Read the October 2015 Edition of the TSTA newsletter.

www.texasstatetroopers.org
TEXAS STATE TROOPER
NUMBER 302
OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE TEXAS STATE TROOPERS ASSOCIATION
OCTOBER 2015
DPS Trooper Joe Kozlowski
Young DPS Trooper came all the way from New Jersey
“Born to be a Texan!”
and its J.R.O.T.C., he learned that far-away Texas A&M
was accepting scholarship applications for its Corps of
Cadets. Joe responded, received an invitation to Texas
A&M at College Station, Texas.
He flew to Aggieland, and was given a warm welcome.
He was met and greeted by the Aggie Cadet Corps, from
sophomores to seniors. He stayed in their dormitory,
ate their good food, and attended meetings. He learned
about “Corps Values” and traditions, which included
discipline, loyalty to the University, the State of Texas,
and to Aggie football. Also principles of leadership. He
saw the military emphasis...the Cadet Corps uniforms
and the Corps’ traditional participation in football games
and public events. And it was a football weekend. The
Aggies were playing Colorado. Walking around the
campus, everyone said “howdy” to him, which impressed
him.
He was taken to the game. Joe Kozlowski got the
full Kyle field spectacular...the impressive Aggie band,
the school song, and the constant “support roar” of the
student body, the 12th man section; the Aggie’s won.
It was quite a Texas visit for the 18 year-old from New
Jersey. It was 2004. He would have much to tell his
Continued on page 3
Trooper Kozlowski, HP-Franklin
Perhaps it was when he heard that Texas had fought for
it’s independence. Perhaps it was because his mother
and father were dedicated to serving others. Possibly, it
was his interest and activities in high school J.R.O.T.C.,
with its focus on drill team competition and riflery. Added
to all this was his visit to Texas A&M, at age 18, which
was a big factor.
Joe Kozlowski grew up in Lakewood, New Jersey,
where he graduated from high school. His parents
were true “first responders”, who helped people. His
father was a volunteer firefighter, and his mother was
a nurse. He watched their activities with pride, while
keeping up with his studies and after-school jobs, such
as with Best Buy and Six Flags. Through his high school
Officers: Lee Johnson, President • Herschel Henderson, Vice-President • Anne Johnson, Secretary-Treasurer
Executive Director: Claude Hart • Director’s Assistants: Trooper Larry Engelke, (Ret.) • Trooper Don Bender,
• Trooper James Lange, (Ret.) • Editor: Jack Lawler • Production Assistant: JoAnne Smith
1
COURT’S IN SESSION
Officers face hidden dangers from communicable
diseases. Courts are now imposing longer sentences and
the prison population is increasing in its level of violence
by Judge Larry Gist
As the public demands more police on the streets,
governments everywhere are cutting police in the prisons
where violence reigns supreme, jeopardizing all of those
working behind prison walls. Although you will never
see us on “911” or “Top Cops”, we are law enforcement
professionals. We are the “Forgotten Cops” hidden from
public view, doing a dangerous beat, hoping someday to
receive the respect and approval from the public who we
silently serve.”
It’s time that the law enforcement community as well
as the public take notice of the magnificent contributions
to public safety made daily by the men and women in
our Correctional Facilities. Their lives are at risk every
moment of every day and the compensation they receive
for their work is honestly embarrassing. Let’s hope that
every time we come across one of these officers who staff
our prisons, we might shake their hand and say thanks
for a job well done. Just that small gesture alone could
incredibly improve morale of our colleagues that staff our
prisons.
The Forgotten Cop
At a recent memorial service for correctional officers,
everyone was given a handout that brings to light the
difficult situation that these men and women face each
and every day. Here are those comments:
So until next time, you’all be careful out there, you hear.
Judge Gist is completing his 40th year as a Criminal District Judge. Previously, he served as an Assistant District
Attorney for 10 years. He is a Board Certified Specialist in
both Criminal Law and Criminal Appellate Law by the State
Bar of Texas. He served as Chair of the Judicial Advisory
Council for 19 years before being appointed by the Governor as a member of the Texas Board of Criminal Justice.
The first State Jail was named after him and he has twice
been elected Chairman of the Criminal Law Section of the
State Bar of Texas.
“We are Correctional Officers, not guards (who are
people that watch school crossings). We work at minimum,
medium and maximum security Correctional Facilities.
We are empowered by the State to enforce the Penal
Laws and the rules and regulations of the Department of
Criminal Justice. In short, we are policemen. Our beat is
totally inhabited by convicted felons who, by definition, are
people who tend to break laws. We are outnumbered by
as many as 200 to 1 at various times of our workday and
contrary to popular belief, we work without a side arm.
In short, our necks are on the line every minute of
every day. A Correctional Facility is a very misunderstood
environment.
The average person has very little
knowledge of its workings. Society sends it’s criminals
to Correctional Facilities and as time passes, each
criminal’s crime fades from memory until the collective
prison population becomes hordes of bad people being
warehoused away from decent people where they can
cause no further harm.
Another TSTA Service for Members:
INCREASED AD&D BENEFIT
We are pleased to announce to our members that at NO
COST TO YOU, we have renewed your Accidental Death
and Dismemberment Benefit at an increased amount of
$4,000 for each of you.
You do not have to return the card if all you
want is the $4,000 AD&D benefit.
There is also the notion that prison inmates cease
to be the problem when they are incarcerated. But
Correctional Facilities are full of violence perpetrated by
the prison population against other offenders as well as
the facility staff. Felonies are committed daily but are
rarely reported. They are called “unusual incidents” and
rarely result in criminal prosecution. Discipline is handled
internally and, as a rule, the public is seldom informed.
However, if you are interested in participating
in the Health Services Discount Card which can
save your family 20-60% on vision care, hearing
care, prescription drugs and chiropractic - along
with receiving Child Safe Kits for your children
and grandchildren, members should return the
reply card for further information.
In the course of maintaining order in these facilities,
many officers have endured the humiliation of having
urine and feces thrown on them. Numerous correction
officers have been kicked, bitten, stabbed and slashed
with homemade weapons, taken hostage, murdered
and even raped in the line of duty, all while being legally
mandated to maintain the professional composure and
refraining from any retaliation which could be the basis
for dismissal from service.
An American Income Life (AIL) representative will contact
you to set up an appointment to deliver and explain the nocost benefits. This program is not insurance, so members
are not required to fill out forms. All they need to do is show
a discount card when they visit a participating pharmacy or
health care provider.
The TSTA provider is very strong financially. TSTA has
been working with them for the past several years with outstanding service provided on all levels.
In addition to these obvious dangers, Correctional
2
Trooper Joe Koslowski...Continued from front page
parents. His A&M Cadet Corps scholarship was approved
- and his choice was easy.
www.texasstatetroopers.org
Please visit our web site.
In 2005, at age 19, he was in College Station,
Texas, as an Aggie. He got homesick the first year,
but the support of his parents and his new A&M friends
helped. His major was Forestry. He began saying the
Texas “howdy” to everyone. He got a part-time job as
an Emergency Management Technician (EMT), and also
became a volunteer fire fighter, which made him a “First
Responder.” He was a busy student with classes, cadet
corps activities and part-time emergency work.
If you have an email address,
please send it to Claude Hart at:
Claude.Hart@texasstatetroopers.org
his area. There are many vehicle crashes that keep
Franklin’s eight troopers busy. It is a tight, small rural
community where people know each other. Trooper
Kozlowski knows almost all the police officers, sheriff’s
deputies, and EMS technicians in the county (Robertson),
many of whom are from the nearby town of Hearne
(population 5,000). “Our law agencies back-up here is
great,” says Trooper Joe. “Regardless of which officer
you are - city police, deputy, constable or trooper - the
one nearest you when you call for back-up will get there
fast.”
Most of the highway
patrol troopers, including
Joe Kozlowski, are young.
Most have worked bad
highway crashes, some
of them with fatalities.
He has worked many
first responder situations
that give him young age
wisdom and experience.
This includes disasters
from
hurricanes
and
other emergencies where
he worked with many
people who were injured
or devastated. He helped
many storm refugees who
needed food, first-aid,
clothing and shelter. He
has been in and out of
many hospitals.
This enabled him to work with a strong and wellequipped statewide emergency organization, Texas Task
Force One, TX-TF1. This was a large specialized search
and rescue organization that utilized logistical and human
resources from firefighters, EMS, law enforcement,
military, engineering, medical and more. He was following
in his parents’ career footsteps.
Joe attended all Aggie home field football games.
One night, with some comrades after a game, he went
to a seafood restaurant. He became acquainted with a
pretty waitress. Her name was Holly, and she was also
an A&M student, from Abilene. He discovered he liked
that seafood restaurant - and her. He ate seafood often!
They began to date.
After graduation from A&M, he got a job with the Texas
Forest Service in Abilene, the hometown of his favorite
girlfriend. There he found himself involved with Texas
wildfires. He worked with several emergency services
people - and often side-by-side with DPS troopers. During
this time, Joe and Holly got married. On one occasion he
attended a DPS Emergency Management Conference,
where there were several DPS troopers.
In a conversation, one of the DPS officers got Joe’s
special attention when he said, “We may have a career
for you.”
The words stuck with Joe Kozlowski. He had always
admired the troopers, having shared tasks with them.
He knew they were often first responders in emergency
situations. He discussed a law enforcement career with
his wife, and she was supportive of it. In May, 2013,
he applied with DPS, and was soon accepted for recruit
training in Austin. His trooper recruit class (B-13) started
in July, and he graduated in December. His first duty
assignment: the Highway Patrol, with his DPS office in
the little town of Franklin - only 30 miles from the Texas
A&M campus. They live near the campus, now. It’s a
long way from his hometown in New Jersey.
Trooper
Kozlowski,
perhaps typical of many
young troopers in the
highway patrol today, is
aware of the ever-present
need for alertness and
caution with every highway
stop.
He appreciates
the repetitous reminders
in
TSTA’s
monthly
publication: “There are
no routine stops.” He is
proud to wear the DPS
uniform and is also aware
of its physical impact on citizens. “Recently,” he says, “a
lady stopped me and simply thanked me for being a DPS
trooper. I think the uniform got her attention.”
Lots of traffic from Highways 79 and 190 pass through
WE CARE
He adds, “I was also proud to wear the uniform of the
Texas A&M Cadet Corps.”
About troopers, all our
officers, and everyone in
public safety work.
Although his DPS career is in an early stage, Joe
Kozlowski knows that being a state trooper is a “good
fit” for him. He has always liked the challenge of helping
Continued on page 4
3
Trooper Joe Koslowski...Continued from page 3
With the highway patrol, there
are no routine stops
people. (“We protect everybody.”) Concerning highway
dangers, job stress or disappointments and how to handle
them, he relies on his proven inner assets. They include
prayer, faith in God which he shares with his wife, and
continual support from his family who now live in Virginia,
plus other family members who live along the East coast.
To our members, other law officers and new citizen viewers/
readers: Remind a friend that
they can enjoy Texas State Trooper each month by clicking onto:
As to his being a converted Texan from New Jersey,
he says, “I got here as fast as I could! I was born to be a
Texan.” Being an Aggie in Texas, he knows, is also a “a
good fit.” He has many Aggie friends. There is the Aggie
brotherhood. And what’s the value in having an Aggie
wife? “Tremendous!” he says.
www.texasstatetroopers.org
It’s about what DPS troopers are
doing daily to protect the lives and
properties of Texas people, pass
the word!
WE
CARE
About troopers, all our
officers, and everyone in
public safety work.
HUNT WITH YOUR SON TODAY
Does he have a few words of advice for other young
troopers?
“It’s sometimes easy to get discouraged. When you
do, remember why you became a trooper. We are here
to serve and protect.”
By Jack Lawler
TSTA
Membership
Advantages
• Free Last Will & Testament
• Free AD&D Insurance
• Emergency Assistance
• Legal Assistance
• Legislative Representation
• Personal Counsel
• Monthly Newsletter (Online)
…AND YOU WON’T HAVE TO
HUNT FOR HIM TOMORROW
4
ATTENTION, TSTA MEMBERS
AND FRIENDS OF LAW
ENFORCEMENT!
THERE IS SOMETHING YOU CAN DO TO HELP.
If you know of something good or beneficial that a law
officer has done - in your community or on the highway,
tell us about it in a brief email or letter, and TSTA will print.
Send to:
Editor, Texas State Trooper
Texas State Troopers Association
5555 North Lamar Blvd., Ste. D111
Austin, TX 78751
E-mail: jack.lawler@aol.com
(512) 450-1814 or 1-800-289-8782
Be assured that the Texas State Troopers Association
supports DPS troopers and all other Texas law officers.
And they want to protect our society, you, your family and
your children, the leaders of tomorrow. Yes, we like kids.
With our trooper members, we’ve done youth work.
Law officers are “on trial” today - at least by the news
media and certain segments of society. *Television,
especially, seems to repeatedly show controversial
scenes in which an officer uses force on a seemingly good
citizen - not bothering to report or show what preceded
the officers action. It has had its negative effect with
busy media watchers or readers who absorb only bits
and pieces of the report. The news media, especially
television, has power as it enters citizen homes
In these troubled days of violence and increased crime,
the media and other segments of society usually fail to
report or seemingly be aware of the daily good things that
law officers do. These include youth work and assistance
to schools, helping stranded elderly motorists, rescuing
a kidnapped child, saving someone from a car wreck or
doing community service.
Or, stopping a deranged shooter at a high school or
college - while risking their own lives.
The East Texas home of Bob Wheat, who wrote the article “True
friend” on page 06.
5
“A TRUE FRIEND FROM
THE--------PAST?”
I frequently rode “shotgun” with a few DPS highway
patrolmen friends.
One particular cold night, we were called to a multiplevehicle accident scene out on the Interstate. After we
arrived on the scene, one young patrolman walked up
to me, extended his hand and said, “Hey, its been a long
time, good to see you. I’m Lee, remember me?”
It was a good hour and one half before dawn broke
when I dialed the phone number, hoping I would hear a
friendly voice, not a grouchy sleepy response.
“Morning” was the cheerful response. Not hesitating, I
answered quickly, “Same to you Lee Johnson. Man, I’m
in a real hurt this morning! One of my loader truck drivers
called in sick and my schedule is really full and tight. If
you’re off, can you come help me today?”
As I shook his hand, I tried remembering “Lee” but
could not place him. His face, demeanor and voice all
seemed so familiar, but I could not place him, - but knew
I did know him, - but from where?
After everything was finished at the accident scene,
Lee walked up to me and asked, “How about a cup of
coffee to warm us up?”
Back when I was in the Crop-Dusting business in
Southeast Texas, our day started about 4:00 am and
ended about 10:00 pm. We had many rice and soybean
farmers who needed seeding, fertilizing or spraying and
of course, “needed it today”. So our schedules were
almost down to the minutes trying to accommodate our
customers with our four Ag Cat aircrafts.
“Sure,” I replied. So several other patrolmen and I
followed Lee to the coffee house. As we sat talking, Lee
looked at me and asked, “Where do we know each other
from?”
Now, usually my loader trucks would leave my airport
early, headed out to some satellite landing strip, for most
farmers had their own little landing strip on or very near
their farms. Getting a late start with no loader truck meant
really blowing the schedule all to pieces, and upsetting
the next farmer in line for his work.
“Lee,” I responded, “I’ve racked my brain and I can’t
place it, but I know you from somewhere in the past.”
We continued comparing our lives, but could not come
up with anything, but we knew we knew each other and
felt as if we were close as brothers.
“Bob, give me just a few minutes and I’ll be there,”
replied Lee.
As the years flew by Lee and I spent many hours fishing
and hunting. We maintained the same respect for each
other from that first encounter on that cold winter night we
met, maybe not really a meeting, but it was a reunion that
night on the Interstate.
“Thanks Lee,” I replied with a sigh of relief.
Back when I was a kid, my friends and I seemed
inseparable. We played ball together, swam together,
roamed the woods together and depended on each other.
There were four of us boys and one girl (tomboy) who
made up our group. If one of us had a chance to go to the
movies, we made sure all of us went together.
Lee eventually retired from DPS and became an
attorney. I retired years later from crop-dusting and
moved from the area. Every now and then, I would feel
the need to call Lee and to talk to my true friend.
Forty-six years later from that night so long ago, I still
knew that if I called on Lee, he would be there if I needed
help. Throughout my life, I have been blessed with many
friends. But, you know, this is a pretty unique friendship, a
really true friendship that came from that chance meeting.
Or was it just a strange twist of fate that found and united
long-lost friends? Perhaps from another time or place or
another----calling?
Eventually, we grew up and graduated from high
school. Some of us went to college, some went to work
or joined the military, or got married and had kids. At
each change of our lives, we developed new interests,
new hobbies and new friend’s. Memories of old friends
drifted away. Even though we tried to keep “in touch”, old
school buddies faded away.
While in high school, working for a crop-dusting
business, I taught myself to fly, and after a couple of
years in college, I began, at 19 years of age, being a
full-fledged commercial “crop duster” pilot, fulfilling my
lifetime dream.
In the 1960’s, Lee and I used to hunt the Nutria rats that
numbered in the thousands in the bayous and marshes
that meandered through Chambers and Jefferson
Counties. Farmers allowed us to help rid their canals
and fields of these burrowing creatures, a brown furry
little rodent with webbed feet.
Throughout my career, many new faces came into my
life.
One very cold winter night, Lee and I decided to go rat
hunting on one of the local bayous. We launched our
small flat-bottom boat around midnight. The night was
dark, no moon, no wind and temperatures in the mid-
One particular meeting, by chance, occurred during
the winter of 1967. During the off-season of flying,
Continued on page 7
WE CARE
TEXAS STATE TROOPERS ASSOCIATION
6
A True Friend From the Past...Continued from page 6
30’s. As we drifted silently down the bayou, spotlighting
those yellow eyes, we harvested a good number of the
nutria and were about a mile from our launch site, when
suddenly we looked at each other and asked, “Did you
hear what sounded like a call for help?”
We listened and wondered if we heard a voice from far
away, as sound travels a long way on a cold still night.
In a few minutes we again heard the faint call, “Help us,
we’re freezing.”
Still drifting slowly down the bayou, we suddenly
saw an overturned boat in the cold dark waters.
Bob Wheat, crop duster and former deputy sheriff
Wheat is now semi-retired and lives in East Texas north of
Tyler. He started flying at age 19, often rode with troopers.
Immediately we pulled over to the bank and hollered out,
“Where are you?” Immediately, a faint voice replied back,
“we’re over the bank in the tall brush.”
Immediately, Lee and I scrambled over the bank and
began searching. Quickly we found two older gentlemen
huddled tightly together, shaking and blue from the cold.
Helping them to their feet, working our way through the
thick brush back to the top of the bank, we put our coats
on the elderly fellows and told them we would right their
boat, get them in it and tow them back to our vehicle.
Soon, we had the two older men back to our pickup,
heater going full blast. They slowly began to warm up.
Asking them what had happened, they replied that they
were running their trot line when both of them got on the
same side of the boat and capsized it, throwing them into
the dark cold water. Losing their light, they managed to
struggle to shore. Very quickly, cold and numbness set
in. After about an hour, with no other alternative, and far
from the highway, at 1:00 am at night, they knew no one
was around to help, so they huddled together, waiting for
the inevitable.
Former State Trooper Lee Johnson is a Beaumont practicing
attorney who founded the Texas State Troopers Association.
same bayou, that far downstream, and chance upon two
cold, wet freezing old men that cold, dark night?
Later on, as Lee and I sat over hot coffee, we both
decided, “you know, we actually did save those two old
men’s lives that night.”
After a while, both men recovered enough to get into
their truck and go home. Thanking us with full sincerity,
and with a long handshake, they knew we had saved
their lives.
I believe that because both Lee and I are old men now,
maybe it’s time someone knows this story, and that we
were unsung heroes --------
What were the odds that two hunters would be on the
Bob Wheat
Health tips
who said they didn’t have sleep apnea began to develop
memory loss around age 90.
Sleep apnea and memory
impairment
On the plus side, treatment for sleep apnea with
continuous positive air pressure (CPAP) therapy seemed
to erase any difference. The age of onset for memory
decline among those who were treated for sleep apnea
was almost identical to the age of onset for those without
sleep apnea.
Brain researchers have suspected that sleep apnea,
a common breathing disorder that makes it hard to
sleep and breathe at the same time, might be linked
in some way to memory impairment disorders such as
Alzheimer’s. A study published earlier this year provides
the best evidence to date that this may in fact be the case.
Although the results show an association, it’s still not clear
whether sleep apnea actually causes memory decline. The
results may provide an additional incentive for those who
may have sleep apnea to seek medical help, especially
since untreated sleep apnea can cause other complications,
such as high blood pressure and stroke.
The report’s authors analyzed medical history data from
participants of a large, long-standing study, the Alzheimer’s
Disease Neuroimaging Initiative. Investigators compared
self-reported sleep apnea with the age of onset of mild
cognitive impairment (MCI), a precursor to Alzheimer’s,
or Alzheimer’s disease itself. Those who reported having
sleep apnea began to show signs of MCI at age 77. Those
Reprint from Mayo Clinic Health Letter, October, 2015.
WHEN THE NEED IS GREAT
TSTA IS THERE
7
WHAT YOUR $25 ANNUAL TSTA DUES BUYS
*Free Last Will & Testament -TSTA Member and His/Her Spouse
Trooper becomes a commissioned officer and puts life on the line every day
Trooper marries
Trooper adds baby(ies) to family
Trooper divorces
Trooper divorces and then remarries
These are a few reasons TSTA members have taken advantage of this benefit. All are important reasons to have a
will in place and also redone when circumstances change. TSTA furnishes this service at no cost.
*Free AD&D Insurance - Up to $4,000
A TSTA member is killed while on vacation in a freak accident.
A TSTA member is killed in the line of duty.
No matter how a member meets his end, as long as it is an accident the insurance pays--also if member loses limb
or sight due to an accident the insurance pays.
*Emergency Assistance - Disaster/Death
Flood waters from hurricane ruined their home. Electricity was out and all their food ruined. Furniture, computers
& TV’s all ruined. Homeowners insurance covered some, but not all--not motel bills or insurance deductible. TSTA
members got an immediate assistance check through their membership.
A TSTA member was killed in a highway crash. His wife received a $2000 TSTA emergency assistance check
immediately (this type gift is not always automatic). It did not heal the grief of the lost husband/father, but it provided
fast help until the insurance paid off.
*Legal Assistance
A Highway Patrol Trooper arrested a young DWI who spent a few hours in jail. The young man’s father, a city council
official in their town, filed a lawsuit against the Trooper. For various reasons, DPS legal services did not defend him.
But TSTA did-with their attorney, whose services were worth big money. The suit was settled peaceably out of court. It
happened just that way because the HP Trooper had joined TSTA and paid his $25 annual dues.
*Legislative Representation
A Highway Patrol Trooper was injured and disabled for life. TSTA helped him financially early. Later, working with
troopers and other DPS friends and utilizing its lobbyist, TSTA helped the injured trooper secure lifetime disability
income from the state.
TSTA members are employed by the state. This means that they serve at the discretion of the Texas Legislature,
which controls the law enforcement budget. This controls DPS officers’ salaries and other financial factors which affect
the officer’s career and his family. TSTA maintains close relations with senators and state representatives. Yes, TSTA
is a lobbyist for DPS trooper/members. Its knowledgeable people often explain trooper needs to these elected officials.
The TSTA/legislative relationship is a good one, valuable to DPS commissioned officers.
*Personal Counsel
Many situations arise in an officer’s life, both professional and personal. They can be discouraging and stressful, such
as illness in the family or injury to the officer. TSTA is here for you with advice and assistance -just call.
*Online Monthly Newsletter
If you are a TSTA member and have filled out an on-line profile, it will be delivered straight to your in-box. Otherwise,
you can go to www.texasstatetroopers.org to access. You’ll get unique articles and pictures about troopers, families…
their accomplishments and problems. Also DPS events and new equipment, legislative news, courtroom criminal/legal
analysis by veteran criminal Judge Larry Gist - and even a few chuckles. Look for it the first week of every month.
YOU GET SO MUCH VALUABLE HELP FOR A ONE-TIME ANNUAL
MEMBERSHIP FEE OF $25. WHAT A GREAT BARGAIN AND A GREAT GIFT
TO YOUR FAMILY.
8
Kuempel’s
Korner
The computer saves a man alot of guesswork. So does a
woman’s bikini.
****
“Why pay money to have your family tree traced; run for
office and your opponents will do it for you.”
~Author unknown~
The journey of a thousand miles often begins with a
cash advance.
****
****
Before you judge a man, walk a mile in his shoes. After that, who cares? He’s a mile away and you’ve got his
shoes.
~Billy Connolly~
Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance.
****
If at first you don’t succeed, skydiving is not for you.
****
Listening is a lost art.
****
****
Always remember that you are unique, just like everybody else.
****
A trooper friend of ours reports, on his 20th wedding
anniversary, “I have learned 2 ways of handling women:
neither one works.”
****
Confucius say man who dream about being a muffler
will wake up exhausted.
****
Save money on quality JUSTIN
Never play leapfrog with a unicorn.
TROOPER BOOTS!
****
On a repair shop door: We can repair anything. (Please
knock hard - the bell doesn’t work.)
•soft, durable leather • cushion insole
• high abrasion, oil-resistant sole and
heel • long-wearing • meet DPS uniform
requirements!
****
100% of missed putts don’t go in.
****
Price includes
shipping
There can be gold in your golden years.
****
Maintain your dream - never give it up.
handcrafted
in USA!
****
The art of being wise is knowing what to overlook.
10-inch
COWBOY
****
We all learn by experience but some of us have to go to
summer school.
$139.00
****
There are three kinds of people: Those who can count,
and those who cannot.
****
The Bible that is falling apart often belongs to someone
who isn’t.
****
This is a special members’ benefit purchase
through TSTA arrangements with Richland Shoe
Company. To order, call TSTA at 1-800-289-8782.
Silence is often the best answer.
9
Soaring through life
With troopers on the highway,
there are no routine stops
Ever been to Albuquerque and ridden the famous tram
to the top of Sandia Peak? The ride is long, but rewards
you with a spectacular view from the top of the 12,000-ft.high peak.’’ As we got on the tram car at the bottom of the
mountain we saw a young man struggling to get on the
train with a huge canvas bag. At the top we helped him
unload the bag and watched with curiosity as he dragged
it to a preselected spot beside a sheer drop-off to the
valley below. He unzipped the bag and pulled out pieces
of aluminum tubing and nylon cloth and began to piece
together a hang glider!
The Armed Citizen
• Hey, burglars, a North Carolina sheriff has the lowdown for you: If you’re breaking into someone’s home
because you have a drug habit, break into the home of
a drug dealer—it’s safer than picking a home at random.
Catawba County Sheriff Coy Reid offered that advice
after a homeowner used a 12-ga. shotgun to kill one of
two people who had kicked down his door and entered his
home in late February. The dead man had a criminal record
of misdemeanor and felony charges. The second suspect
fled after the shooting; if apprehended, he could face murder charges because a death occurred during the commission of a crime. North Carolina has a “stand your ground”
law, and charges against the homeowner are not expected.
(Hickory Daily Record, Hickory, NC, 2/25/15)
We watched as he assembled the glider, walked around
it a couple of times checking every joint and connection,
making sure every guy wire was tight. Satisfied that it
was all secure, he went to the edge of the cliff, tied a
yellow ribbon on a branch to check the direction of the
wind, put on his helmet, and strapped on the hang glider.
As we literally caught our breath, he ran as fast as he
could and jumped from the top of the mountain.
• Two good Samaritans from Rockford, Ill., attempted
to intervene during a public domestic dispute and were
rewarded for their good deed by being attacked by one of
the actors. The pair was traveling in a pickup truck when
they encountered a couple arguing in or near a sport utility vehicle. When they approached the arguing couple,
the man in the dispute used his vehicle to strike one of
the interceders. Seeing that the driver of the automobile
was preparing to hit the victim again, in an effort to protect
his friend the other man produced his legally concealed
handgun and fired five shots in the direction of the driver.
While he was not struck by any bullets, the fusillade did
cause the driver of the vehicle to jump a curb and crash
into a street sign. When police arrived the suspect was
charged with aggravated battery with a vehicle and domestic battery. Neither good Samaritan was seriously injured during the incident. (Rockford Register Star, Rockford, IL, 6/20/15) From
He fell a few feet as the wind caught the sails of the
glider and then gracefully and quietly he glided across
the valley until he encountered what aeronautical experts
call a “thermal,” an invisible column of hot air that spirals
upward like a mini-tornado. Having found his thermal,
our young pilot circled over it like a giant bird and began
From the Armed Citizen® Archives
December 1970
Noticing someone breaking into a neighbor’s apartment,
Gary Messersmith, of Santa Ana, Calif., phoned police and
went to the rear of the apartment with his shotgun. He arrived in time to intercept a man climbing out of the rear window with a typewriter. Messersmith covered him until police
arrived. (Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, CA)
to gain altitude. He was soon lifted back to our eye level
as we stood on top of Sandia Peak. Before long he was
gliding silently, gracefully, 2000 feet above us, upheld by
his invisible column of air.
Reprint from the American Rifleman, August 28, 2015.
A loud roar distracted our attention. Down below us
at the Albuquerque airport, a 727 jet was lumbering at
full power down the runway for takeoff. The sound of
its huge engines, burning hundreds of pounds of fuel,
was echoing all the way to the top of Sandia. We could
see and hear the plane as it struggled to lift its load off
the concrete, inching its way higher, reaching to clear
the mountains. All the while, our hang glider friend was
circling effortlessly, silently, gracefully, 15,000 feet in the
air, lifted by his invisible column of support.
DPS trooper struck by
vehicle during traffic stop
MANVEL, TX (KTRK) -- A state trooper has been injured after he was struck by a vehicle in Brazoria County.
It happened along CR 58 near CR 48 near Manvel.
We had seen a graphic reminder of the power to soar
above the discouragements of life, made available by
depending not on the visible, but on the invisible and
eternal. We don’t have to rely on our own cleverness,
courage, or endurance. As believers we have the invisible
power of God to lift us.
Author Unknown
DPS officials say trooper James Wright was assisting
another trooper on a vehicle search when another car
came along and struck the him. He was taken by ambulance to Memorial Hermann Hospital in stable condition.
Trooper Wright’s father is retired Texas State Trooper
Jimmy Wright.
Reprint: Texas Police News, Sept. 16, 2015.
10
New education opportunities
for DPS and other Texas law
officers/veterans
advisors are prepared to help students explore scholarship,
grant, and loan opportunities, and are available to assist students
wanting to turn the goal of a college education into a reality.
This University has programs designed to fit into a law
officer’s duty schedule. Whether you prefer day, evening,
or online classes, or a combination, they work hard to help
you get what you need. It offers everything from certificates
and diplomas to advanced degrees, so no matter what
your personal or professional responsibilities and schedule
might be, its programs are designed to provide you the
convenience and flexibility that you need. Many students
choose to take advantage of Sullivan University’s unique
“stairstep” approach to education, through which student’s
progress from diploma or certificate in as little as ninemonths, and then begin working in their career field while
continuing forward into Associates, Bachelors, Masters, and
even Doctoral degree programs.
Sullivan University offers strong discount
credit hour rate for law officers/veterans
This large, accredited and modern Kentucky University
which has long emphasized helping military personnel
earn college degrees, is now helping law officers
graduate from college. It has recognized the unique and
special contributions of law officers to their communities
and is now rewarding them with a reduced rate on tuition.
Only a handful of universities are doing this. Sullivan is
giving Texas law officers low military rates. As the current
median costs with other universities has often been
prohibitive, this is worth looking at.
Worth repeating: Texas law officers can get a degree
online if they are willing to study during off-duty
hours. And Sullivan University has a representative
in Texas who can get you started.
Why should a DPS officer seek a college degree? It
can help him get promotions. It can help him change
laterally. (Example: investigative work.) And, it can
provide something to fall back on upon retirement, or
should he leave his law enforcement career.
Sullivan University is regionally accredited by the Southern
Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) to award
Associates, Bachelors, Masters, and Doctorate degrees.
If interested you can contact the SACS Commission
on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia
30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the
accreditation of Sullivan University.
If you would like more information about Sullivan
University’s Law Enforcement Discount and its many online
degree programs, please contact Rey Cordero at 502-7243083. He’s in Texas. Or, call TSTA at 1-800-289-8782.
www.texasstatetroopers.org
Please visit our web site.
If you have an email address,
please send it to Claude Hart at:
DPS and other Texas law officers are now able to take
advantage of $160 per credit hour tuition and an online
fee of $50 per credit hour, totaling a discounted rate
of $210 per credit hour. This is far less than a $334
per credit hour median cost for non-military or non law
enforcement students. Currently no other university in
the U.S. offers a discount this significant to law officers.
Claude.Hart@texasstatetroopers.org
TSTA
Membership
Advantages
Sullivan University is Kentucky’s largest private college
or university, (campuses in Louisville, Lexington and
Fort Knox). One of its core beliefs is that anyone should
be able to afford a quality college education and so it
offers competitive tuition rates to the law enforcement
community of Texas. Experienced, professional financial
• Free Last Will & Testament
• Free AD&D Insurance
• Emergency Assistance
• Legal Assistance
• Legislative Representation
• Personal Counsel
• Monthly Newsletter (Online)
TSTA wholeheartedly supports
all 100 Clubs of Texas.
11
Statement of Purpose
Texas State Trooper is an official publication of the Texas State Troopers
Association. Should you have news you would like published, mail it to:
Texas State Troopers Association
5555 North Lamar, Ste. D111 Austin, TX 78751
E-mail us at TSTAMAIL@aol.com
Website: www.texasstatetroopers.org
The Texas State Troopers Association is open to all first-line commissioned members of the Department of Public Safety, both current and former.
TSTA intends no indictment of those of supervisory rank through their exclusion as members of this organization. We do understand, however, that no
association can be all things to all people. Therefore, we have chosen to represent those who need our services more: first-line troopers. This policy negates
the probability of conflict of interest that stems from multi-class representation.
TSTA will work hard for the betterment of life for every member of the
department.
FOR MEMBERSHIP: Complete the application below. Mail
it and a check for $25 payable to the Texas State Troopers Association
to the address at the top of the application. Include your jacket size: M,
L, XL, XXL or XXXL. Your cap and jacket will be mailed to you. Or you
may register and pay your dues online at www.texasstatetroopers.org.
WILLS: Members are reminded that one of your benefits from
TSTA is the free preparation of a last will and testament. This service
is performed by Lee Johnson. He may be contacted at:
Lee Johnson, Attorney-at-Law
12710 Koawood, Beaumont, TX 77713
Telephone: (C) 409-351-9090
E-mail: leejatty@gmail.com
Date_______________
Jacket Size__________
Name (Last)
MOVING?
Print old address:
Name___________________________________
Address_________________________________
City__________________State____Zip_______
Print your new address here.
Name___________________________________
Address_________________________________
City__________________State____Zip_______
Mail to: TSTA
5555 North Lamar, Ste. D111
Austin, TX 78751
or E-mail to
Claude.Hart@texasstatetroopers.org.
2016
Application for Membership
TEXAS STATE TROOPERS ASSOCIATION
5555 N. Lamar, Ste. D111, Austin, Texas 78751
(M)
LRE_________________
Payment_____________
www.texasstatetroopers.org
Dues $25
(First)
For Office Use Only
Date of Birth
Rank/Service
Home Address
(Street, City, Zip Code)
Home Phone Number (include area code)
Office Address
(Street, City, Zip Code)
Office Phone Number (include area code)
Date Employed
Date of Commission
Date of Termination (if no longer w/DPS)
Membership dues paid to TSTA are not deductible as gifts or charitable contributions but may be deductible under
an IRC Section other than Section 170 (c).
I,__________________________________________, request membership into the Texas State Troopers Association,
and if accepted agree to abide by the Constitution and Bylaws of the Association, the rules and decisions of its officers. I also agree to pay annual dues of Twenty-Five (25) Dollars for all of a calendar year or any part thereof.
I understand that any unreasonable failure to assist a fellow member of the Texas State Troopers Association will result in this membership being cancelled by the board of directors at their option.
I also understand this membership will terminate immediately if I am promoted to any supervisory rank of sergeant or above.
Signature of Applicant
Date
12
E-mail address
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