State Police Association of Massachusetts

2011 SPAM Benevolent Fund Benefit Gala Tickets On Sale Now!

2011-11-03T12:41:23Z

In case you missed the last one…

2011-11-03T11:57:09Z

The dust has hardly settled from the last MSP cruiser being struck, but not to be outdone is this rocket scientist whose destination was obviously more important than getting there safely:

State Police Cruiser Struck

Sergeant Not Injured In Fall River Crash

BOSTON — A Massachusetts State Police sergeant’s cruiser was struck Tuesday by a car while the sergeant was working a paid detail in Fall River.

The sergeant was inside his 2005 Ford Crown Victoria cruiser on Route 79 northbound, north of the Braga Bridge, when the cruiser was struck by a 2000 Mercury Marquis…

Read more: http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/29246751/detail.html#ixzz1YX89gVHM

Driver’s licenses? Who needs ‘em?

2011-09-20T19:04:28Z

September 13, 2011: Troopers Richard Gawron and Vinton-Ann Johnson interview the operator of a minivan involved in a multi-vehicle crash on I-91 in Springfield at the beginning of the morning rush hour. After allegedly running a second vehicle into a guardrail and then flipping his minivan over into the travel lane, the unlicensed foreign national climbed out of his car and decided to just walk away, leaving his wake of destruction behind. A Trooper assigned to the Fire Marshal’s office located the wayward operator on a nearby off-ramp and brought him back to the scene, where he was subsequently placed into custody by Trooper Johnson.

Here We Go Again…

2011-11-03T12:10:11Z

Crash Injures State Police Trooper

AUBURN, Mass. — A Massachusetts state police trooper is recovering after his cruiser was struck Monday night.Officials said the crash happened on Route 290 West in Auburn about 8:40 p.m.Investigators said another vehicle struck the back of the cruiser while the trooper was assigned to protecting a road construction detail. The trooper was inside the vehicle when the crash occurred, state police said.

Read more: http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/29237424/detail.html#ixzz1YWAVvMfs

Just the tip of the iceberg…

http://public.masstroopers.us/2011/01/mass-trooper-injured-when-cruiser-struck-on-pike/

http://public.masstroopers.us/2010/09/ct-trooper-killed-by-speeding-motorist/

http://public.masstroopers.us/2010/07/3-troopers-struck-in-2-weeks-slow-down-move-over/

http://public.masstroopers.us/2010/06/veteran-trooper-and-father-of-4-killed-by-drunk-driver/

http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011309060001

http://www1.whdh.com/news/articles/local/boston/12004431263558/mass-police-cruiser-hit-by-wrong-way-driver/

…and so on…

Ever Vigilant…

2011-01-19T09:03:31Z

State Police assist Springfield PD, locating a vehicle sought in criminal activity,

Mass Trooper Injured when Cruiser Struck on Pike

2011-11-03T12:03:16Z

Driver responsible for crash cited for careless driving and open alcohol container.

Trooper Steven Larocco had stopped on the eastbound side of the highway near Exit 8 shortly after 7:00 a.m. to assist a disabled Jeep Liberty between the median and the left lane. Larocco was in his cruiser with his emergency lights on when a Dodge Avenger plowed into the back of his cruiser, crushing the trunk of the cruiser into the back seat and pushing the cruiser into the disabled Jeep.

Trooper Larocco suffered injuries, was transported to Baystate Medical Center in Springfield and later released. The driver of the Avenger, Robert Murangi, 40, was cited for failure to take care in stopping and for having an open container of alcohol while driving.

2 arrested, cocaine and cash seized in Worcester

2011-11-03T12:03:59Z

Trooper Oliver was curious why the men traveled to Springfield all the way from Lawrence for diapers.

By Scott J. Croteau

TELEGRAM & GAZETTE

Narcotics and cash located by Troopers Dana Oliver, Matthew Moran, Raymond Jones and K9 Dakar.

WORCESTER — Air fresheners strewn inside a Jeep Cherokee pulled over by state police Saturday afternoon on Interstate 290 raised a trooper’s suspicions and couldn’t keep a state police dog from sniffing out roughly a half-kilogram of cocaine.

The two men in the Jeep — Joel M. Alicea, 28, of Lawrence, and Alejandro Nunez Perez, 28, of Methuen — are now facing cocaine trafficking charges after the bust and their arraignment yesterday in Central District Court.

CT Trooper Killed by Speeding Motorist

2011-11-03T12:04:37Z

Motorist with lengthy motor vehicle violation history and almost a dozen suspensions speeding and weaving across lanes before crashing into Trooper on the roadside. No excuses, no shifting the blame.

To EVERYONE out on the roads, PUT DOWN YOUR IPOD, HANG UP THE PHONE, PUT AWAY YOUR MAKEUP, STOW THE NEWSPAPER, SLOW DOWN, PAY ATTENTION AND STOP MAIMING AND KILLING POLICE OFFICERS!!! THEIR LIVES ARE WORTH MORE THAN 5 SECONDS OFF YOUR TRIP!!!

Boston Globe:

ENFIELD, Conn. — A 32-year-old Enfield man was behind the wheel of a pickup truck that struck a Connecticut police cruiser, killing a state trooper, police said yesterday.

Michael Pajak was speeding Thursday afternoon when the truck he was driving veered into a State Police cruiser parked in the northbound shoulder on Interstate 91 during a traffic stop, police said. Trooper Kenneth Hall was pronounced dead at a Springfield, Mass., hospital…

Hartford Courant via Insurance News:

Driver had License Suspended 10 Times:

Sept. 04–The man who police said veered across I-91 and crashed into a police cruiser Thursday, killing a state trooper, has had his license suspended 10 times, according to the state Department of Motor Vehicles.

In fact, Michael Pajak, 32, of Enfield drove legally for a single day — April 2, 2002 — during the seven years from Nov. 15, 2000, to Sept. 28, 2007, according to DMV records. His license was not suspended at the time of Thursday’s crash.

Pajak also has at least two arrests on a charge of driving while intoxicated, according to court records obtained Friday. It is not clear whether alcohol was involved in Thursday’s crash, which killed Trooper First Class Kenneth Hall.

WGGB ABC40:

Police Procession Honors Trooper Hall

WINDSOR, Conn. (WGGB) — Hundreds of police, fire, and EMS lined Interstate 91 in tribute as the body of Trooper First Class Kenneth Hall was brought back to Connecticut from western Massachusetts.

Trooper Hall was killed while on duty Thursday on I-91 in Enfield.

On Friday, a long procession of police cars accompanied Hall’s body back from Massachusetts to Connecticut…

Masscops:

…I am the father of a 12 year veteran of the Connecticut State Police and signed the petition “MOVE OVER FOR TROOPERS”, that was signed into law by CT Governor Rell.
This most recent tragedy crushes me to the core and I can only say “REST IN PEACE Trooper First Class Kenneth Hall” and be vigilant to all who serve between good and bad.
There are those of us that want each and every one of you to return home safely at the end of your watch. – AHC

3 Troopers struck in 2 weeks: SLOW DOWN…MOVE OVER!

2011-11-03T12:05:22Z

Boston Herald: Cops pushed around on move-over law.

“It’s not taken seriously by the courts and maybe it’s not being respected by the public and it’s my troopers and emergency workers who are at risk,” - Rick Brown, president of the State Police Association of Massachusetts.

More than 1,600 Bay State motorists cited for breaking the highly touted move-over law – and jeopardizing the lives of state and local cops – have beat the reckless driving rap in court despite aggressive ticketing efforts by cops, a Herald review has found.
The shocking new numbers come after two troopers were struck by holiday motorists over the weekend and two weeks after state police Sgt. Douglas Weddleton was killed…

…Officers have handed out 3,792 citations as of March, RMV figures show. Of those citations, 40 percent or 1,509 drivers have been found responsible and paid the $100 fine, while 1,613 drivers beat the ticket, figures show. The remaining 680 citations were entered as defaults or are still pending before the court, the RMV said.

Veteran Trooper and Father of 4 Killed by Drunk Driver

2010-06-18T21:41:26Z

At approximately 1:30 am this morning Sergeant Douglas A. Weddleton assigned to State Police Foxboro was struck and killed by a vehicle while outside his cruiser during a stop of a suspected impaired driver on Rt. 95 North in Mansfield.

Sergeant Weddleton, 52 of Brockton, is a member of the 65^th R.T.T. who began his career in Troop D in May 1983. Sergeant Weddleton spent most of his career assigned to the Firearms Identification Section from 1993 to 2008 before recently transferring to Troop H. Sergeant Weddleton is survived by his wife Judith and four sons Stephen, 26, Mark 23, Ross, 18, and Matthew, 14.

Sergeant Weddleton was a highly respected and esteemed member of the Department known for his expertise as a ballistician and for being a supportive, friendly, and hard working supervisor in the Division of Field Services and Division of Investigative Services. Sergeant Weddleton will be sorely missed by all those who have had the privilege of working with him over his 27 years with the State Police. We are profoundly grateful for his service and sacrifice.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Sergeant Weddleton’s family, friends, and co-workers as they mourn their tragic loss. In the coming days we will do our best to support his family and to acknowledge his service to the Commonwealth and the ultimate sacrifice he made in fulfilling his duties as a state police officer.

Boston Herald: Authorities: Drunk driver killed veteran trooper

Anthony Perry, 45, of Hyde Park is led into Attleboro District Court to face charges of motor vehicle homicide Friday. (Boston Herald Photo)

…Col. Marian McGovern said Trooper Doug Weddleton, 52, was in full uniform and wearing a safety vest at about 1:20 a.m. at the detail on I-95 in Mansfield when he pulled over the driver of an Acura who was weaving on the roadway. As he spoke with that driver – identified as Kenneth Weiand, 43, of Walpole – another driver, Anthony Perry, 45, of Hyde Park allegedly smashed a Ford truck into the Acura, which dragged Weddleton across three lanes, McGovern said.

Perry faces charges of negligent motor vehicle homicide, operating under the influence, negligent operation, speeding and violating the “move over” law. Additional charges are possible pending the results of the investigation. Weiand, who authorities said refused to take a Breathalyzer test, is charged with OUI.

Both Perry and Weiand have lengthy driving records. Perry had his license suspended and reinstated twice during the 1980s and early 1990s. His record includes six surchargeable accidents, several speeding tickets and twice failing to stop for police.