Law enforcement golfers tee up for camaraderie

www.statetroopers.org
Volume 21, Issue 1
January 2012
Law enforcement golfers tee up for camaraderie
Over $6K raised for scholarships
For the second year, the Southeastern Law Enforcement
Shootout at Kinderlou Forest drove law enforcement golfers –
both the experienced and the beginners – to the course for a
day of fantastic weather, friendly competition, and unmatched
camaraderie.
But the day wasn’t all about fun and games; golfers were serious about raising money for the AAST Scholarship Foundation,
and this year topped last year’s event with $6,000 being raised,
enough to fund 12 first-time scholarships.
This year 53 golfers came from Alabama, Florida, Georgia,
Indiana, and Tennessee to one of the nation’s top courses,
Kinderlou Forest Golf Club in Valdosta, Ga., home of the Nationwide Tour event, the South Georgia Classic. For $75 per person,
golfers enjoyed a four-person scramble, lunch, door prizes, and
awards at the Oct. 17 event.
“This year’s tournament provided another opportunity to support
the scholarship program while providing unsurpassed camaraderie
for the law enforcement community,” AAST Executive Director
Ken Howes said. “Many of our returning players brought friends to
join their fellow officers and friends of police for an unforgettable
day of brotherhood and golf. It’s a win-win combination.”
The winning team was the foursome from Georgia, Mike Burns,
Michael Burns (Georgia State Patrol), R.L. Dowdy, and William
Schwab. Barry Tucker of the Alabama DPS won the longest drive
Continued on page 12
Executive Director Ken Howes, Teddy Payne, and Paul Forshay, left to right,
proudly display the $100,000 check that a lucky golfer could’ve claimed in a holein-one chance. Nobody, however, won the money.
© American Association of State Troopers, Inc. 2012. All Rights Reserved.
From the President’s Pen
Keith Barbier
Fellow Troopers, Highway
Patrol Officers, and State
Police Officers:
I am privileged to begin my
three-year term as the president of your board of
directors. Please remember
that board members serve as
volunteers. They are active
and retired state troopers who donate
their time to represent you, our members,
and to make decisions on how to best
serve you through benefits and services
offered through AAST membership.
I believe that as troopers, we have a bond
like none other in law enforcement. Let me
first thank Tommy Moore for his many
years of leadership and service. Before
Tommy served two terms as president, he
served as the national treasurer and the
director of AAST’s Florida chapter. I can
indisputably say that Tommy has led AAST
in such a positive manner that everything is
in place for an easy and seamless transition
for the new board.
Another longtime board member who
chose not to seek reelection is Dave Witt,
who has made tremendous contributions
to the advancement of AAST. The men
who have sacrificed countless hours to
make this Association a top-notch organ-
ization are to be commended for their
commitment, time, and vision.
Please meet our full board of directors
on page 4. These men are committed to
moving AAST forward.
Every one of us has felt the effects of
these difficult economic times. Nonetheless, our members have been willing and
able to help their brothers who have
found themselves in a hardship. We are
thankful for the many members who have
opened their hearts and wallets this year
when we have sent you notifications
about troopers in need, both AAST members and non-members alike.
You have provided unbelievable
financial assistance to a trooper who
lost his daughter to cancer (over
$9,000), troopers who suffered damage
in storms, and troopers who have suffered financial hardships because of
unexpected medical costs. You are the
backbone of this Association and the
very essence of brotherhood.
Brotherhood is the foundation of
AAST, which is why we should all
encourage young troopers to join.
Although these ladies and gentlemen
don’t always recognize the immediate
benefits of joining a professional, fraternal organization when they are young,
the troopers you and I have helped
financially were in that same boat at one
time, never thinking they would be the
ones in need. Troopers come together to
care for their own, and we don’t want
any troopers to miss out on the opportunity to be part of AAST and the bond we
offer troopers, no matter the age or the
state affiliation.
Lastly, if you know of corporations or
donors in your states who might be
interested in supporting AAST by
advertising on the website or by making
the Scholarship Foundation part of their
charitable spending, please put them in
contact with Executive Director Ken
Howes, ken@statetroopers.org, or you
can provide their information to Ken,
and he will contact them.
We count on the generosity of the public to help enable the services and
benefits AAST will continue to provide
you, our member state troopers.
Always remember: Every day’s a holiday, and every meal’s a feast.
Fraternally,
Keith Barbier
President
Follow AAST on Facebook!
Get important news feeds and interesting links on our Facebook page,
and stay connected with troopers around the country.
Become a fan today!
www.facebook.com/statetroopers
National Officers
Keith Barbier
President
Trooper Connection® is the official
publication of the American Association
of State Troopers, Inc. and is published
quarterly as a service to AAST members
in conjunction with
American Graphics & Design, Inc.,
www.agad.com
President: Jenny DeBack
Graphic Designer:
Cindy Chic
Bylined articles contain opinions of the
writers and do not necessarily reflect
AAST policy.
AAST Headquarters
1949 Raymond Diehl Road
Tallahassee, FL 32308
(800) 765-5456
Angie Ishee, Editor
We want to hear from you! Trooper Connection® welcomes your comments, articles, and
article ideas. We also encourage you to send
photographs along with your articles. Please
contact the Public Relations Department:
AAST Public Relations Dept.
(800) 477-9860
E-mail: AASTPR@aol.com
Visit AAST online: www.statetroopers.org
© Copyright American Association of State Troopers, Inc. 2012
Jeff Lane
First Vice President
Chris Ricks
Second Vice President
Claude Johnson
Third Vice President
Kenneth Musick
Secretary
J.D. Johnson
Treasurer
2 ____________________________________________________________________________ AAST Trooper Connection January 2012
News from arizona
D
Troopers help brother trooper in need
AAST members have done it again. They stepped up to the plate
when a fellow trooper needed support.
AAST Executive Director Ken Howes e-mailed AAST members in
September to let them know of a dire situation involving Arizona
DPS Detective Raul Vega and his family.
Over the last couple of years, Vega’s family has made significant
sacrifices to take care of their 11-year-old daughter, Alexis. Raul’s
wife quit her job as a teacher to stay home and be with Alexis. As a
result of the lost income and rising medical costs, they fell behind on
their mortgage and ended up losing their home.
On September 25, Alexis passed away, and the Vega family was
faced with funeral costs, as well as outstanding medical bills associated with her two-year battle against the cancer that took their
daughter’s life.
We are proud to report a total of over $9,000 was received from
AAST members, in addition to AAST’s Brotherhood donation, and
forwarded to Det. Vega on members’ behalf.
Many of you have already received personal notes of thanks
from the Vega family. The AAST board and staff are humbled, yet
not surprised, by the outpouring of support for a brother trooper
in need.
If you would like to be added to the e-mail distribution list to be
notified of important, timely situations such as this, please send your
e-mail address, ken@statetroopers.org.
AAST received the following letter
from the Arizona DPS director:
Vega
Visit us online!
www.statetroopers.org
AAST Trooper Connection
See interesting trooper
news and photos
from around the country,
and also track news
within AAST.
January 2012 __________________________________________________________________________ 3
AAST board members elected, ready to serve
Barbier
Lane
Ricks
The lineup of national board members, all who serve as volunteers and
are not paid, who will head the Association for the next three years began
their new term January 1. The election
was held in June at the AAST national
board meeting in San Antonio, Texas.
Lt. Keith Barbier, who retired in
November after 33 years with the
Texas DPS, was elected AAST president, after serving two terms as first
vice president, before which he served
as director of AAST’s Texas chapter.
The president’s main responsibility
is overseeing the management of the
Association. He also presides at all
national board meetings and is in
charge of promoting the growth of the
Association, seeking new members,
and advising members and officers
about AAST.
1st Sgt. Jeff Lane, a 26-year member of the Virginia State Police, served
as the AAST Virginia state director,
then as national secretary before moving to the position of first vice
president. His role is to assist the pres-
ident and to perform the president’s
duties in his absence.
Chris Ricks, who retired from the
Missouri State Highway Patrol after a
35-year career, was elected second
vice president. As second vice president, he has the right to inspect all
physical property of the Association
and the responsibility of retaining a
current audit of Association property.
Ricks also serves as chairman of the
AAST Scholarship Foundation board
of directors.
Retired Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Assistant Director Claude
Johnson was reelected third vice president and is responsible for gathering
and disseminating information regarding the welfare of retired state
troopers. Claude retired in 1990 as
assistant director of the Tennessee
Bureau of Investigation after 27 years
of service.
Capt. Kenneth Musick, a 21-year
member of the Texas DPS, was
elected secretary after serving five
years as director of the AAST Texas
chapter. As secretary, Musick has the
authority to inspect all records,
books, and other documents of
AAST’s national headquarters. He
also confirms a quorum of board
members at meetings and, among
other duties, records the minutes of
all national board meetings.
Sgt. James D. “J.D.” Johnson, a 28year veteran of the Florida Highway
Patrol, will continue to serve as treasurer, in which capacity he has the right
to inspect financial records of the Association and will also present a financial
report to the board at all regular meetings. J.D. served as the AAST Florida
chapter’s financial director for eight
years and state director for six years
before being elected national treasurer
in 2005 and is AAST’s longest-serving
member nationwide.
The national board of directors
consists of the above executive officers and the state directors from
states with an established chapter.
Each officer has one vote on the
national board.
C. Johnson
AAST State Directors
If you would like to contact the director in your state, please call AAST headquarters for contact information,
800-765-5456, or e-mail Ken Howes, ken@statetroopers.org. AAST encourages and welcomes your input.
Musick
J.D. Johnson
Alabama
Clarence “Bubba” Blue
Georgia
Lee Burch
Kentucky
Tim Hazlette
North Carolina
Carolyn Logan
Texas
Brandon Bess
Arizona
Mike Bonin
Idaho
Rick Wright
Louisiana
Adam White
Oregon
Gerry Gregg
Virginia
James E. Clare, Jr.
California
Gordon Koolman
Indiana
Noel Houze, Jr.
Maryland
Chuck Cave
Pennsylvania
Jim Emigh
Washington
Brian George
Connecticut
Sean Connelly
Iowa
Mark Probst
Massachusetts
Frank McVeigh
South Carolina
Bryan McDougald
West Virginia
R.D. Estepp
Florida
John Bagnardi
Kansas
Steve Jensen
New York
Mike Doney
Tennessee
Robert F. Yoakum
Wyoming
Carla Nichols
Enhanced Identity Theft Product with Kroll
With identity theft being the fastest growing crime in America, AAST
is proud to introduce an enhanced identity theft product that provides
continuous credit monitoring and restoration for the entire family!
Receive a free credit report, continuous credit monitoring, and
immediate alerts for change of address, credit inquiry, and more.
• Will, living will, health care power of attorney
With instant alerts, you can
immediately resolve any issue
with one call to Kroll Fraud Solutions who provides full restoration, including legal issues, driver’s license, and
character/criminal issues.
Benefits include
• Unlimited advice
• 24/7 emergency assistance
• Document review
Kristen Wofford, married to Maj. Al Wofford, Florida Highway Patrol, ret., is the contact person for any questions or assistance with enrollment.
A portion of each enrollment will go to the AAST Scholarship Foundation. Enroll online at www.statetroopers.org or call Kristen at 850-766-4352.
Program is offered as a purchase option to AAST members and is not included in the AAST member benefit package.
4 ____________________________________________________________________________ AAST Trooper Connection January 2012
Holidays bring reason to help less fortunate
Troopers share spirit of giving
Year after year, state troopers
rise to the occasion and volunteer countless hours to help those
in need during the holidays.
Troopers shop with children,
deliver meals, collect toys, raise
funds, visit hospitalized kids,
and maintain a positive presence
at a time when crime often
peaks, and this is in addition to
the volunteer hours they log
throughout the year.
The Ohio Troopers Caring program partners off-duty Ohio State
Highway Patrol troopers with
local businesses to provide less
fortunate children the opportunity
to receive and give a gift to loved
ones during the holiday season.
Troopers in Indiana, Maryland,
Michigan, Missouri, Oregon,
Washington, and other states are
involved with Shop with a Cop
events, pairing children with a
law enforcement officer for an
unforgettable shopping trip, often
providing the only gifts the children will receive.
Although we highlighted only
a few states in this segment, each
highway patrol and state police
department in the country participates annually in community
events during the holidays that
make a tremendous impression
on the citizens they serve, making a positive impact on crime
prevention by building relationships between police officers and
children. We at AAST say thank
you to those who make it happen, year after year. We are
happy to partner with you for
several of these events.
Sgt. Bill Lowe of the Missouri State Highway Patrol plays peeka-boo with a child at the University of Kansas Medical Center.
Tpr. Mike Lane and Tpr. Sean LeBlank, right, of the Massachusetts State Police stand outside a Toys R Us store
with U.S. Marines to collect toys for the Toys for Tots event.
The Nevada Department of Public Safety Investigation
Division rang the bells to support the Salvation Army.
AAST Trooper Connection
Lt. Brian Lawson, Sgt. Jeff Cook, Sgt. Greg Tramel, Trp. Kerry Ragland, Trp. Willie Allison, and Trp. Les Dolente
of the Tennessee Highway Patrol, left to right, helped distribute food during Christmas last year.
January 2012 __________________________________________________________________________ 5
Mississippi stays on top
at national matches
Team CHP member Mike McGinity shoots from the 50-yard line during the team match.
For the second straight year, M/Sgt. Dan Rawlinson, 36, of the
Mississippi Highway Patrol claimed the High Scoring State
Trooper Award, winning the new XDm 525 9mm pistol provided
by Springfield Armory.
Rawlinson’s score of 6,098 with 340 x put him at the top of the
state trooper competitors in the annual NPSC, held Sept. 19-22 in
Albuquerque, N.M. He ended up in 4th place overall among 300+
competitors.
First held in 1962, the NRA-sponsored matches incorporate real
law enforcement shooting skills. Competitors start with guns holstered and fire timed matches with both revolvers and
semi-automatic pistols from varying distances and positions. The
aggregate scores from the revolver and semi-automatic pistol
matches are used to crown a national champion, with center shots
known as Xs being used as tie-breakers.
AAST sponsored its annual dinner, where state troopers
gathered the night before the matches began to enjoy remarkable camaraderie and a delicious, authentic New Mexican
dinner at the home of New Mexico state trooper Andy
Baldridge.
AAST was proud to once again sponsor the High Scoring State
Trooper Award for the NPSC, widely considered the world’s most
prestigious law enforcement shooting competition. We thank
Springfield Armory for their generosity in providing the AAST
High Scoring Trooper Award again this year.
Odie Hitt of the Texas DPS, left, presents the High Scoring State Trooper Award to Dan
Rawlinson on behalf of AAST.
News from oregon
m
Memorial sign honors fallen trooper,
local officer
Ten years ago, a drowsy driver forever
changed the lives of three families and two
law enforcement agencies when he struck
three police officers on Interstate 5 south of
Salem, Ore. This tragic incident and the lives
of those involved were remembered with the
posting of Oregon’s first roadside memorial
sign honoring fallen officers following the
passage of House Bill 3039 during the 2011
Legislative session.
On September 1, the sign was displayed
along the northbound lanes of Interstate 5
near milepost 243 in remembrance of Sr.
Tpr. Maria Mignano of the Oregon State
Police and Ofcr. Jason Hoerauf of the
Albany Police Department who were killed
September 4, 2001, by a 19-year old driver
who fell asleep, drifted off the roadway, and
struck the two officers and OSP Sergeant
John Burright. The three officers were
standing outside of two OSP patrol cars
while assisting a family whose van became
disabled on the freeway shoulder. Burright
was critically injured and later retired from
OSP because of injuries.
“Don’t forget why your troopers, deputies
and city police officers are working every
day to keep our communities and highways
safer for everyone,” said OSP Superintendent Chris Brown. “Remember when you
drive by this sign, real lives were lost and
forever changed trying to help people who
needed help.”
6 ____________________________________________________________________________ AAST Trooper Connection January 2012
News from south carolina
p
Parole denied for trooper’s convicted killer
Tommy Thompson, the convicted
murderer of Patrolman Ben Strickland in 1974, was denied parole in
September.
Strickland, a 16-year veteran of
the South Carolina Highway Patrol,
had initiated a traffic stop at a rest
area when he was slain by a shotgun blast at the hands of Thompson.
The gunman and his accomplice led
police on a massive manhunt, taking a college student hostage along
the way.
Strickland, 40, became the 24th
South Carolina trooper to die in the
line of duty. As of today, 49 have
given their lives on the job.
Strickland left behind a wife, two
teenage sons, and a grief-stricken
family of troopers and community
who loved him.
Strickland
South Carolina trooper carries Special Olympics torch through Greece
A South Carolina state trooper traveled to Athens, Greece, in June to
help transport the flame of hope in the Special Olympics World Games.
Through his work as the South Carolina Special Olympics Torch
Run director, Sgt. Bryan McDougald was selected for this unparalleled trip, joining 90 police officers from all over the world who
participated in the event to raise awareness and funds for the Special
Olympics athletes and their endeavor for competition and inclusion.
During the June 9-25 trip, McDougald logged countless miles,
running through 60 cities, enjoying the beautiful countryside.
“The Olympic torch means so much more to [the Greeks] than the
rest of the world because the Olympics began there and they truly
understand and believe in what the Olympic torch signifies,”
McDougald said.
Police officers came from as far away as Serbia, Newfoundland
Sgt. McDougald, right, and Special Olympics athlete Zach Commander (repreLabrador, Australia, Wisconsin, Maine, Hawaii, Kansas, and Monsenting the United States) enjoy the scenery in Greece.
tana to support the event. Law enforcement raised over $39 million
in 2010 supporting Special Olympics athletes. All monies raised
through the torch run go to athlete services to send the athletes and
their families to local, state, national, and world games.
“This experience was personally meaningful for me because too
many times athletes are not included, shunned away from the most
basic of human rights, often not given any chance for personal
growth, or written off before they can make their mark,” McDougald
said. “I’ve seen the athletes compete, seen medals given out to those
who were the best at that sport, but I’ve never seen any Special
Olympics athlete lose. To the athlete it’s not about winning; it’s about
the opportunity to compete.”
McDougald added that the one thing that he especially enjoys about
working with Special Olympics is how sincere these athletes are.
“These special people see past your smile, your hug, even your
Sgt. McDougald places a South Carolina pin on a Special Olympics athlete uniform; they see straight into your heart, and if an athlete calls you
friend, you are a true friend indeed.”
from Greece.
News from arizona
D
Trooper’s killer convicted
Marano
The woman whose police
chase led to the death of an Arizona Department of Public
Safety officer in 2009 was convicted Sept. 15 of first-degree
murder and two other charges.
Georgia Lynn Baker, 45,
was fleeing from police in a
stolen SUV in December 2009
when Officer Chris Marano
AAST Trooper Connection
and his partner tried to lay
down a spike strip to stop
Baker’s car, which was being
pursued by another DPS officer. The officer chasing Baker
struck Marano, killing him.
Baker was also found guilty
in Maricopa County Superior
Court of fleeing from police
and driving a stolen car.
Marano is survived by his
wife and four children.
Baker was sentenced in
October to life in prison for
Marano’s murder, six years
in prison for unlawful flight
from a law enforcement
vehicle, and 11.25 years in
prison for theft of means of
transportation.
Baker
January 2012 __________________________________________________________________________ 7
News from Indiana
P
Record outdoor marijuana
growing operation shut down
Indiana state troopers join local officers in descending on a
marijuana grow that yielded a state record.
Members of the Indiana State
Police along with local officers acted
on information from state conservation officers and eradicated an
Indiana state record number of marijuana plants for one single growing
operation in September.
Approximately two weeks earlier
conservation officers eradicated 864
plants from a plot in Switzerland
County and then contacted an ISP marijuana eradication coordinator and
recommended he do a “fly over” to
check for other plants.
While flying in Indiana National
Guard helicopters, state police and
National Guard spotters discovered
several other plots in the area. Troopers and local officers spent three
days eradicating over 25,700 plants,
an Indiana record for a single outdoor growing operation. With
marijuana selling for $1,500-2,000
per pound, this grow was a multimillion dollar operation.
At press time, police had no suspects
and were requesting assistance from
the public with the investigation.
a
WTC Flag: Long May It Wave!
News from missouri
Rescue, recovery
at concert venue
An Indiana state trooper assesses the scene following
the August 13 stage collapse, which was responsible
for seven deaths and four dozen injuries. State troopers were among the first to respond to the deadly
scene at the Indiana State Fair in Indianapolis, where
strong winds toppled a stage onto a crowd of fans as
they waited for country band Sugarland to perform.
by MSHP Public Info. Spec. III Cheryl D. Cobb
Sunday, September 11, 2011, was a day for remembering and
a day to make memories. It was an opportunity for our nation to
honor its heroes – those lost on that fateful day in 2001 and those
who remain with us proudly, selflessly protecting us from harm.
All across America, people gathered to do both.
In Joplin, the gathering was especially poignant. The New York
Says Thank You Foundation chose the city of Joplin, Mo., as the
last stop for the World Trade Center flag. This 20-foot by 30-foot
flag was pulled from the rubble of the Twin Towers after they’d
fallen. Years ago, tornado survivors in Greensburg, Kan., began
the process of repairing this important symbol. Since that time,
the flag has traveled all across the country.
This national 9-11 ceremony with the World Trade Center flag
took place in front of Joplin’s St. John’s Hospital, which was devastated by a tornado on May 22, 2011. Those participating unfurled
the flag at 8:45 a.m., then raised the flag for one minute at 8:58
a.m., recognizing the time the World Trade Center’s south tower collapsed. At 9:28 a.m., the raising was repeated, again for one minute, to
represent the collapse of the World Trade Center’s north tower.
After the ceremony, the flag traveled to Missouri Southern State University in Joplin, where anyone who wanted could sew one stitch. The
people this flag represents have added one stitch each, weaving a piece
Members of the Missouri State Highway Patrol joined other emergency services
personnel to unfurl the World Trade Center flag in front of St. John’s Hospital in Joplin.
of themselves into the fabric of this symbol and showing how resilient
America truly is. Once repairs were complete, the flag returned to the
National September 11 Memorial and Museum in New York.
8 ____________________________________________________________________________ AAST Trooper Connection January 2012
w
Trooper goes Over the Edge for charity
News from washington
News from North carolina
Washington State Patrol photo
Tpr. Mike Cheek of the Washington State
Patrol was one of nearly 200 participants
who went Over the Edge in August to raise
money for Special Olympics of Washington.
The Over the Edge event, held for the second year, allows people who raise thousands
of dollars in pledges to rappel down the 514foot, 41-story Rainier Building in downtown
Seattle. Similar events are held in numerous
cities around the country to support various
charities, with the Rainier Building being the
tallest of all events. This year, Cheek raised
$2,055 for Special Olympics, with the Seattle event bringing in almost $240,000 total.
Costumes were encouraged for this fun
event, and this year Cheek dressed up as Lt.
Dangle from the TV show Reno 911. Other
costumes worn during the weekend included
Superman, Batgirl, a skeleton, and Wonder
Woman, with participants ranging in age
from 18 to 80 years old.
Cadets train
through OC-10
Tpr. Mike Cheek rappelled down a 41-story building to
raise money for charity.
During the rappel, Cheek had two video
cameras attached to his helmet, one looking
forward and the other looking down. To view
the videos of his rappelling experience, go to
http://www.youtube.com/user/mooman547.
Cadet Shaneka Phillips, with the Washington
State Patrol’s 23rd Arming Class, attacks a
dummy after being sprayed with OC-10 (pepper spray). Cadets are also required to move to
their vehicle after being sprayed, find keys,
open the car door, then repel an attack using
their pistol. They then got into the car to call
for assistance.
i
Troopers claim coveted sniper award
The North Carolina State Highway
Patrol sniper team walked away the victors
in the 5th Annual Sniper Conference held
at the Gastonia, N.C., Police Firearms and
Tactical Training Facility in September.
After a grueling and competitive fun-filled
competition, Tprs. Patrick Yount and Jesse
Saucier finished first, followed by the San
Diego, Calif., Police Department and the
Desoto County, Miss., Sheriffs Department.
Representatives from the Connecticut
Tpr. Patrick Yount, left, and Jesse Saucier, won the elite and Massachusetts State Police were
among the 40 teams representing sheriffs
sniper competition, which included 40 teams.
News from massachusetts
departments, military units, and state and
federal agencies, all on hand hoping to capture the coveted title.
Over the four-day event, law enforcement officials sharpened their skills in 11
different events that represented real-world
scenarios. The marksmanship competition
is attended by some of the world’s best law
enforcement and military sniper teams and
is one of only a handful of nationwide
sniper competitions for elite sniper teams
used to combat terrorism, drug trafficking,
and hostage-taking.
W
Mass trooper honored as Trooper of Year
Tpr. Edward Johnson III was the recipient of the Massachusetts State
Troopers Association 2010 Trooper of the Year Award in September for his
heroic arrest of a subject involved in the murder of a police officer on the
night of Dec. 26, 2010.
Johnson and other Massachusetts troopers responded to the scene of the
robbery in Woburn, Mass., during a blizzard with zero visibility conditions on
that Sunday evening. Officer John “Jack” McGuire of the Woburn Police
Department was gunned down by one of the robbers, but was able to return
fire and kill the shooter. Two others escaped the store, and Johnson apprehended one who was fleeing. The other robber was also arrested.
For his heroism and attention to duty, Johnson was selected from numerous
candidates as the Trooper of the Year. The award is presented each year in honor
of Tpr. Alje J. Savela who was killed by an unknown gunman in 1953.
AAST Trooper Connection
Col. Marian
McGovern, left,
joins Former
Massachusetts State
Troopers Association
President Paul
Matthews, right,
in presenting the
Trooper of the Year
Award to Tpr.
Edward Johnson III.
January 2012 __________________________________________________________________________ 9
SHOTS FROM
AROUND THE COUNTRY
Remembering
9/11
High-tech on wheels
Raymond Holt/MSP photo
The California Highway Patrol’s nine
Incident Command
Vehicles include a
satellite communication package, enabling
the CHP to communicate with any police or
fire agency throughout
the state. It was
designed to be used
when all other communication systems fail.
Texas Aviation awarded
The Michigan State Police Honor Guard stands at attention in front of the
Michigan Capitol in Lansing during the 9/11 Remembrance and Candlelight
Vigil ceremony on Sept. 11, 2011.
Every dog has its day
In October Texas DPS Aviation, McAllen Station, received the Excellence in Police Aviation Award at the International Association of
Police Chiefs conference in Chicago. The award was presented by
Bell Helicopter on behalf of the IACP awards committee, recognizing DPS Aviation for its outstanding air support along the border
in combating the drug cartels, supporting the Texas Highway
Patrol and U.S. Border Patrol. The unit was also recognized for its
outstanding support of large scale multi-service and agency border operations led by Texas Ranger RECON teams.
Tpr. Downing of the Nebraska State Patrol, kneeling, and K-9 Rex won a 1st place
medal in the Stealth Entry/Dragline Event. The patrol hosted the Nebraska Police
Service Dog Championships Oct. 21-22, with teams from Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri,
and South Dakota competing.
10 ___________________________________________________________________________ AAST Trooper Connection January 2012
Trooper narrowly escapes injury
Members recruiting members
A Wyoming trooper’s patrol vehicle was totaled after being struck just before midnight on June 17, but
he was not injured.
The trooper had just stopped three young men who were riding bikes and skateboarding down the center lane of US 89 in Jackson without lights. He was talking to the young men on the shoulder, with rear
lights activated, when he saw a speeding vehicle
approaching. The trooper leapt to safety just in time
trucker safety message
to avoid being struck as the vehicle crashed into the
patrol car. The driver of the vehicle was charged with
driving under the influence, failure to provide proof
of insurance, careless driving, and failure to obey the
move over law.
If the trooper had not contacted the individuals
traveling in the middle of the traffic lane, they could
have been struck by the alleged drunk driver, resulting in serious injuries or fatalities.
AAST member Sgt. Thomas Ferritto of the New York State
Police helps spread the word about AAST by displaying
brochures on his desk.
Safety trooper spreads
Troopers in training
If Tpr. Gregory J. Hamlett seems larger than life – he is! Hamlett was selected for DriveSmart
Virginia’s 2011 Click It or Ticket mobile billboard campaign targeting commercial vehicle
drivers. The billboards feature Hamlett and the message, “Truck Drivers: Be Ready. Be Buckled. We are watching for violators!” A fleet of box trucks displaying the ad campaign spent
the spring going up and down Interstate 81 with the goal of increasing seat belt usage
among truckers.
Bigger than life bear
makes friends
The Iowa State Patrol’s Trooper Bear (aka
Sr. Tpr. Doug Cutts) is always a big hit at
the Iowa State Fair, held in August. Kids
and adults alike love the 10-foot-tall
inflatable mascot.
AAST Trooper Connection
The 52 members of the 137th Maryland State Police Trooper Candidate Class
graduated Sept. 23, marking the end of 26 weeks of rigorous academic and
physical training. Seventeen of the new troopers came from other states
including Colorado, Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Tennessee.
January 2012 __________________________________________________________________________ 11
News from ohio
k
Follow patrol training via Twitter
The Ohio State Highway Patrol has been giving their
Twitter followers an inside look at the patrol’s next academy class as they progress through their 23-week
paramilitary training.
The patrol kicked-off this social media tour in September
with the release of a behind-the-scenes photo of civilian personnel at the patrol’s tailor shop, preparing the 87 cadets’
uniforms for their Sept. 21 arrival. Twitter followers have
then trailed the details of training life.
These new cadets will help fill the 120 vacant trooper
positions statewide. To become a Twitter follower, go to
twitter.com/OSHP.
News from alabama
The training of Ohio State Highway Patrol cadets is being
tracked on Twitter.
B
New I.D. program started
With Gov. Robert Bentley as special guest, the Alabama DPS announced
plans in September to launch the state’s STAR I.D. pilot project.
In response to acts of terrorism committed against the United States,
and in an effort to ensure the safety of citizens, Congress passed the
REAL-ID Act of 2005. To comply with that act, DPS has developed a
driver license and a non-driver identification program called STAR
I.D., which stands for Secure, Trusted And Reliable.
Current Alabama driver licenses and non-driver ID cards will be
accepted for official federal purposes until Dec. 1, 2014. Beginning on
that date, however, individuals born after Dec. 1, 1964, will be required to
present a REAL-ID-compliant document (or unexpired U.S. passport) to
board a domestic commercial flight or to gain access to certain federal
facilities that require identification. On Dec. 1, 2017, individuals born on
or before Dec. 1, 1964, will be required to be in compliance. After the
first of the year, STAR I.D. will be offered statewide.
Maj. Terry Chapman addresses the media about the new STAR I.D. program
as Gov. Robert Bentley, far left, and Lt. Col. Kevin Wright look on.
contest, while retired FBI agent Ray Phelps won a trophy for
GOLF
the
longest putt.
Continued from front page
“We’ll see you on the green next year. Count on another
remarkable event,” Howes said.
The winning team was, left to right, R.L. Dowdy, Mike Burns, William Schwab, and Michael Burns.
The camaraderie on the course is priceless among competing
law enforcement officers.
12 ___________________________________________________________________________ AAST Trooper Connection January 2012
n
Department and governor honor state police military vets
News from pennsylvania
Dave Watson photo
Gov. Tom Corbett joined Commissioner Frank Noonan and retired deployed overseas with the military. At the conclusion of the cereU.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Oliver North at a ceremony Sept. 1 rec- mony, each of the honorees received a Pennsylvania State
ognizing the military service of Pennsylvania State Police personnel. Police/Military Service Award and certificate. After the ceremony,
The ceremony, the first of its kind in Pennsylvania, honored more Corbett, Noonan, and Smart laid a wreath at the naval center’s memothan 300 members of the state police who have also served in the U.S. rial to honor those killed on Sept. 11, 2001.
armed forces since the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks.
“This is something very close to my heart,” Noonan said.
“It’s important to recognize the people who protect our
country here and protect our country overseas. Since 9/11,
we’ve had to respond to threats against our country at home
and abroad. These are the people who respond.”
Two state troopers have been killed in action while
deployed with the Pennsylvania National Guard. The families of Tprs. Daniel R. Lightner Jr. and Scott R. Ball
received special recognition at the event held at the Naval
Support Activity Center in Mechanicsburg.
North, the ceremony’s keynote speaker, is a combat-decorated Marine, earning the Silver Star and Bronze Star for
Valor, and two Purple Hearts after being wounded in
action. He is also the founder of the Freedom Alliance,
which provides college scholarships for the children of
service members killed in action.
Also participating in the event was Maj. Gen. Wesley E.
Craig, adjutant general of Pennsylvania, and Capt. James
Smart, the support center’s commanding officer.
Meeting prior to program honoring the Pennsylvania State Police’s military veterans are, from
Nearly 200 award recipients attended the ceremony, as left, Commissioner Frank Noonan; Maj. Gen. Wesley E. Craig, Pennsylvania’s adjutant general;
well as families of state troopers who are currently Gov. Tom Corbett; and retired U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Oliver North.
u
Troopers join fund razor for cancer kids
News from vermont
Several troopers were part of the Cops
United for Fighting Cancer’s 14th annual
head shaving event in Burlington, Vt., on
Aug. 5. This fundraising effort, CUFF
Cancer’s flagship event, once again benefited Camp Ta-Kum-Ta, a traditional one
week summer camp for children ages 7 to
17 who currently have, or have had cancer.
Members of the public safety community,
to include police, fire, and rescue personnel,
as well as community members, collected
funds and in turn, had their heads shaved by
cosmetologists who were assisted by the children who attended Camp T-K-T.
This year’s event raised over $25,000 and
for the 14th year, all proceeds were donated
to Camp T-K-T. To date CUFF Cancer has
donated over $250,000 to the camp.
CUFF Cancer, founded by Vermont State
Police Lts. Michael Macarilla and John
Flannigan, is a non-profit organization
whose primary mission is to raise funds and
awareness for cancer-related causes with a
focus on support programs for children.
Sgt. Greg Campbell, left, and Lt. Michael Macarilla of the Vermont State Police, get their heads shaved in
the fundraiser.
AAST Trooper Connection
Irene devastates
The home of a state trooper with the Vermont State
Police was washed away during the flooding of Hurricane Irene in August. Three other Vermont state
troopers suffered damage from Irene, but state troopers along the Northeast set aside their personal needs
to protect the citizens in need by providing traffic
control, evacuation efforts, and rescue missions,
both day and night.
January 2012 __________________________________________________________________________ 13
News from florida
K
Oldest AAST Florida member
At age 95, the oldest member of AAST’s Florida
chapter remembers well the changes and challenges
that accompanied his career with the Florida Highway Patrol.
The Great Depression was slowly ending and
the Second World War just beginning when the
state of Florida formed a highway patrol in 1939
to provide enforcement for its motor vehicle traffic. The future was uncertain for 23-year-old
Hardy “Lee” Simmons, as jobs were
scarce when the FHP initially started.
Born on Feb. 19, 1916, in St. Cloud, Fla.,
Simmons attended the University of Florida
for two years and worked various jobs before
he joined the St. Cloud Police Department in
1941. Four months later, he joined the FHP.
Upon the successful completion of the
FHP exam, Simmons embarked upon a 37year career with FHP. Upon his first
assignment, Simmons was supposed to
attend the next FHP recruit school, but with
the constraints of WWII, he never went. In
1943, he was promoted to sergeant, being
drafted by the U.S. Navy two years later.
He returned to the FHP in 1945 and rose
through the ranks, in 1957 becoming major,
which at the time was called inspector. For the
next 14 years, Simmons was responsible for all FHP
inspections throughout the state. In 1972 he was promoted to lieutenant colonel, deputy director of the
entire FHP Division.
Simmons retired in 1978 and lost his first wife to
Alzheimer’s in 1993, and his second wife to the
Simmons, 1970s
AAST Executive Director Ken
Howes, right, joins Lee Simmons, his fellow retired FHP
lieutenant colonel, at a 2008
retiree breakfast.
News from colorado
same disease in 2007. Simmons is the proud father
of three children, with three grandchildren and six
great grandchildren.
Simmons’ starting FHP salary was $125 per
month, which progressed to $150 per month by the
end of 1941. By 1953, Simmons’ salary increased
to $225 per month.
Simmons remembers other details that have
changed over the years. When he began, the patrol
had 60 members, and each trooper worked 12-hour
days with one day off each week. The FHP vehicles
during the late 1940s were Fords with Mercury
engines. He remembers their Stetson hats, patterned
after the New York State Police, but just after he
retired, the agency went to the campaign-style hats.
A highlight of his career was in 1964 when he
was placed in charge of a 150-man force, consisting
of FHP troopers, Fish and Wildlife officers, and
state prison guards to provide security in St. Augustine during a demonstration, during which time he
met the Rev. Martin Luther King.
Through his career, the colonel said he truly enjoyed
working with the people and received a wide range of
knowledge from his experiences with the patrol. He
currently lives with his daughter in Tallahassee, and his
mind is just as sharp as when he was on the patrol.
AAST’s oldest living member is Connecticut
State Police retiree Edward Steele, 98. Simmons is
second oldest nationwide.
Excerpts reprinted from the Florida DHSMV
Expressways.
G
Colorado State Patrol helps apprehend Florida fugitives
On August 10 at about 9 a.m., Colorado
state troopers received a tip from a citizen that
three sibling fugitives from Florida were in the
area of Colorado City. After a short pursuit, all
three fugitives were apprehended.
The vehicle was spotted at a campground
on Highway 165 near Colorado City. When
the deputies arrived, the vehicle was gone,
but a Pueblo County sheriff’s deputy soon
spotted the vehicle at a nearby gas station.
Members of the Colorado State Patrol
attempted to initiate a traffic stop, but the
suspects did not cooperate, and a high-speed
pursuit ensued. Preliminary investigation
determined that shots were fired from the
suspect’s vehicle at troopers during the pursuit. The vehicle crashed shortly after
troopers deployed stop sticks on southbound
I25 near Walsenburg.
Two suspects, one male and one female,
were apprehended by local law enforcement rifle while another was photographed by a
officers shortly after the crash. The third security camera waving a machine pistol,
male suspect fled on foot and was appre- the FBI said.
hended by CSP a short time later.
The three sibling fugitives, all in
their 20s, were charged with four
counts of first-degree assault on a
peace officer.
According to reports, the arrests
ended the nationwide manhunt for
the siblings that began Aug. 2. The
three are suspected of firing at
least 20 shots at a Florida officer
who tried to pull them over for
speeding in a chase at speeds up to
100 mph.
Hours later, three people wearing
masks robbed a bank in Valdosta,
Ga., about 210 miles north. One The sibling fugitives’ vehicle crashed after stop sticks were
robber brandished an AK-47 assault deployed.
14 ___________________________________________________________________________ AAST Trooper Connection January 2012
News from kentucky
S
Safety message saves teen lives, earns scholarships
Thirty-three students from 30 different schools throughout Kentucky graduated from the Kentucky State Police Drive to Stay Alive academy, Sept. 7-11
at the KSP Training Academy in Frankfort.
KSP instructors taught the students numerous safe driving techniques with
hands-on road driving and classroom exercises, including impaired driving
dangers, seat belt safety, and distracted and aggressive driving.
Public Affairs Branch Commander Lt. David Jude explained that the DTSA program was designed not only to decrease teen crashes, but to provide students with
the tools to be advocates in their own communities. According to Jude, the real
potential of the DTSA program begins after the students return to their schools.
“The students are teamed with an experienced state trooper to spread the
message to the student body in each school and to their community as well,”
Jude said. “The effectiveness of the program is based on the concept that a
message conveyed by a fellow student carries more weight with other students and is, therefore, more memorable.”
DTSA students are evaluated and scored on the safe driving programs they
present in their respective schools and communities, and students with the
most effective programs, resulting in increased seat belt usage, are eligible for
scholarship funds. The DTSA program is funded through KSP and a grant
from State Farm Insurance Company.
Distracted driving and backing skills are
among numerous topics taught by troopers.
Kentucky welcomes
new troopers
The Kentucky State Police Academy presented diplomas to 60 new troopers
at Oct. 26 ceremonies, bringing the agency’s strength to a total
of 914 troopers.
Humor on the Highways
Man too drive to drunk
by Cpl. Michael Farrell
Alabama State Troopers
Eighteen years ago, I was a rookie trooper
riding with my field training officer. We were
parked on the shoulder of Hwy. 231, south of
Farrell
Montgomery, Ala. It was midnight and we had
just finished writing a ticket and had released the violator. We still
had our blue lights flashing and our inside dome light was on as my
training officer was showing me how to record the ticket on my daily
activity log.
Traffic was very light, almost nonexistent. A pickup truck coming
from behind passed by and suddenly pulled onto the shoulder of the
road in front of us, sliding to a stop. My training officer told me to
get out of the patrol car and go see what the motorist wanted.
As I approached the vehicle, I noticed a man sitting behind the
wheel. As I got close to the driver’s side window, I asked him, “Sir,
can I help you?”
AAST Trooper Connection
He leaned toward the window and angrily yelled, “What do you
mean, can you help me? You’re the one who pulled me over!”
At this point, I could smell the alcohol reeking from the vehicle and
knew the motorist was heavily intoxicated. Not sure quite what to do,
I told the motorist to sit tight for just a minute. I walked back to the
patrol car and told my training officer, “The driver is drunk and he
thinks that we pulled him over. What do I do?”
My training officer yelled back, “Arrest his #$$!” We arrested the
subject for DUI and took him to jail. He pled guilty, never knowing
that he pulled himself over that night.
Send your humorous on-the-job story (300 words max), along with your
photo, for consideration in the Trooper Connection newsletter:
AASTPR@aol.com or
AAST
Humor on the Highways
1949 Raymond Diehl Rd.
Tallahassee, FL 32308
January 2012 __________________________________________________________________________ 15
Paying tribute for the ultimate sacrifice
AAST pays tribute to the trooper who was recently killed in the line of duty.
We honor those who have given their lives in service to their departments and their community.
AAST was proud to make a donation from its Brotherhood Assistance fund to Toney’s surviving family.
Iowa
Tpr. Mark Toney, 43, of the Iowa State
Patrol died September 20 in a single
vehicle car crash near Indianola, Iowa.
According to witnesses, Toney was trav-
eling northbound on US Highway 65, possibly with his emergency lights activated,
when his patrol car left the roadway and
landed in a field west of the highway. Witnesses called 911 shortly before 4:40 p.m.
Emergency responders found the patrol
car fully engulfed in flames. The fire was
2011/12 scholarship recipients named
AAST Scholarship Foundation officials approved 175 scholarships totaling $117,000 to be awarded to AAST members’ children
for the 2011/12 term.
Of those, 116 were first-time recipients of an AAST scholarship, while 41 were awarded a $1,000 scholarship for
maintaining a minimum 3.5 grade point average during the first
scholarship period. A third AAST scholarship of $1,000 was
awarded to 18 students who maintained a minimum 3.8 GPA during the second scholarship period. AAST has awarded over $2.1
Alabama
Logan Balandrin
Reid Barnett
Audrey Coachman
Jon Dean
Bianca Phillips
Jessica Smith
California
Bailie Hagerman
Marcus Mezzano
Chelsea Rosendahl
Connecticut
Kaitlyn MacLean**
Shane Olsen
Kathryn Rowes
Celeste Sivori
Florida
Lauren Bibeau**
Valerie Bryant***
John Cataldo
Kevin Dill
Jennifer Dixon
Erica Fitchett
Mason Guy
Christopher Harrison**
Emily Hudson**
Cara Hulion***
Heather McDonald
Sean Riordan***
Shannon Riordan***
Caitlin Salter**
Jabe Weaver**
Georgia
Nathaniel Allen
Tabitha Bentley
Holly Robinson
Jonathan Shanks**
Austin Tyler
Iowa
Elisabeth Bulver
Stephanie Clemens
Isaiah Miller
Illinois
Jeffrey Tolliver
Louisiana
Camryn Morgan**
Massachusetts
Caroline Blazuk
Grace Delmolino**
Robert Leverone**
Melanie Prior
Alyssa Warawka
Maryland
Rachel Herron
Holly Hovis***
Michigan
David Young**
Minnesota
Joseph Hanson
Derek Thooft**
Indiana
Taylor Havens
Kate McDougal
Carrie Weber
Kentucky
Whitney Antle**
Andrew Salman
Taylor Stapleton
Ashley Sutton**
Emily Turner
Missouri
Jordon Hull
Madison Lyon
Blake Smith**
Mississippi
Paige Dawkins
Samuel Henderson**
Jeremy Roy**
Montana
Jessica Finley
Tucker Finley
North Dakota
Sara Cushing
Nebraska
Jonathan Price
Nevada
Brian Hagedorn
New Mexico
Megan Cohagen
New York
Melanie Badding
Carl Beno***
Kelsey Campbell***
Annmarie Carey**
Lyle Connor
Marina Cumoletti
Mattea Cumoletti**
Elizabeth DeLuca**
Gregory Faughnan**
Patrick Faughnan**
Mark Ferritto
Sarah Ferritto
Stefanie Fresenius**
Ross Hansen***
extinguished, and Toney was pronounced dead at the scene. Following
an investigation and autopsy, the
cause of the crash was unknown.
A 24-year veteran of the ISP,
Toney is survived by two sons and
his parents.
Toney
Awards exceed $2.1 million
million in scholarships to 2,967 students since the program’s
inception in 1990.
Scholarship applications are processed each year by the AAST
Scholarship Foundation to determine applicant eligibility. Scholarships are to be used at approved post-secondary institutions for the
2011-12 term. For additional information about the AAST scholarship program, visit www.statetroopers.org.
AAST salutes the members’ children listed below who have displayed scholastic excellence.
Christopher Hennessy
Kevin Howard
Matthew Kealy
Brittany Kemp***
Nathan Mercado
Jeffrey Olson
Alexa Patnaude
Kayla Patnaude
Olivia Ramos
Nicole Ramos**
Matthew Robillard***
Cole Schmitt
Mackenzie Smith
Bridgett Smith***
Dylan VanZandt
Oklahoma
Loren Fox
Kersten Franks
Oregon
Laura Hanson**
Lindsey Helman
Cassandra Kammerman
Alex Melton
Madeline Moore**
Eric Olson
Michaela Willis
Pennsylvania
Nicole Battestilli**
Abigail Brown
Steven Brown
Cameron Campbell
Shawnna Crago
Danielle Dorunda***
Ian Gayman
Kate Gillen
Brendon Ignatz
Christopher Ignatz
Megan Killgallon
Dane Kopas**
Michael Ludwig
Amanda Polca
Jennifer Ravotti
Nicole Schau
Kristen Taylor**
Steven Valencic
South Carolina
Michael Gamble
Courtney Gamble***
Courtney Kelly**
Britanny Watson***
Tennessee
Brittany Broadway**
Jacob Everett
Erin Jackson***
Taylor Mansfield
Wesley Sakarapanee
Matthew Walker
Texas
Heather Brazil
Stacie Collins***
Amy Cosby
Derek Davis
Hanna Drabble
Mycah Druesedow
Taylor Fain
Jordan Hooper
Haley Hunt***
Taylor Kelm
Taryn Kelm**
Tareyn Morris**
Nole Opperman
Laura Weber**
Alisha Windham
Utah
Miranda Williams**
Vermont
Sarah Cornell
Jessica Ledo
Chantal Marcoux
Virginia
Joshua Crawford**
Brendan Hood
James Mitchell**
Washington
Christina Alexander**
Nicole Divis
Jennifer Divis***
Kayla Haas
Toria Messinger**
West Virginia
Samantha Bennett
Lindsey Burner
Alexander Butcher
Haley Cahill
Erika Goff**
Allison Helmick
Natalie Jones
Jenny Long**
Joshua McCabe
Ryan Satterfield
Matthew Sloan
Danielle Spangler
Gabriel Starcher
Wyoming
Marisa DeClercq
** Second-time
scholarship recipient
*** Third-time
scholarship recipient
Follow AAST on Facebook!
Get important news feeds and interesting links on our Facebook page,
and stay connected with troopers around the country.
Become a fan today!
www.facebook.com/statetroopers
16 ___________________________________________________________________________ AAST Trooper Connection January 2012
New directors take lead of departments
AAST proudly introduces the new leaders of the following departments.
We wish you all the best as you take on the challenges of your new position.
Florida Dept. of Highway Safety & Motor Vehicles
David B. Conklin Jr. was named in
May as deputy executive director of
the Florida Department of Highway
Safety and Motor Vehicles, which
oversees the Florida Highway
Patrol.
Conklin
Mark McDonough was approved by the
Board of Public Safety in July as commissioner of the Georgia Department of
Public Safety, having previously served as
deputy commissioner.
McDonough graduated from the U.S.
Naval Academy at Annapolis and was
commissioned as a second lieutenant in
the Marine Corps. McDonough flew 35
Conklin retired at the rank of lieutenant colonel from the Virginia State
Police in 2005 after 25 years of service, before which he served with the
Metropolitan and Prince George
County’s Police Departments in the
combat missions in support of Operation
Desert Storm, earning numerous awards.
He began his career with the DPS in
1995 and graduated from the 70th Georgia State Patrol Trooper School. His
assignments have included serving as a
trooper, a pilot in the Aviation Division,
Legislative liaison and executive assistant
to the commissioner, and commanding
Maryland State Police
Marcus L. Brown was named superintendent of the Maryland State Police,
effective August 1.
He most recently served as chief of the
Maryland Transportation Authority Police
and previously served as deputy commis-
Washington, D.C., area. He spent five
years at the Wilmington, N.C., Police
Department as deputy chief before
joining the Florida DHSMV.
Conklin has a master’s degree in
criminal justice from Virginia Commonwealth University, as well as
bachelor and associate degrees.
Georgia State Patrol
officer of the Georgia State Patrol.
As a graduate of the Georgia Law
Enforcement Command College,
McDonough received a master’s degree
in public administration from Columbus State University and is also a
graduate of the FBI National Academy.
sioner of operations for the Baltimore
Police Department, responsible for over
3,000 officers and all operational units.
A graduate of The Pennsylvania State
University and the University of Baltimore
School of Law, Brown is a member of the
Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National
Executive Institute and serves on the
McDonough
Maryland State Sentencing Commission.
He is an active credentialed assessor for
the Commission on Accreditation for Law
Enforcement Agencies and is a certified
facilitator for Franklin Covey’s The Nobility of Policing Workshop. He currently
serves as the 2nd vice president of the
Maryland Chiefs of Police Association.
Brown
Bernie Curtis was appointed chief of
the Nevada Highway Patrol in July.
He started his law enforcement
career at the Butte County, Calif., Sheriff ’s Department in 1968, and four
years later, he returned to Nevada and
worked as a deputy sheriff in Douglas
County, retiring in 1994 after serving
the last 18 years as the undersheriff.
Curtis then worked with the San Juan
County, Wash., Sheriff’s Department
before being elected to two terms with
the Douglas County, Nev., Commission. He was employed by the Carson
City Sheriff’s Department and subsequently the Nevada Department of
Motor Vehicles and Public Safety as the
deputy director for Public Safety. He
was later named chief of the Nevada
Department of Public Safety’s Division
Nevada Highway Patrol
of Parole and Probation.
Curtis attended Chico State College,
Butte College, the University of
Nevada, and the University of Virginia.
He is a graduate of the Traffic Institute
at Northwestern University, the Federal
Law Enforcement Training Center, and
the FBI National Academy.
Pennsylvania State Police
Noonan
Frank Noonan was confirmed by the
state Senate in April as commissioner
of the Pennsylvania State Police.
Noonan began his career in 1971 as
an FBI agent, investigating public corruption, drugs, bank robberies, and
kidnappings. Following his retirement
David G. Baker was named deputy
director of the Texas DPS Law Enforcement Operations, effective Sept. 1. In
this role he will oversee law enforcement divisions and coordination of
multi division operations.
AAST Trooper Connection
from the FBI in 1998, Noonan was
appointed as northeast regional director
for the attorney general’s Bureau of
Narcotics Investigation, in which
capacity he oversaw some of the largest
drug cases in the history of northeast
Pennsylvania. After 11 years, Noonan
Baker has been with DPS for over 33
years and most recently served as assistant director/chief of the Texas
Highway Patrol since 2009. Baker
began his career in 1978 as a trooper in
Lubbock and his hometown of Perry-
Curtis
was promoted to chief of criminal
investigations for the office of attorney
general in 2009.
Noonan received the Linda E.
Richardson Commitment to Excellence
Award, the most prestigious award
given by the Pennsylvania Narcotics
Officers’ Association. He is a graduate
of West Chester University.
Texas DPS
ton; he promoted to sergeant in 1988,
lieutenant in 1993, captain in 1996, and
major in 2002 stationed at DPS headquarters in Austin.
Baker
January 2012 __________________________________________________________________________ 17
With Thanks
Idaho trooper’s son on road to recovery
Thankful for help of brother troopers
Tpr. Jason Bailey, pictured with son,
Wyatt, is grateful for the help
provided by troopers across the
country in his time of need.
Just over a year ago, AAST notified our members by e-mail about a serious medical condition
of Idaho State Police trooper Jason Bailey’s 2-year-old son, Wyatt, and his family’s need of financial assistance to care for their sick child.
Wyatt’s medical condition forced him to live on an expensive formula. He could not eat solid
foods, and without this formula, Wyatt suffers from severe intestinal illness. The formula cost the
Bailey family over $2,000 a month and, unfortunately, was not covered by their insurance.
AAST members throughout the country responded to the call to assist a brother trooper with
over $12,000 in donations, all of which were mailed to Tpr. Bailey on our members’ behalf.
The following is an October update from Tpr. Bailey:
Dear AAST Members & Staff:
I have been patiently waiting for an appropriate time to give an update on Wyatt. We have been
through a lot of ups and downs this spring and summer; however, I believe we are finally in a
new stage with Wyatt, and his body is accepting foods we have never been able to give him.
We noticed this summer his reactions seemed to be minimizing; nonetheless, he was still reacting to everything like he was before we started all this. It has been within the last month we
noticed his reactions are slowly turning into very minimal and even absent reactions on occasions to foods he had definitely been unable to eat. We are still supplementing his diet with the
formula; however, we finally have hope we are near the end with all this and Wyatt is well on his
way to a normal diet.
I think back on this time last year, and I had no idea where this was going, much less end up.
While it has been a very long and frustrating year, we also have so much to be thankful for, and
we could not be happier with the way things are progressing. The generous support we were
given will never be forgotten and will serve as a model to which my family will strive to live up
to. We thank all the AAST members and staff.
Sincerely,
The Baileys
Notify AAST of your Address Change
JOIN US TODAY!
Annual Membership Dues only $30.
Member name __________________________________________________
Member number
________________________________________________
New address
________________________________________________
City ________________________________________
State_________ Zip __________________________
Phone (
) ______________________________
E-mail ________________________________________________________
Former address _________________________________________________
City _________________________________________
State_________ Zip __________________________
Or e-mail changes to National HQ, christine@statetroopers.org.
Benefits and Services available to AAST Members:
• $5,000 term life insurance*
• Accidental Death & Dismemberment insurance*
• Line-of-duty death benefit*
• Scholarships for members’ qualified dependents
• Receipt of AAST’s national newsletter, Trooper Connection
• Brotherhood assistance to distressed or injured troopers as funds
are available
• Special optional vision insurance benefit for retired members
• Website for news, membership updates, and other features
AAST is a not-for-profit organization and is not a union. It is a fraternal-type organization providing
camaraderie and needed supplemental benefits to help improve troopers’ lives. Troopers eligible for
AAST membership include full-time active troopers, retired troopers who apply for membership
within 12 months of their retirement date, and former troopers with 10 or more years of service
who apply for membership within 12 months of termination of employment with the agency.
Call 1-800-765-5456 (ext. 204) for more information.
Or mail the application along with your credit card information or check for $30 payable to AAST
and a copy of your state ID card to AAST, 1949 Raymond Diehl Rd., Tallahassee, FL 32308.
All benefits are reviewed periodically by the National Board of Directors and are subject to change without notice.
* Six-month waiting period for new members
18 ___________________________________________________________________________ AAST Trooper Connection January 2012
AMERICAN
ASSOCIATION
OF
S
TATE
T
ROOPERS, INC.
American Association of State Troopers, Inc.
Membership Application
1949 Raymond Diehl Road, Tallahassee, FL 32308
AAST Trooper Connection
•
(800) 765-5456
•
FAX (850) 385-8697
•
www.statetroopers.org
January 2012 __________________________________________________________________________ 19
AMERICAN
ASSOCIATION
PRSRT STD
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
MILWAUKEE, WI
PERMIT NO. 5654
OF
S
TATE
T
ROOPERS, INC.
1949 Raymond Diehl Road
Tallahassee, FL 32308
Salute to those serving
State troopers from seven different states are stationed at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Notice the state patrol flags hanging
in the background. Pictured front row, left to right, L/Cpl. Jeffrey Martin, South Carolina Highway Patrol; Tpr. Warren Gibson, Nebraska State Patrol; Tpr. Mike Mallery,
Nebraska State Patrol; and TFC Caroline Smith, Delaware State Police. Back row, left to right, Sgt. Ben Coppage, Maryland State Police; Tpr. Jason Ruffin, Kansas Highway
Patrol; Tpr. Kyle Draper, Rhode Island State Police; and Sgt. Charlie Kelton, Kentucky State Police. AAST salutes all state troopers who serve in the U.S. Armed Forces.