," the Dundee Police Department posted on Facebook.

Brown also served as military police in the Marine Corps and then started at the police academy in June 1993, a Twitter post from state police said.

In 2017, Brown was recognized as officer of the year in Monroe County after he saved three girls from a sexually abusive father, according to state police.

Brown had plans to work for five more years before retirng in Florida.

He was highlighted for his service on Twitter by the MSP's First District in February 2020.

A Texas state trooper and married father of children has died five days after being shot in an ambush last week.

Texas Highway Patrol Trooper Chad Walker was ambushed on Friday evening while responding to what he apparently thought was a disabled vehicle parked on the side of a rural road just outside of Mexia, a small town about 40 miles northeast of Waco. Walker, who was alone, pulled up behind the vehicle and was shot in the head and abdomen before he could get out of his patrol car, according to a statement from Todd Snyder, regional director of the Texas Department of Public Safety.

"Our DPS family is absolutely heartbroken at the loss of one of our brothers in uniform who was killed in the line of duty," DPS Director Steven McCraw said in a statement announcing Walker's death. "Texas Highway Patrol Trooper Chad Walker was committed to protecting the people of Texas. His sacrifice will never be forgotten, and we ask that you keep his family, friends and colleagues in your prayers during the difficult days ahead."

Law enforcement officials had said on Tuesday that Walker "no longer display[ed] signs of valuable brain activity."

"After extensive life-saving efforts conducted by the Baylor Scott and White medical professionals, it has been determined that Trooper Chad Walker no longer displays signs of viable brain activity and he remains on life-support until he can share the gift of life as an organ donor," the Texas Department of Public Safety said in a statement Monday. "This final sacrifice embodies Trooper Walker's actions throughout his life and service as a Texas Highway Patrol Trooper. The Walker family is grateful for the continued support and prayers as they remain at Chad's side."

Snyder alleged the suspected gunman, identified as 36-year-old Dearthur Pinson of Palestine, Texas, saw the patrol car and "immediately emerged from the driver's seat of the disabled vehicle armed with a handgun and fired multiple rounds at Trooper Walker through the patrol unit's windshield." Pinson then allegedly walked back to his vehicle, retrieved a backpack and fled the scene on foot, Snyder said.

Walker, who had been a member of the Texas Department of Public Safety since 2015, was transported to a Waco hospital in critical condition. Counselors and a Texas Rangers chaplain have been with Walker's wife and their 15-year-old son, 7-year-old twin daughters and 2-month-old baby girl, according to Snyder.

Since the shooting, more than $200,000 has been donated to Walker's family via an online crowdfunding campaign to assist with the family's medical expenses.

On Saturday night, Pinson was found dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound in a house in Mexia, where he had barricaded himself during a standoff with authorities, according to a statement from the Texas Department of Public Safety.

The Texas Rangers are leading the investigation into the incident.

According to criminal records, Pinson had a history of run-ins with the law. In November 2007, he was sentenced to a maximum of 10 years in prison for armed robbery in Texas' Houston County.

https://abcnews.go.com/US/texas-trooper-longer-displays-signs-valuable-brain-activity/story?id=76766529

Trooper Joseph Gallagher was hit by a vehicle in December 2017 when he stopped to help another driver who had broken down and passed from his injuries Friday, March 26, 2021.

Acting Superintendent Kevin P. Bruen announced Trooper Gallagher's line-of-duty death on Saturday.

Trooper Gallagher, who was 35 at the time of the crash, was hit on an overpass leading to the Long Island Expressway near Brentwood on December 18, 2017. 

State Police say Trooper Gallagher had stopped to help a motorist who had broken down. He was setting up emergency flares in the road when he was hit.  

Trooper Gallagher is originally from South Buffalo and later lived in West Seneca. He joined the State Police in 2014. 

He was most recently assigned to Troop L, which covers Nassau and Suffolk counties. He also worked in Troop T (Thruway) and Troop F.

After the crash in 2017, his uncle, William Gallagher, of Buffalo, posted on Facebook that his nephew was a rescue helicopter pilot for the Coast Guard in Detroit before he joined the State Police. 

Trooper Gallagher is survived by his wife, two children, parents, and siblings.

Trooper Gallagher died on the same date New York State Police suffered another loss 10 years ago. Trooper Kevin Dobson, of SP Clarence, was killed on March 26, 2011 while conducting a traffic stop on the 290 in Tonawanda.

Members of the State Police honored Trooper Dobson Friday with a special ceremony at the barracks in Clarence.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Saturday ordered flags on state government buildings to be flown at half-staff in his memory, starting Sunday.

"Trooper Gallagher is a hero to all New Yorkers — he dedicated his life to public service and worked to keep us safe," Governor Cuomo said in a statement.

"His tragic passing is a reminder of the selfless actions so many brave first responders take each day. We will never forget him, and to honor his memory, I am directing flags be flown at half-staff to honor his memory."   

An Illinois State Police Trooper is dead after a single-car crash Thursday morning.

Around 10:42 a.m., ISP says Trooper Todd Hanneken was on duty and crashed his squad car into a pole and then hit a tree.

Trooper Hanneken was airlifted to a hospital where he later died around 11:45 a.m..

“It is with profound heartache and unfathomable sadness that I inform you of the death of Trooper Todd Hanneken. We are asking the public to respectfully give consideration to the family of Trooper Hanneken and the ISP while we grieve and work through this tragedy,” stated Director Brendan Kelly.

It is unclear what caused Trooper Hanneken's squad car to crash, police are still investigating.

Trooper Hanneken was a 20-year veteran of the ISP. The 45-year-old is survived by his wife, Shelley, two sons a mother and a father who is a retired ISP Trooper.

Ohio State Highway Patrol Trooper Hiram Morales and Cleveland Division of Police Officers Molly Madaras and Cory Rose were honored Tuesday for their heroic actions during a January house fire.

Trooper Morales was given the Superintendent's Citation of Merit. Officers Madaras and Rose were presented with a Certificate of Recognition at the Patrol's Cleveland District Headquarters.

On Jan. 23, 2021, a resident told Trooper Morales that there was a house fire in the 3700 block of W. 47th St. in Cleveland. Residents also told the trooper that there was a man in a wheelchair who lived in the house next to the burning home.

The fire was spreading rapidly, so Trooper Morales entered the home. That's when he saw an elderly woman trying to help and elderly man, whose wheelchair had gotten stuck in the doorway. Trooper Morales was able to guide the couple outside, giving them instructions in Spanish because they were not proficient in English.

As that was happening, Cleveland Officers Madaras and Rose also arrived on scene, and assisted in getting the couple out of the home and to safety.

With hundreds of trooper vacancies due to continued attrition, the Michigan State Police (MSP) Recruiting and Selection Section and Training Division remain busy. On Thursday, 55 troopers graduated from the 138^th Trooper Recruit School, which was quickly followed by the start of the 139^th Trooper Recruit School on Sunday, March 7.

During a virtual graduation ceremony on March 4, in which Gov. Gretchen Whitmer was the keynote speaker, Col. Joe Gasper administered the Oath of Office to 55 new troopers, who this week start their assignments at MSP posts across the state.

“I’m honored to recognize the 55 graduates of the 138^th Trooper Recruit School as they join the ranks of the Michigan State Police and begin a career serving the people of Michigan,” said Whitmer. “Public service is both an honor and a calling, and I know that these new troopers will commit themselves to keeping our communities safe and step up to serve our state in times of need. Together, we will create a safer and more just Michigan for all.”

The 138^th Trooper Recruit School began on Sept. 8, 2020, at the MSP Training Academy in Lansing. Recruits received training in firearms, water safety, defensive tactics, patrol techniques, report writing, ethics, cultural diversity and implicit bias, decision making, leadership, first aid, criminal law, crime scene processing and precision driving.

Tpr. Anthony Hoffman was elected Class Orator by his fellow recruits and spoke on behalf of the graduating class at their ceremony. In addition, Trooper Hoffman also received the Team Building Award. Other award recipients included Tpr. Janice Dixon who received the Outstanding Performance and Academic Achievement awards and Tpr. Zachary Smith who received the Marksmanship Award.

“We celebrate adding these 55 women and men to the Michigan State Police family,” said Col. Joe Gasper, director of the MSP. “I’m excited to see them start a rewarding career serving those who live in Michigan and visit our wonderful state.”

Including the 55 graduates of the 138^th Trooper Recruit School, there are approximately 1,225 troopers assigned statewide, and a total of 1,900 enlisted members in the MSP.

The 139^th Trooper Recruit School began on March 7, at the MSP Training Academy in Lansing with 75 prospective troopers. They are expected to graduate on Aug. 20, 2021.

With a goal of achieving a strength of 2,100 enlisted members, the MSP is actively recruiting for future trooper recruit schools. Persons interested in learning more about a career with the MSP should visit www.michigan.gov/mspjobs for information on how to apply. 

Applications are now being accepted for the 140^th Trooper Recruit school.

Contact: Ms. Lori Dougovito, Public Affairs Section, 517-281-9586

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                                                  CONTACT: SERGEANT STEVE GASKINS MARCH 19, 2021                                                                                                                                   FLORIDA HIGHWAY PATROL  (813) 215-1867

MEDIA EVENT: CHILD RESTRAINTS AND BOOSTER SEATS

~ Buckle Up Each and Every Time ~

TAMPA, Fla. – All 50 states and U.S. territories have laws requiring children to be secured in car seats or booster seats while riding in vehicles. However, some parents and guardians may find it difficult to locate and afford a car seat for their child. Recognizing a need for children of the Tampa Bay area, Suncoast Credit Union has teamed with the American Association of State Troopers and the Florida Highway Patrol to purchase child restraints and booster seats for parents in need of these critical safety tools. Additionally, with nearly 50% of child restraints installed incorrectly, members of St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital are also teaming up with the Florida Highway Patrol to ensure the seats are properly employed by drivers. To announce this exciting partnership, the Florida Highway Patrol will host a media event at Troop C Headquarters, 11305 North McKinley Drive, Tampa, FL 33612 on Tuesday, March 23, 2021, at 10:00 AM.

~ more ~

Do you know Florida law? Knowing the following information and tips can help you travel safely with little ones. Child restraint requirements: Every operator of a motor vehicle, while transporting a child in a motor vehicle operated on the roadways, streets, or highways of this state, shall, if the child is 5 years of age or younger, provide for protection of the child by properly using a crash-tested, federally approved child restraint device. For children aged through 3 years, such restraint device must be a separate carrier or a vehicle manufacturer’s integrated child seat. For children aged 4 through 5 years, a separate carrier, an integrated child seat, or a child booster seat may be used.

The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles: providing A Safer Florida by securely maintaining the records of more than 19 million registered vehicles and over 15 million licensed drivers, as well as providing safe travel along Florida’s highways. To learn more about DHSMV and the services offered, visit

www.flhsmv.gov, follow us on Twitter @F LHSMV or find us on Facebook.

A member of the North Carolina State Highway Patrol has died following a battle of COVID-19.

Authorities said Master Trooper James “Brent” Montgomery was a "friend, brother and dedicated public servant" and served in Troop C, District 4 (Vance, Warren and Franklin Counties). According to ABC affiliate WTVD, Montgomery had been battling COVID-19 since February; Troopers escorted his body from Duke University Hospital to Granville County Tuesday.

Community members are asked to keep his wife, Heather, and their three children in their thoughts and prayers, as well as other members of Troop C, District 4.

"The overwhelming support of the Montgomery family by the Patrol, the people of Vance County and strangers from all over the country is a true reflection of Brett’s dedication to serving and protecting those in need,"a Facebook post from Highway Patrol read.

Arrangements for his celebration have not yet been announced, but officials said mourning bands will be worn in honor of Montgomery until 11:59 p.m. on the day of his funeral.

Read the full post from Colonel Glenn M. McNeill, Jr., below:

Dear Patrol Family,

As a Patrol family, our collective hearts are heavy with sympathy and a sense of loss as we have lost a friend, brother and a dedicated public servant with the passing of Master Trooper James “Brent” Montgomery, C-440. Brent was a true warrior who fought a courageous battle against COVID-19 with the love and support of his wife Heather, and their three children; Jabe, Collin and Emma. The overwhelming support of the Montgomery family by the Patrol, the people of Vance County and strangers from all over the country is a true reflection of Brett’s dedication to serving and protecting those in need.

Arrangements related to Brent’s celebration of life ceremony will be provided in the near future once the Montgomery family finalizes plans. In the interim, effective tonight, mourning bands shall be worn in honor of Brent until 11:59 pm on the day of Brent’s funeral.

Please continue to keep the entire Montgomery family and members of Troop C, District 4 in your thoughts and prayers during this time of great loss. May God provide peace, comfort, and courage during their time of sorrow.

Most sincerely,

Colonel Glenn M. McNeill, Jr.

To view story go to: https://wcti12.com/news/state-news/state-trooper-dies-after-fighting-covid-19

An Ohio State Trooper is being credited with saving the life of a passenger after a driver crashed over an embankment while fleeing police.

Trooper Shane Meyer tried to pull over a Dodge Charger Tuesday morning around 1:30 a.m. after it blew a red light. The trooper's dashboard camera shows the car accelerate on Route 4 in Hamilton, briefly going out of view of the trooper.

The car left the road, crashing over an embankment, estimated to be at least a 50-foot drop.

"I wasn't actively pursuing, and I wasn't going to throughout the city," Meyer said. "Then I realized the damage that was done on the tree line, so I went running over there and that's when I observed the vehicle on its top in the water."

Out of view of his cruiser's camera, Meyer made his way down the embankment he said was muddy, steep and slick.

"The only thing going through my mind was, 'I need to try to get whoever is in this car out.' I could tell they were in about 2 to 4 foot of water and the top portion of the passenger cabin was completely submerged," Meyer said.

You can hear someone screaming for help and saying, 'I can't breathe' in audio from the incident.

Meyer said the 19-year-old driver was wiggling out of the back seat of the car on his own but the 20-year-old passenger was trapped and saying he could not feel his legs.

"They had to be ejected through the rear windshield and were partially trapped under the trunk. At which point, I was able to get to him. He was struggling to keep his head above water as he was belly down," Meyer said."I was afraid that he would have died if I wouldn't have been there. It probably would have been a while before they were found."

Troopers said the driver, 19-year-old Logan Morris from Hamilton, admitted he drank a lot of alcohol before crashing. The car had been stolen out of Hamilton shortly before the crash. Morris is facing numerous charges and remains in the Butler County Jail.

OSHP is consulting the prosecutor's office about possible charges for the passenger.

The trooper who saved him said he has never been put in a similar situation but is glad he was there. "It's what I signed up to do. It's what I enjoy doing. It's another day's work really," Meyer said.

To view video go to link below:

https://www.wlwt.com/article/ohio-state-trooper-talks-about-rescuing-man-from-car-in-freezing-water-after-crash/35718780

California Highway Patrol officers in Los Angeles County were so impressed with a dummy in a passenger seat they posted it on Facebook. For years people have tried to pass off dummies in the passenger seat to be able to drive in the HOV lane (High-Occupancy Vehicle) to get around traffic. On Wednesday, CHP Officer S. Sullinger pulled a truck over because he could not see if there was a passenger due to the tinted windows. When he got to the passenger side, he got suspicious when the "man" didn't move at all and realized it was a manikin. It was so realistic; it even had sunglasses in its shirt pocket and work boots on. The driver wasn't talking much, so they don't know where it came from. The driver told the officer he had been driving with it for over a year. “Nice try, driver. Here’s your ticket!” An HOV lane violation ticket is a minimum $490 fine.