Articles about Members of the Virginia State Police.

"2008 Trooper of the Year"

Trooper Mahalik rescued an unconscious
passenger from this fiery cash scene.

“It’s amazing that anybody got out of that car, much less got out of that car and pulled another passenger to safety,” said Col. Steven Flaherty, Superintendent of the Virginia State Police.

Congratulations Trooper Justin T. Mahalik

Trooper Justin T. Mahalik is honored by the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) as the North-Atlantic Region’s “2008 Trooper of the Year.”  Last May, Trooper Mahalik was stopped out with a violator on Interstate 66 near Route 50 in Northern Virginia.  While seated inside his patrol car with the violator, Trooper Mahalik’s vehicle was rear-ended by a drunken driver.  The impact caused the patrol car to catch fire, which quickly spread through the vehicle.  Despite suffering spinal injuries and burns to his legs, Trooper Mahalik managed to escape his burning patrol car, get around to the passenger side, and pull the unconscious violator from the front seat.

Moments later the patrol vehicle was engulfed in flames.  The drunk driver was not injured in the crash and the original violator suffered only minor injuries, thanks to the trooper’s quick and valiant actions. After surgery and several months of physical therapy, Trooper Mahalik returned to the road last fall and is currently training for his new assignment with the Counter-Terrorism and Criminal Interdiction (CCI) Unit .

Continue reading about Trooper Mahalik's courageous actions

Injured Trooper

Trooper's Car

Trooper Encourages Motorists to Drive Safely

Congratulations from the Superintendent