A Tennessee state trooper who stopped to rescue a distressed dog on the side of Interstate 75 in Tennessee announced he would take the animal in as his own once it was released from animal control for treatment.

In a statement, the Tennessee Highway Patrol said Trooper Tudors was alerted to a dog in distress on June 15. The pup was in desperate need of water.

The trooper had water, snacks, and a big shade umbrella on hand. Photos showed the trooper sitting next to the dog in the shade as it cooled off with a jug of water.

The dog was taken to Cleveland TN Animal Control for treatment.

In an update days later, the authorities announced Trooper Tudors adopted the dog, which his family named Princess. The pup was still receiving treatment before heading to her forever home.

June 1, 2022

ONTARIO – As soon as she got off work that Saturday, Karlie Nutter didn’t feel well.

She couldn’t pinpoint the root of the unease so she initially brushed it off.

She was tired. Her day as a manager of Ruszoni’s Pizza in Weiser was long and she wanted to go home and take a nap. On this April 23, her two children, Rowan, 5, and Parker, 10, were set to go to a rodeo with her ex-husband.

Before she left for work, Nutter carefully laid out clothes for her boys for the rodeo.

Her anxiety, though, magnified when she reached home. The clothes she laid out for her boys were untouched. There was no sign her ex-husband or the boys had been in the house. That was strange.

“I felt really off then. I laid down to take a nap,” said Nutter.

Not long after, her cell phone rang. Her ex-husband, James Umphrey, told her there had been an accident.

A bad one.

And that Rowan was seriously injured.

“He said Rowan was being lifeflighted,” said Nutter.

Nutter, 31, said she “lost it.”

“I was just hysterical,” she said.

Then she pulled herself together and rushed to her car to get to the accident scene on Oregon Highway 201 just outside of Ontario.

****

Earlier that day, James Umphrey, 39, along with his parents, Bob and Connie Umphrey – both 64 - traveled to Fruitland in their black Toyota Prius for Parker’s soccer game.

After the contest, they picked up an ice cream cake for Parker’s upcoming birthday. They departed Ontario and drove down Oregon Highway 201 and were near Chester Road when they stopped behind a Ford Focus. The Focus was preparing to turn off of the highway.

In the back of the Prius was Rowan – in a booster seat – Parker and Connie Umphrey. Up front was James and Bob Umphrey. All wore seatbelts.

That’s when a Chevy pickup police said was operated by Waylon Duffy, 29, Nampa, pulling a large trailer slammed into the back of the Prius at high speed. The collison knocked the Prius off the road, landing upside down into an irrigation ditch.

“They were in eight inches of water. James kind of came to. Rowan and Connie were hanging upside down, unconscious,” said Nutter.

Parker Umphrey, though, was already out of the vehicle and trying to free his younger brother and grandmother, said Nutter.

“James went to get Rowan out first. When he got him out he had to climb the ditch. Rowan was unconscious. He was bleeding from both ears,” said Nutter.

Rowan took a few deep breaths and then became unresponsive.

Across from the irrigation ditch people who were attending a birthday party ran toward the crash.

“They ripped the doors off the Prius and got Bob and Connie out,” said Nutter.

****

Miles away on Interstate 84, Oregon State Police Trooper Ashley Johnson was moving through a normal day on patrol when she heard a call break over the radio about the crash. She immediately raced toward the scene.

 “I arrived on the scene and had some guys, bystanders, tell me this little boy needed help,” said Johnson.

Johnson said as soon as she saw Rowan her training kicked in.

“He wasn’t breathing and I couldn’t feel much of a pulse,” said Johnson.

She asked Umphrey to place his son on the ground and then Johnson began to do chest compressions on Rowan.

“I did CPR until medical arrived. I let them (paramedics) know that we needed LifeFlight,” said Johnson.

Johnson said she acted instinctively.

“You don’t think about anything else. In that moment I was completely focused on what I was trying to accomplish. I walked up and saw the boy in his arms and I began to assess what I was seeing,” said Johnson.

Johnson put several bystanders to work.

“I had one of them run and get my medical kit. Another person, I told them to find some scissors in the med kit while I was giving chest compressions. While I was giving compression, he helped me cut the boy’s shirt. There was a lot of help,” said Johnson.

Rowan began to breathe again.

A Lifeflight helicopter arrived and Rowan was whisked away to a Boise hospital.

Johnson focused on helping other OSP officers who arrived on the scene and put the incident behind her. Later, though, she gradually began to review her actions.

“I always go back and critique myself. Then you start thinking, wow, this could happen to anybody,” said Johnson.

Johnson said the incident made her think about her own children, ages 8 and 3.

“It makes you very grateful to be able to go home and give love to those kinds,” said Johnson.

****

Nutter picked up her ex-husband at the accident scene. Bob and Connie Umphrey were on their way to Saint Alphonsus Medical Center Ontario. Bob Umphrey had minor injuries but his wife suffered five broken ribs and a fractured lower back.

James Umphrey emerged from the crash with minor scratches and bruises.

On the way to Boise, James Umphrey told Nutter what happened.

“He was very traumatized. This was our biggest nightmare so we just made it through the drive, kept it together,” said Nutter.

As they drove, Umphrey received a call from Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center.

“Originally they lifeflighted him to St. Al’s. That is where the trauma unit is. They stabilized him there and told us they were taking him to St. Luke’s Boise Medical Center,” said Nutter.

It was then the parents learned of Rowan’s injuries.

“A skull fracture and a brain contusion,” said Nutter.

When they arrived at St. Luke’s Boise, medical personnel guided the two parents to the emergency room. Their son was behind a curtain and they watched as doctors and nurses worked.

“That’s where it gets kind of blurry,” said Nutter.

Nutter remembers doctors talking to her and her ex-husband.

“They were telling me that he was essentially unresponsive. They wanted to be totally upfront. They said his brain was essentially dead,” said Nutter.

Nutter said she “froze up.”

“All the doctors and nurses were very compassionate. They were just telling us, there is just very little response,” she said.

Along with the brain contusion, Rowan suffered multiple fractures to his skull. That, in turn, triggered swelling of his brain.

The next day, though, after a CT scan, there was a glimmer of hope, said Nutter.

“He was more responsive. His brain wasn’t as bad as they thought. That was a big relief,” said Nutter.

Through the week, doctors would lower the amount of sedation and did a series of the tests on Rowan, who was still in a coma.

“And physically he was responding with, like, arm movements. For a while one side of his body wasn’t responding as well as the other. The trauma was on the left side of his brain so his right side was not initially responding,” said Nutter.

Despite the long odds, Rowan continued to make small, but crucial improvements.

“Each day when they turned his sedation low, there was a little more movement and responsiveness,” said Nutter. “Everything was essentially healing on its own,”

Rowan’s breathing tube was removed, and he began to respond even more to the tests doctors performed.

Eventually, Rowan came out of his coma and the ICU. A few weeks ago, he traveled to Salt Lake City for pediatric rehabilitation. Progress, said Nutter, has been slow but steady. He can communicate through hand squeezes and head nods, said Nutter, and he recognizes his parents, his big brother and can understand them.

“He has a long road ahead of him. Now it is just a matter of time,” said Nutter.

****

Johnson doesn’t see her actions as heroic. She was just doing her job.

“We are all given the same training. Whether it’s me or whomever from the office shows up, I think anyone would have assessed the situation and jumped into action,” said Johnson.

She said it took “a couple of days” to process the crash and her actions.

Sometimes simple things – like holding her daughter – elicited a memory from that day.

“The squish of her belly brought me back to that moment of doing those chest compressions. That took me off guard,” said Johnson.

Johnson said memories of the incident still linger in her mind’s eye.

“I think about it every day and I think about the little boy and his family and pray for them and his safety,” said Johnson.

Then Johnson paused.

“It is hard to go to something like that. It makes me very grateful for the things we sometimes take for granted,” she said.

May 13, 2022

The California Highway Patrol (CHP) today announced the graduation and deployment of nine new canine teams.

After months of intensive training, the CHP certified its newest members during a ceremony at the CHP Academy’s Canine Training Facility.

“These nine teams are joining an already astonishing unit that serves as a vital part of the Department in protecting the public,” said CHP Commissioner Amanda Ray. “The canines have received hundreds of hours of intense training and are ready to serve and support the mission of the CHP.”

The graduates consist of eight Patrol and Narcotics Detection Canine teams and one Patrol and Explosives Detection Canine team, all of which meet the guidelines set by the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training.

The newest team members include two Belgian Malinois, two Dutch Shepherds, and five German Shepherds. The CHP now has a total of 53 canine teams deployed throughout the state.

Each canine’s partner, or handler, is an experienced CHP officer with anywhere from three to 15 years of experience.

The officers represent the CHP’s eight geographic regions of Northern, Valley, Golden Gate, Central, Southern, Border, Coastal, and Inland Division. Once deployed, the handlers will spend a minimum of eight hours every week training with their canines to ensure the highest level of peak performance by creating scenarios similar to what is experienced out in the field.

Friday, May 20, 2022 

NASHVILLE --- On May 20, 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. The department simultaneously instructed a regular 16-week trooper cadet class and a 10-week lateral trooper cadet class. The lateral class returned from their district assignments for the graduation ceremony that took place at the Hermitage Hills Baptist Church in Nashville. To view highlights of the graduation, Click Here.

Lateral Trooper Cadet Class 422 graduated 14 trooper cadets composed of all prior Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) certified law enforcement officers. Class 422 completed 10-weeks of specialized training to build upon their training and experience received as prior law enforcement officers.

Trooper Cadet Class 522 graduated 22 cadets. This was a traditional full 16-week trooper cadet class. This included four cadets with prior military service, one cadet with an Associate degree and five cadets with Bachelor’s degrees.

The new graduating troopers completed intense physical and classroom training which earned them their badges. After graduation, the new troopers will continue training with troopers who are classified as Field Training Officers. This additional training will consist of more than 400 hours of hands-on experience in the field.

Governor Lee served as the keynote speaker during the graduation ceremony, and Commissioner Jeff Long swore in the new troopers as they delivered their oaths of office.

“The Tennessee Highway Patrol plays a crucial role in protecting Tennesseans, and I commend the newest trooper class for answering this important call to service,” said Gov. Bill Lee. “This year, we made strategic investments to put 100 additional troopers on Tennessee roads, strengthen training and prioritize proven crime prevention, and we’ll continue to give law enforcement the support they need to keep every Tennessee community safe.”

“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 Jeff Long. “You are now part of a thin blue line that brings order during chaos. At times you will selflessly put your life on the line for people you have never met. In return, you will make Tennessee a safer place to live and work in. I’m proud to congratulate you as you join one of the most respected law enforcement agencies in the United States.”

“When you leave here today, and every day as you don your uniform, remember that service is at the heart of being a Tennessee State Trooper. Perform your duty with honor and treat this badge and uniform with respect. This job will test you. It will test your patience, your compassion, your mental and physical strength. It will challenge you with adversity, stress, and long days and nights. But it is work worth doing. You no longer serve only yourself; you serve the citizens of the state of Tennessee and those that travel through our state.”

From their own resources, Cadet Class 522 conducted a class project. This resulted in the cadets donating 22 backpacks filled with school supplies for students at Hickman Elementary School in Nashville, Tennessee.  

Bethel University presented a $5,000 scholarship to Trooper Cody Roberts. Trooper Roberts is assigned to Maury County, of the THP Lawrenceburg District. 

Trooper Albert South of class 522 was named the top cadet for his class and was presented with the Trooper Calvin Jenks Memorial Award for Excellence for achieving the overall highest average. The award was named in honor of the late Trooper Calvin Jenks, who was killed in the line of duty in January 2007. 

North Carolina State Highway Patrol comes together to celebrate woman’s final chemotherapy session

June 20, 2022 

 WWAY News

HIGH POINT, NC (WWAY) — Friday was a big day for Jennifer Covington, with her celebrating her final chemotherapy session along with members of the North Carolina State Highway Patrol.

The highway patrol says Covington is a family friend of a member of Troop E.

Members of the Troop D and Troop E turned out to the Haywood Cancer Center in High Point to surprise Covington as she exited the hospital.

The North Carolina State Highway Patrol displayed their cancer awareness patrol vehicle, “SHP HOPE,” in recognition and support for breast cancer patients who are fighting to beat this disease all over the world.

Indiana State Police dedicate Trooper Cory R. Elson Memorial Way

May 18, 2022

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WOWO) – The Indiana State Police had their annual memorial service for fallen officers today at the post in Fort Wayne.

They also dedicated the Trooper Cory R. Elson Memorial Way which is meant as a way to remember the trooper who died in the line of duty in 1999. Family of Trooper Elson was on hand for the memorial ceremony.

Amy Elson, widow of Trooper Elson said the naming of the roadway is a way to not only remember his contributions, but the contributions of all officers, everyday.

CHP Officers given nation’s highest honor by President Biden

by: Matthew Nobert

Posted: May 17, 2022 / 09:29 AM PDT

Updated: May 17, 2022 / 09:29 AM PDT

WASHINGTON D.C., (KTXL) — Three California Highway Patrol officers received the Department of Justice Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor from President Joe Biden Monday for their actions during a shooting in August 2019 that killed an officer, according to the CHP.

CHP officers Ryan Smith, Vince Mendoza and retired officer Robert Paul were given the national highest award of valor for public safety officers.

“The actions of these men that day were noble, courageous, and crucial to getting another officer to safety,” CHP Commissioner Amanda Ray said in a press release.  “I am incredibly proud of these officers for their teamwork and the numerous acts of bravery which took place during this horrific incident.”

During a 2019 enforcement stop and vehicle impound by officer Andre Moye Jr. near Interstate 215 in Riverside, the suspect pulled out a rifle from inside his car and shot him without warning, killing the officer.

Paul, who was accompanying Moye on the call, drew his weapon and began firing at the suspect while also radioing “officer down”, according to CHP.

While waiting for backup to arrive, Paul was shot in his legs multiple times, but still continued to hold off the suspect, CHP said.

Smith arrived, his vehicle taking Immediate shots from the suspect, exited the vehicle and began returning fire and pulled Paul to safety, according to CHP.

When Mendoza arrived he began firing at the suspect with his rifle, drawing fire away from the other two officers, according to CHP.

The suspect was fatally shot after a 12 minute gun battle with Mendoza and other accompanying law enforcement agencies, according to CHP.

“Our entire way of life – our freedoms, our peace, our pursuit of happiness – depends on the rule of law and those fearless, faithful few willing to stand watch,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said .  “I applaud the bravery and selflessness of these California Highway Patrol officers as they are recognized nationally for their heroism.  They exemplify California values and represent the very best of our state’s law enforcement.”

Wyoming Highway Patrol Troopers recently had to spend the night in their patrol cars after their vehicles became stranded during rescue.

Wyoming Highway Patrol Troopers recently had to spend the night in their patrol cars after their vehicles became stranded because they were searching for other stranded vehicles.

That's according to a social media post from the Wyoming Highway Patrol, who wrote that Troopers had responded to stranded motorists that got stuck in the snow.

"Troopers responded to stranded motorists who decided to bypass the closed road gates and ended up getting stuck in the snow," the WHP wrote on their Facebook page. "This created hazards for all the emergency crews tasked with locating these motorists. Estimates show that 12 vehicles could not be found immediately, and the occupants had to camp in their vehicles overnight."

From April 22-April 24, Wyoming Highway Patrol Troopers responded to 172 calls for service, 89 crashes, and 96 hazards.

"Troopers ended up spending nights in their patrol vehicles because their cars became stranded while trying to respond to calls for service," the Wyoming Highway Patrol wrote.

The WHP wanted to thank all of the Troopers, as well as the WHP Dispatch Center, first responders, Wyoming Department of Transportation snowplows, and the maintenance crews "who spent countless hours responding to emergencies with the most recent snowstorm in the northeast part of the state."

They also reminded drivers to never pass a road closure gate or sign that is activated.

"This creates hazards for emergency crews to reach you and leave you stranded," the WHP wrote.

Jun. 10, 2022

BERRIEN COUNTY, Mich. (WNDU) - On Friday, the Michigan State Police hosted the ‘Bike with a Cop’ event. The event was held in partnership with the Boys and Girls Club of Benton Harbor. Kids ages 5-12 were in attendance and given a brief bicycle safety lesson before the ride.

he purpose of the event was to give state police a chance to interact with kids in the community.

“Sometimes we will take the bikes and just ride through the city and kids will come ride with us which is really fun and we just get a different type of relationship, they learn that we are human like them,” said Holly Higgs, a Michigan State Police Trooper. “They learn that we have kids, parents, and that we actually have things in common and don’t live in separate worlds.”

Source-WNDU

June 13, 2022

Kentucky State Police will be at Kroger selling raffle tickets for a pickup truck Monday and Tuesday.

Kentucky State Trooper Hunter Carroll says they will be at the Kroger on Skyline Drive in Hopkinsville selling raffle tickets for a 2022 GMC Sierra Denali pickup truck.

The money from the raffle will help support Trooper Island Camp.

Troopers will be at the Hopkinsville Kroger from 9 am to 3:30 pm Monday and Tuesday. Carroll says they will also be at Walmart in Central City on Wednesday and Kroger in Madisonville on Thursday and Friday.

Post 2 Public Information Officer Trooper Brandon McPherson says Trooper Island Camp is a summer camp that is free for underprivileged children who live in the district, which includes the counties of Caldwell, Christian, Crittenden, Hopkins, Muhlenberg, Todd and Webster.

June 6, 2022

FRAMINGHAM — A mother deer and her baby were in danger of encountering a frightful end Sunday on the Mass Pike, but a quick-thinking state trooper saved their lives.

According to the Massachusetts State Police, Trooper Paul Dabane was on patrol on the Massachusetts Turnpike in Framingham when he noticed the doe and her fawn approaching the traffic on the highway via an access road.

"Trooper Dabane, who patrols the stretch of the Pike out of the State Police-Weston barracks, was concerned they would try to cross the highway and risk being killed, so he blocked the end of the access road to prevent that," state police wrote in a Facebook post.

After the fawn got a closer look at the police cruiser, Debane's plan worked.

"That mission was accomplished as the mother and baby turned around and headed away from the Pike back toward a safer area," state police wrote.

May 4, 2022 

ELLIS COUNTY, Kan. — A near-tragic event prompted the daughter of a Kansas Highway Patrol trooper to raise awareness for Kansas’ “move over” law in hopes of expanding it and making penalties more serious.

At about 9 a.m. on April 26, Trooper Shawn Summers was conducting a routine vehicle inspection near mile-marker 144 in Ellis County.

Summers is a 16-year veteran and has done hundreds of routine traffic stops throughout his career, but on this particular occasion, he was seconds away from tragedy.

“I had stopped a vehicle for a truck inspection on Interstate 70 and went up to the driver, opened the driver’s door and stepped up on the first step. Blessed that I did that. I wasn’t there just a few seconds talking with the driver and it sounded like a bomb went off,” Summers said. “I wasn’t sure if her truck blew up or what. I looked to her and looked in the front and seen the semi that had hit my patrol car go into the ditch and through the barbed wire fence.”

A second semi-truck did not move over to allow space for the stopped emergency vehicle, as required by Kansas state statute 8-1530, and struck Summers’ patrol vehicle, barely missing him as he stood on the original truck he stopped.

“I’ve had people not move over before, but nothing of this magnitude. This was as close to a fatality as you could probably get,” Summers said.

His oldest of four children, Stanna, was in school when she got a call from her mom to the secretary’s phone telling her to call her back from her personal phone.

“I left the school and went to my car and my mom said, ‘Stanna, your dad’s been in an accident. He’s in an ambulance and he’s on the way to the hospital,” Stanna said. “When you get those phone calls you really don’t know what to do. It’s like time stops and you get really sick to your stomach. I immediately left school and went to the hospital to see my dad and I was just so grateful that he was talking, because I had seen his car before I got there and I thought, ‘He’s gone.'”

Stanna felt like “one of the lucky ones” when she knew Summers was OK, but she shared her family’s experience in order to spread awareness for the move-over law on Facebook.

“People need to keep in mind that they’re not only moving over for that person on the side of the road, they’re moving over for every single person that loves and cares for that person,” Stanna said.

Shawn and Stanna believe the law should be expanded to anyone that is stopped on the side of the road and not just emergency vehicles.

“I definitely think the law should be more than just emergency vehicles. If I were changing a flat tire on the side of the road I would want someone to move over for me,” Stanna said. “I think it should go even deeper than seeing flashing lights. If you see anything on the side of the road you need to move over.”

Stanna’s post has been shared over 2,000 times and she said she’s received messages from all over the country in support.

“It makes me feel better that it is getting out and that it could possibly make a difference,” Stanna said. “To have it reaching other states is huge and I’m so incredibly thankful for that and I want to thank everybody who has supported me and shared the post.”

The father-daughter duo hope everyone will hear their story, and others like it, and move over next time they see any vehicle stopped on the side of the road.

“It has been so touching. Were talkin troopers, law enforcement families from across the nation that have talked about some pretty deep things that really will stick you in the heart,” Summers said. “Every one of these could have been avoided.”

MAY 31, 2022

LANSING, Mich. (WJRT) - Michigan State Police officially welcomed 19 new troopers after the department's first academy geared specifically for licensed police officers.

“This class was the first of its kind for the Michigan State Police, created specifically to attract licensed police officers as law enforcement agencies across the country struggle to attract qualified candidates," said Col. Joe Gasper, director of the Michigan State Police.

The Bay Region, which encompasses much of Mid-Michigan, will receive three new troopers at the Caro, Flint and West Branch posts.

The 141st Michigan State Police Trooper Recruit School was the first to welcome all applicants who already have experience as police officers. They started on March 20 and completed a shorter academy because they already were licensed police officers.

They all received training in patrol techniques, report writing, ethics, cultural diversity and implicit bias, decision making, leadership, first aid, criminal law, crime scene processing, firearms, water safety, defensive tactics and precision driving.

“Public service is a calling that comes with great responsibility," Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said. "I recognize and appreciate the sacrifices our law enforcement officers make every day to keep us all safe in our homes and neighborhoods.'

Michigan State Police currently have about 1,200 troopers assigned to posts across the state and a total of 1,900 enlisted members after Friday's graduation.

The next state police training academy starts on June 26 and is scheduled to conclude on Nov. 19. Hiring is underway for another Michigan State Police training academy starting in January.

June 4, 2022

Sgt. Brian Mohl died in September after his patrol vehicle was swept away by the flood water of Hurricane Ida in Woodbury.

DERBY, Conn. — A football game made up of first responders raised money Saturday for the family of Connecticut Sgt. Brian Mohl who died in September.

The sergeant was patrolling in his hometown of Woodbury when his vehicle was swept away by an overflowing river after Hurricane Ida.

The Tri-State Shields took on NYCD at the game Saturday held at Derby High School. Tri-State won 31-8. President Shawn Wandel says they try to raise money for families of fallen first responders at each game they play.

He didn't know Sgt. Mohl but heard of what happened.

"He was out there protecting his town and he lost his life, unfortunately," he said. "We're honored to raise money for his family."

Sgt. Mohl's family was in attendance including his parents, wife, and brother, George. George is a trooper in New York. He said the death of his brother was something they didn't expect to happen in the line of duty.

"He was a character. He was unique," George said. "Doing good deeds behind the scene and not taking credit for any of the good things that he did for people."

Sgt. Mohl was 50-years-old when he died. He had been with CPS for 26 years and was assigned to Troop L in Litchfield County. He was the department's 25th line-of-duty death. George said his brother loved what he did. 

Wandel said many don't realize how much the deaths of officers impact a family and community. He said the football games, ranging in men in their 20s to 40s, are ways to honor fallen first responders.

They were raising money to help his wife, Susan, and son, Brian.

George said it was humbling to see people want to help the family and volunteer their time for games and purposes like this.

"We put our lives on the line. We’re out there working when you’re sleeping, during the holidays, working doubles all the time. We’re here for you," the former New York City police officer said.

Brian's family wore gray shirts with the Connecticut State Police badge reading 'In Memory of Sergeant Brian Mohl' and a similar message on the back of the shirt to the game.

"It's just an amazing experience and I am so grateful for everybody that was involved in the planning of this event," he said.

June 7, 2022

“The annual Buzz Off fundraising event was held yesterday at Gillette Stadium as a host of donors became heroes for children with cancer by raising money in exchange for the honor of getting their heads shaved.

One participant, who really enjoyed herself, showed her unwavering support without having to have her… er… fur shaved off.

Luna, one of the Massachusetts State Police crisis response dogs, was in attendance with her handler, Trooper Chad Tata of the Department’s Employee Assistance Unit, to support and celebrate those on both ends of the clippers. Luna made a lot of new friends from all walks of life who share the common goal of helping kids who are living with cancer.

Among Luna’s new buddies are Mickey and Minnie Mouse, New England Patriots linebacker Matthew Judon, and former Pats quarterback and current radio color analyst Scott Zolak. Luna was also joined by old friend Hank, the Lunenberg Police Department’s comfort dog.

Held by the organization One Mission, the Buzz Off raises money used to help children with cancer and their families. Programs and services supported by the Buzz Off provide emotional support to young patients and their parents and siblings, make the hospital and treatment journey less scary and stressful, and financially support families in need that are dealing with a child’s cancer. You can learn about the One Mission Buzz Off at https://buzzforkids.org/.

Luna and Hank would like to thank all who participated.” -Massachusetts State Police.