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Florida Highway Patrol Trooper named American Association of State Troopers 2023 Trooper of the Year

The American Association of State Troopers is nationally recognizing Master Trooper Toni Schuck of the Florida Highway Patrol. Master Trooper Schuck exhibited not only bravery and courage, but extreme selflessness in protecting both the residents and visitors of Florida.

The American Association of State Troopers is proud to recognize Trooper Schuck as the 2023 Trooper of the Year for her heroic actions which prevented a threat to the public without concern for her own safety.

Trooper Schuck is being recognized for her heroic actions on March 6, 2022, while providing traffic control and security for the Armed Forces Family Skyway 10k. Trooper Schuck was assigned to the south rest area to close Interstate 275 (I-275) and part of a team with the responsibility of protecting approximately 8,000 runners crossing the northbound span of the iconic Sunshine Skyway Bridge.

Just before 9:00 AM, officers staffing traffic posts south of Trooper Schuck radioed that a BMW had driven through the barricades and traffic cones at US-41 at an estimated speed of 100 MPH. All efforts to overtake and stop the erratic driver were unsuccessful. The driver continued northbound on I-275, at a high rate of speed and refused to stop as she neared the starting line-up of the race where thousands of runners were located.

Acting with bravery and selflessness, realizing nothing stood between this dangerous driver and the unsuspecting runners, Trooper Schuck maneuvered her FHP Chevrolet Tahoe in the path of the BMW. With less than a ½ mile between Trooper Schuck and the runners, the BMW collided head-on with Trooper Schuck’s SUV, ending the threat to the runners, and leading to the DUI arrest of the driver who was determined to be heavily impaired.

Trooper Schuck sustained injuries but has since recovered and is back on the job protecting the residents and visitors of Florida. Trooper Schuck’s actions go above and beyond the call of duty and have gained national attention.

AAST would like to acknowledge and congratulate the other very worthy nominees for the 2023 AAST Trooper of the Year.

  • Trooper Kristopher Tapia
    Arizona Dept of Public Safety Highway Patrol
  • Trooper Brady Nuckels
    Arkansas State Police
  • Captain Joseph Zagorski
    California Highway Patrol
  • Senior Trooper John N. Jenkin
    Kentucky State Police
  • Detective Scott Caudill
    Kentucky State Police
  • Trooper Bruce Kelley
    Kentucky State Police
  • Senior Trooper Billy Ball
    Kentucky State Police
  • Master Trooper Christopher Simmons
    Louisiana State Police
  • Sergeant Bret McCartney
    Maryland State Police
  • Trooper Michael J. Coflesky
    Massachusetts State Police
  • Trooper Ali M. Jaafar
    Massachusetts State Police
  • Detective Trooper David Tasker
    Michigan State Police
  • Staff Sgt. Derrick Beckom, Sr.
    Mississippi Highway Patrol
  • Corporal Timothy A. Barrett
    Missouri State Highway Patrol
  • Detective II Patrick Septer
    New Jersey State Police
  • Detective Anthony Pompei
    New Jersey State Police
  • Trooper Francis W. Rush IV
    New York State Police
  • Trooper Joshua S. Soles
    North Carolina State Highway Patrol
  • Trooper Matthew D. Boyer
    Ohio State Highway Patrol
  • Trooper Jonnie W. Schooley
    Pennsylvania State Police
  • Trooper Adam D. Piszczatoski
    South Carolina Highway Patrol
  • Trooper Ashton C. Cotner
    Tennessee Highway Patrol
  • Trooper Dean Atkinson, Jr.
    Washington State Patrol
A presentation ceremony will take place later this year. We would like to thank SIG-SAUER our sponsor for the Trooper of the Year event along with our other marquee sponsors; AT&T FIRSTNET, TREMCO Police Products, AXON, Henry USA, and Federal Signal Corp

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    From Our Members

    dixon

    "Your gift helped further my education and allowed me to follow in the footsteps of family members before me. My grandfather, Captain Joe F. Dixon (retired), served the Florida Highway Patrol for 39 years and my father. Major Jeffrey S. Dixon, has been on patrol for the past 25 years. My family has been in FHP for several decades and I graduated in the 137th FHP Academy class in 2017.

    I know AAST Supports the education of troopers and their dependants through scholarship opportunities, and I am truly grateful to be a recipient. Man's flight through life is supported by the power of his knowledge and your gift will certainly help me sustain my educational and professional goals. As a part of a trooper's family, this opportunity means a great deal to me and my family. Thank you to everyone at AAST and to my fellow troopers and retirees across the country who support the scholarship program."

    - Wesley Dixon,
    - Florida Highway Patrol Trooper
    - AAST Scholarship Recipient