A local state trooper is recovering from serious injuries after the Florida Highway Patrol said he was hit Sunday night on Interstate 95 north near Golfair Boulevard.  “A. Jordan” was sitting in his patrol car working a construction site when FHP said he was struck by a driver.  Jordan and the other driver, Aaron Klausman, were taken to a hospital with serious injuries.  Jordan has since been released.  In Florida, there are two options when an emergency vehicle is on the side of the road -- either move over or slow to 20 miles under the posted speed limit if moving over isn’t possible.  According to FHP, in 2018 there were 17,319 move-over citations. In 2019, the number went up to 20,201.

2/26/20

New Jersey's state police colonel and the state attorney general recognized a trooper Friday for his effective work battling the opioid crisis. Lt. Lawrence Williams was awarded the 2019 Trooper of the Year Award at State Police Headquarters in Mercer County.  He created the Opioid Enforcement Task Force.  In a one-year period, the task force successfully conducted 27 criminal investigations, resulting in 53 arrests.  Task force investigations led to the dismantling of six and disruption of four more narcotics-processing mills, and seized nearly $3 million worth of heroin, fentanyl and cocaine, according to authorities.  Lt. Williams has served as a New Jersey state trooper for 24 years.

2/24/20

Maryland Transportation Authority Chief of Police Woodrow W. “Jerry” Jones III was appointed Tuesday as Gov. Larry Hogan's appointee for superintendent of the Maryland State Police. J ones will succeed Col. William M. Pallozzi, who is retiring after more than 30 years of service with the Maryland State Police.  “With a distinguished career in law enforcement spanning more than three decades, Colonel Jones has both the experience and the character to lead what I believe is truly the best state police organization in the nation,” Hogans said.  “I want to sincerely thank Colonel Jones for taking on this post at such a critical time.  I want to commend Colonel Pallozzi for his steadfast leadership of the Maryland State Police, and for his decades of dedicated service to the State of Maryland.”  “I am incredibly grateful to Gov. Hogan for the opportunity to lead the Maryland State Police," said Jones.  “As someone who has dedicated my entire law enforcement career to serving the people of Maryland, this is the highest honor.  I have great respect and admiration for Colonel Pallozzi, and I will strive to lead the force with the same commitment to integrity and professionalism.”  “The core values of the Maryland State Police are integrity, fairness and service, and I have seen each of these qualities every day in the men and women I have had the privilege to lead,” said Pallozzi.  “I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Governor Hogan, and to be the first to applaud his choice of Colonel Jones to take the helm.”  Jones was appointed Chief of the Maryland Transportation Authority Police in November 2015, the seventh-largest law enforcement agency in the state.  As the MDTA's Chief Law Enforcement Officer, Jones leads more than 600 sworn and civilian police professionals who serve and protect millions of people using Maryland's toll roads, tunnels and bridges, as well as BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport and the Port of Baltimore, while securing these critical infrastructure assets.  As part of the MDTA's Executive Team, his expertise is key to the strategic decisions and policies that guide the agency's operations, services and 1,700 employees.  During his tenure as MDTA police chief, Jones has launched an aggressive leadership development program for his officers and for the MDTA as a whole.  Jones began his law enforcement career in 1988 as a Maryland State Police cadet. During his 27-year tenure with the Maryland State Police, he spent equal time in both patrol and investigative roles and served in every command position within the Field Operations Bureau.  He retired as lieutenant colonel/field operations bureau chief, a key member of the command staff responsible for leading a patrol force of nearly 1,000 sworn and civilian personnel assigned to 22 barracks.  Jones holds a bachelors and masters degree in management from Johns Hopkins University and is a graduate of its Police Executive Leadership Program. He chairs the Maryland Chiefs of Police Association's Traffic Safety Committee and serves on the Executive Committee for Maryland's Strategic Highway Safety.

2/20/20

"The troops say he’s 200 pounds of pure love."  Michigan State Police are looking for the owner of a large dog who was taken into custody, and then for a ride, in Royal Oak Township. Police say Metro North troopers were dispatched to the 8000 block of Coverdale on a report of a "vicious pit bull" that had the homeowner trapped in her home.  Troopers were able to locate the dog, and "using their community service skills," police said, "the dog was persuaded to join the MSP."  "He is currently residing in the post commander’s office running the post," MSP joked in a tweet Thursday.

2/20/20

On February 15, Batesville-Today, at approximately 10:45 am, an Indiana State Trooper’s vehicle was struck by another vehicle while the trooper was conducting a traffic stop on I-74 near Batesville in Ripley County, Indiana. The initial investigation by Trooper Cameron McCreary indicated that Master Trooper Daniel Elmore was conducting a traffic stop on a 2020 Peterbilt truck pulling a trailer, being driven by Roger Gladden, age 58, Mint Hill, North Carolina near the 152 mile marker on I-74 Eastbound. Trp. Elmore’s 2013 Dodge Charger was parked behind Gladden’s trailer with emergency lights activated.  Trp. Elmore was outside of his vehicle speaking to Gladden when a 2012 Dodge Caravan being driven by Juan Martinez, age 44, Chicago, Illinois left the eastbound lanes of I-74 and struck the rear of Trp. Elmore’s vehicle.  The collision forced Trp. Elmore’s vehicle into the back of Gladden’s trailer.  After the collision, the Dodge Caravan left the south side of the roadway before overturning.  Trp. Elmore, Gladden, and Martinez were not injured in the collision.  Three people in Martinez’ vehicle were transported to Margaret Mary Hospital in Batesville for treatment of minor injuries. A six year old child in Martinez’ vehicle was transported to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital for treatment of serious but non-life threatening injuries. The investigation is ongoing. Alcohol and drugs are not suspected to be factors in the crash although toxicology results are pending.  The Indiana State Police was assisted by the Batesville Police Department, Batesville Fire Department, Batesville EMS, Ripley County EMS, and Sunman Fire Department/EMS.

2/17/20

New York State Police are reminding the public to move over for emergency vehicles following another State Trooper involved crash.  On the New York State Police Facebook page, they mentioned that on Monday another state trooper from the Liberty barracks had been hit while conducting a traffic law violation on Route 17 in the town of Rockland located in Sullivan County.  The trooper was struck from behind as he was preparing to exit from the incident.  The New York State Police say that fortunately, the trooper sustained non-life threatening injuries.  The move over law requires drivers to switch lanes, or slow down if they are unable to merge, to give clearance to first responders and utility workers.  This follows another trooper involved crash in the town of Salina on January 22.

2/14/20

A Tennessee Highway Patrol trooper was shot at in Loudon after conducting a traffic stop on I-75 North at mile marker 75, according to the Tennessee Highway Patrol.  Officials said a passing vehicle shot "what appears to be two rounds" from the car while the trooper was conducting a traffic stop.  "The trooper nor the occupants in the traffic stop vehicle were injured.  The trooper returned to his patrol vehicle and pursued the vehicle a short distance," said Randall Marting, a THP spokesperson.  Other units were able to assist the trooper in his pursuit. The suspect was pulled over at the 77-mile marker and a felony stop was conducted.  The suspects were taken into custody without incident, one male, one female, and a firearm were recovered from the vehicle, according to officials.

2/12/20

Mr. Felton Wright of Wright and Associates receives a certificate of appreciation from AAST President Keith Barbier at its recent Executive Board Meeting.  Mr. Wright has been the Associations financial advisor for several years and has guided the Association directors in making wise fiduciary decisions.  The solvency of the Association has allowed us to offer generous support to our membership.

2/12/20

The colonel of the New Hampshire State Police plans to retire early next month to spend more time with his family.  Col. Christopher Wagner has served as colonel of the state police for a little more than three years, with nearly 25 years in law enforcement.  His retirement is effective March 2.  “I have loved every minute being a New Hampshire Trooper and am honored to have had the opportunity to serve,” Wagner wrote in a letter to Gov. Chris Sununu announcing his retirement.  “It is, however, after careful consideration towards committing additional years of service and in consultation with my family we have decided that it is time for me to retire from law enforcement and the tremendous family sacrifice that comes along.”  Wagner went on to say the decision was a difficult one to make.  “Nearly 25 years ago I took an oath to protect and serve the citizens of New Hampshire and in doing so I have conducted myself with the highest moral and ethical standards ensuring my personal and professional integrity,” said Wagner in his letter.  “The decision was difficult, however I am looking forward to spending more quality time with my wife and children and together exploring future opportunities.”  Wagner, a Litchfield resident, was nominated to the position of colonel by former governor and current U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan.  Prior to being sworn in as colonel in October 2016, Wagner served as the Support Services Bureau Commander for the New Hampshire State Police, and was responsible for overseeing and coordinating the support structure and logistical needs of various units across the state.  Prior to that he served as Field Area Commander, as well as the Troop Commander and Assistant Troop Commander for Troop B, and began his career in law enforcement with the Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office at the Manchester-Boston Regional Airport upon graduating from the New Hampshire Police Standards and Training Council Police Academy in 1995.  Col. Wagner received an undergraduate degree in criminal justice from the University of Massachusetts Lowell.  He is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy.  “We are grateful to Colonel Wagner for his 25 years of service to law enforcement and wish him well in his retirement,” said Gov. Chris Sununu in a statement.  In a statement, the Department of Safety said it appreciated Wagner’s years of service and will begin the process of identifying qualified candidates to serve as the next director and colonel of New Hampshire state police.

2/10/20

Trooper Joseph Bullock was shot and killed when he encountered on I-95 just north of the interstate rest area in Martin County.  He stopped to assist what he believed to be a disabled motorist at about 10:15 am.  One of the occupants of the vehicle fatally shot him as he approached.  A Riviera Beach police officer who happened to be driving past the scene shot and killed the subject.  Trooper Bullock was a U.S. Air Force veteran and had served with the Florida Highway Patrol for 19 years.  He is survived by his parents and two sisters.

1/6/20

The newest member of the Vermont State Police is 9 weeks old; has long, floppy ears; likes to frolic with coworkers; and has a powerful nose for public safety.  Meet Loki, a Plott Hound who will specialize in tracking missing people and fugitives from the law.  She is the state police’s first hound dog in more than 30 years.  She arrived in her new home in the Green Mountains this past weekend accompanied by her handler, Detective Trooper Chris Hunt, who traveled to Houston, Texas, to pick up Loki from the breeder.  Loki joins a K-9 Unit composed of 16 patrol dogs, four bomb-detection dogs and one arson dog.  The patrol dogs are Belgian Malinois, German Shepherds and Dutch Shepherds, and the others are Labrador Retrievers.  Adding a hound dog to the team will help keep the public safe, says Capt. Mike Manley, Vermont State Police special operations commander.  “We are always looking to enhance our capabilities and the service that we provide Vermonters,” Manley says. “The biggest advantage to having a Plott Hound is that they can track old scents.  These hounds can track scents that can be nearly a day old. For us this is all about tracking, having the best resource available to track lost and missing persons.  You can’t get any better than a hound for tracking.”  Eventually Loki might also learn the specialized skill of locating deceased individuals, but at first, tracking will be her “bread and butter” and help round out the capabilities of the K-9 unit, Manley says.  “Patrol dogs can do all types — apprehension, tracking, drug work — and our other specialized canines identify explosives and accelerants.  Hounds really specialize in tracking. Patrol dogs at best can track scents that are a few hours old.  Having Loki as part of the K-9 Unit is sure to increase public safety by giving VSP the best capability to locate missing persons and fugitives.”  For Loki, named after the god in Norse mythology, her next few weeks will be spent acclimating to her new surroundings.  She will begin 15 weeks of training in early March with the New Hampshire State Police, an agency that currently has two Plott Hounds on its K-9 detail.  Her training will include obedience, tracking based on scents on the ground, evidence recovery, and searching wide areas using scents in the air.  Once training is complete, Loki will be based at the St. Albans Barracks, where Hunt is assigned.  They will be available to respond statewide.  If all goes well, Loki might have some company in the future as the state police considers adding more hounds to the K-9 Unit.

2/5/20

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports a success rate of more than 90 percent for its Aircraft Division.  Since July 2016, the Patrol says the Aircraft Division has helped law enforcement agencies with 114 pursuits and has tracked 103 successfully.  It was at that time the Division started using an infrared camera and map overlay system on a Bell 407 helicopter.  The main purpose of the equipment was to perform search and rescue missions for lost or wanted subjects.  When the equipment is not being used for these purposes, the Patrol uses the camera and mapping systems to help law enforcement agencies across the state capture fleeing suspects, increasing the safety to the motoring public, the officers, and the suspects.  According to the Patrol, applying this technology during an active pursuit allows ground units to discontinue active pursuit, slow down, and follow at a safe distance out of sight of the suspect.  The aircraft tracks the fleeing vehicle, day or night, and provides accurate turn-by-turn information to the ground units while recording the incident for purposes of evidence.  The map overlay provides the flight crew with street names, points of interests, and addresses.  They say the suspect nearly always slows to a safer, more reasonable speed.  Once the suspect comes to a stop, the air crew informs ground units who make contact with the occupants of the vehicle and make an arrest.  The MSHP gave the following examples of successful searches by Aircraft Division personnel:  On an evening in December 2019, members of the Aircraft Division located a suicidal subject that had taken a large number of pills and fled into a wooded area.  The subject was located by the air crew who then directed officers to their location.  The subject received the medical attention needed and has recovered.  In spring 2019, members of the Aircraft Division located a male subject armed with a knife who was wanted for a domestic dispute.  The man was taken into custody.  On an evening in November 2019, the Aircraft Division’s air crew located a subject wanted for a shooting during a domestic dispute.  In 2018, the air crew located a subject armed with a rifle who had fled into the woods near a school.  The subject was located and taken into custody.

2/5/20

A state trooper is lucky to be unharmed after a truck slammed into his vehicle while answering a call in the Opelika area.  The Move Over Law has been in effect for a couple of years and fines were even increased last August.  The law requires motorist to move one lane away from wrecker service, law enforcement or emergency services with lights flashing on the side of the road.  But it seems some are still not adhering to the law.  ALEA posted the picture on their twitter page showing the state trooper vehicle damaged from a big box truck.  “He is very fortunate he wasn’t near the vehicle when it was hit," said Alabama State Trooper Chuck Daniel.  Mary Smith is a school bus driver.  Smith says she has seen people not obeying the law.  “They flying by.  They don’t even recognize if you are on the side of the road to handle a wreck or something.  It’s just terrible.  People drive just terrible,” she said.  Last year fines increased to $100 on the first offense, $150 on the second and $200 on the third. Trooper Daniel says distracted drivers are still a problem and this only adds to putting others are risk.  When you see any sort of flashing lights pull over and slow down.  If it’s just a two lane road slow down to 15 miles below the speed the limit.

2/3/20

Mark Ryan, partner in the accounting firm of Sanders, Holloway and Ryan receives a certificate of appreciation from AAST President Keith Barbier.  The firm has been the accounting firm for the Association for 15 years.  Their expertise and guidance to the Association has been invaluable.  In addition to being the accounting firm for AAST, they have also supported the AAST Foundation as a Gold level sponsor. 

1/30/20

The Missouri State Highway Patrol is amending its uniform policy to allow for tattoos, a move the agency hopes will allow it to tap into a new talent pool.  In a news release, highway patrol officials said the new policy excludes certain types of tattoos and tattoo locations.  “If you have a tattoo or body art that’s meaningful to you, then you can wear our long-sleeve uniform year round,” Lt. Collin Stosberg said.  “This includes all troopers, uniformed civilians, commercial vehicle officers, motor vehicle inspectors and commutation operators.”  Troopers still aren’t allowed to have tattoos on their head, neck, hands, wrists or other areas of the body where they would be visible while on duty.   Stosberg said the new policy isn’t aimed at a certain talent pool, though it’s likely to open up more opportunities for ex-military members and applicants with prior law enforcement experience.  According to a FOX News poll, 36% of U.S. service members have a tattoo.  “The tattoos or brands cannot depict criminal behavior, drug usage, nudity, profanity, promiscuity or bigotry,” Stosberg said.  “This essentially gives a segment of the population the opportunity to become troopers who otherwise couldn’t have.”

1/29/20