Spring 2010

  

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For over thirty years, the Virginia State Police Association has had a magazine, the “Trooper”, and a newsletter, the “Informer”. In October of 2007, your Board of Directors decided to change to one publication described as a “hybrid” newsletter.  The first issue of your new Virginia State Police Association newsletter was published in January, 2008.

The new newsletter retains the name of the discontinued magazine.  The “Trooper” newsletter will be distributed quarterly and will be produced for us by the reputable marketing and public relations firm of Neathawk Dubuque & Packett.

Woodrow Wilson said, “If you want to make enemies, try to change something.” So the logical question would be, “Why this change?” There are two major reasons.

The first reason, like most everything in life, has to do with money.  There was a time the magazine was a revenue producer for the Association.  We were able to raise in excess of fifty thousand dollars annually from the ads sold for the magazine. We have seen this steadily decline over the last eight to ten years until it has become a financial liability. We switched last year from the publisher we had employed for years because of declining revenues. The new publisher we hired recently terminated the contract because he was unable to produce the revenue promised.

The second reason has to do with better serving our membership. We believe we can get news and information into our members' hands in a more timely manner with a newsletter. Now when an event occurs, it is written about, the magazine is compiled, it goes through several proofs to insure accuracy, the ads have to be compiled, it goes to the printer, etc, etc.…I think you follow my point. By the time the magazine is distributed, the articles in many cases are “old” news. We believe we will be able to provide information in a timely manner with the streamlined process of an improved newsletter and our constantly improving the VSPA website located on the Internet at www.vspa.org.

The "Trooper" newsletter will continue, as the magazine was published for the Virginia State Police Association and its members, as a membership benefit.  Circulation is controlled to members of the Association, those involved in active law enforcement, members of the legislature and leaders in state and local governments.

 

  
 
Read these feature articles on-line:

  Current Issue:  Spring 2010

Past Issues:

Spring 2008


Winter 2007

          In Memory of Horace A. Jarratt, Motorist Assistance Aide (Fall 2007)

The cover of the Fall 2007 edition and articles "Fallen Motorist Aid Loved Job" and "Memories of Our Beloved Brother" on pages 23 through 25 are dedicated to the memory of Motorist Assistance Aid Horace A. Jarratt, who was killed in the line of duty on April 25, 2007.  Motorist Assistance Aide Horace A. Jarratt was struck and killed on Interstate 95 in Chesterfield County.  He was doing what he lived for, to help others.  Please read the articles about Horace in this issue of the Trooper and in the "In Memorium" section of this website.

The members and staff of the Virginia State Police Association honor Motorist Assistance Aid Horace A. Jarratt, who made the ultimate sacrifice helping and serving everyone he came in contact with.  Our thoughts and prayers go to Horace’s wife and family.  We hope this issue of the Trooper serves as a reminder that Motorist Assistant Jarratt’s sacrifice was not in vain and will never be forgotten.

Other articles include:

  • Virginia Tech Shooting:  Bound by Tragedy

  • The Queen comes to the Capital City

  • Mobile Technology:  Satellite Communication Vehicle Supports Remote Operations

  • Memorial Service Honors Troopers Manion and Hill

  • 112th Basic School Graduation

  • Colonel Flaherty Cautions Troopers on Internet Use

 

          In Memory of Senior Trooper Robert A. Hill, Sr. (Spring 2007)

The cover of this edition and stories on pages 8 and 9 are dedicated to the memory of Senior Trooper Robert A. Hill, Sr., who was killed in the line of duty this past fall.  The members and staff of the Virginia State Police Association honor Senior Trooper Robert A. Hill, Sr., who made the ultimate sacrifice serving and protecting all of us.  Our thoughts and prayers go to Trooper Hill’s wife, children, family and community.  We hope this issue of the Trooper serves as a reminder that Senior Trooper Hill’s sacrifice was not in vain and will never be forgotten.

This edition also provides stories about our dedicated communications officers and the graduation of the 111th Basic School.  Plus you can read about Virginia State Police Captain Kimberly Lettner's promotion to Colonel as Chief of the Capitol Police.  This magazine is interesting and packed with useful information such as:

The Dodge Charger:  New Fleet Hits the Street

Internet Crimes Against Children Task Forces

Digital Evidence:  How Law Enforcement Can Level the Playing Field with Criminals

New Tax Changes for 2006

Sergeant Chris Clark with K-9 Sally (Fall 2006)

Governor Mark Warner- Leaving a Legacy of Putting Virginia First (Fall 2005)

Portrait of a Former Trooper (Fall 2004)

Past Three Decades (Summer 2004)

State Police Motocycle Patrol (Spring 2004)

Veteran First Sergeant Slain at Home (Fall 2003)

Trooper Gary Horner recovering... (Summer 2003)

Remembering Trooper Mike Blanton (Spring 2003)

Remembering Senior Trooper Mark Cosslett (Fall 2002)

VSP and Nascar WC Driver Elliott Sadler Team Up to Save Lives (Summer 2002)

Aviation Unit Upgrades Equipment New Med-Flight Operation Also Comes On Line (Spring 2002)

Students Lear to be Troopers-in -Training During Junior Cadet Law Camp (Fall 2001)

117-Vehicle Pile-Up in Stafford County Ties National Record for Largest Crash (Summer 2001)

100th Basic Session Graduates (Spring 2001)

Massengill Takes Lead (Fall 2000)

Chevys and Law Enforcement! (Summer 2000)

Working the Floods (Spring 2000)

VSPA Celebrates 25th Year (Fall 1999)

Michael W. Berry to Lead Association into the year 2000 (Summer 1999)

Community Rallies for Cure of Trooper's Son (Spring, 1999)

 


 

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GOVERNOR MARK WARNER- LEAVING A LEGACY OF PUTTING VIRGINIA FIRST

by Amy Hoover

"Difficulties mastered are opportunities won," is a quote attributed to Sir Winston Churchill. It’s no small wonder that Virginia’s Governor Mark Warner is partial to quoting the legendary British Prime Minister, as Warner has had his share of difficulties to master during his administration. From snipers and gangs to tax debates and hurricanes, the Governor has turned many of these difficulties into opportunities of growth and discovery for our Commonwealth.

With his term winding down, Governor Warner, 50, sat down with your Trooper Magazine to reflect on his time in the capital. This gave us the perfect opportunity to pay tribute to the Governor and his administration.

In 2001, Mark R. Warner was elected by a margin of approximately 100,000 votes, and was forced to hit the ground running. The nation was still reeling from the 9/11 attacks when Warner took office, and before the year was out he was reassuring the citizens of Virginia that they were protected against sniper attacks. Governor Warner responded effectively to every public safety situation that came his way, creating a unique relationship with the Virginia State Police.

"I think there is normally a special bond that gets created between a governor and their state police," he said. "It is an extraordinary group of men and women, and some of the relationships that I’m going to take away are some of the most valuable I’ve made in this job."

One special relationship Warner fostered was with former Virginia State Police Superintendent, Colonel W. Gerald Massengill. The two spoke daily during the sniper attacks in 2002.

"I felt like I was in almost constant contact with Colonel Massengill," Warner explained. "He and the State Police were generally the rock who I relied on through the whole crisis."

The Colonel remembers speaking with the Governor several times a day. Both relied on these daily communications. "The Governor was looking for information that would help him assure the people of Virginia that everything was being done that could be done,” said Massengill. "He wanted to do everything he could to help law enforcement."

The Colonel recounted a story he finds very illustrative of the Governor and his administration. Several press conferences were held after the sniper suspects were arrested. The Virginia State Police, along with numerous other law enforcement agencies were planning to hold one in Richmond. Sheriff Stewart Cook from Hanover County suggested that Massengill call the Governor and ask him to come and stand with the sheriffs and chiefs of police during their conference. While the Governor seemed undoubtedly pleased by the offer he turned it down, citing that his presence would turn the press conference into a political event, "and that’s not where it should go."

Massengill continued, “From that moment on, I knew and deeply appreciated the fact that his slogan of ‘Put Virginia First’ wasn’t just a political statement, but that he truly put Virginia first.”

Throughout his administration, a significant way that Warner has ‘put Virginia first’ was by insisting on looking for nonpartisan solutions to the Commonwealth’s problems. The Democratic Governor teamed up with Republican Senate Finance Chairman John H. Chichester to overhaul Virginia’s tax code. This nonpartisan teamwork, created to improve the state’s economy, resulted in both men being chosen as Governing Magazine’s 2004 Public Officials of the Year.

"It seems like the state is moving forward and it seems like people are working together,' said Warner. "And that credit goes to people in both political parties who stepped up."

This nonpartisan approach has had a positive affect not only on Virginia but on Governor Warner as well. Current poll ratings indicate he is the most popular Virginia Governor in decades with approval ratings of 74%, according to Mason-Dixon Political Media Research. But tax reform isn’t the only accomplishment that got him there. The Governor and his administration have also made great strides with a multitude of public safety issues, both big and small, that include:
  • Checkpoint Strikeforce, a statewide campaign to raise public awareness about drunk driving, has decreased drunk driving fatalities by over 5% since its inception in 2002.
  • The Secure Virginia Initiative was signed in 2002 to create a panel to direct state agencies to prepare or update emergency response plans.
  • In 2003, Virginia Secretary of Public Safety John W. Marshall launched Protect and Respect, a public safety and awareness program designed to improve the personal safety environment of older Virginians.
  • Governor Warner, in 2004, created a strike force of 12 state police officers to work with local authorities in gang-ridden areas to help reduce gang-related violence and crimes.
  • In 2005, Warner announced $3 million will go to 32 state and local entities to combat gang activity throughout Virginia. Congressman Frank R. Wolf secured the funds.
Another project that gathered steam during Warner’s administration was STARS, the Statewide Agencies Radio System. STARS is a $329 million sophisticated digital voice and wireless data communications system that will aid twenty Virginia state public safety and public service agencies protect Virginians in times of disaster. Although STARS has been in the works for years, funding finally became available during Governor Warner’s administration. And while the need for a shared, statewide, public safety-grade radio system had already been recognized, the sniper attacks magnified its necessity.

"That incident reinforced the need to make sure that we upgrade our communications systems," said Warner. "How are you going to say you’re going to support your law enforcement community if they can’t talk to each other? That sniper incident was one of those things that made me say ‘hey, these guys have got to be able to respond."

The Virginia State Police are leading the development and implementation of STARS for the Commonwealth. The entire project is expected to be completed by 2009. So, how is STARS progressing?

"We will be the new gold standard for radio systems, and I expect it to be delivered on time and on budget," said Warner. Our new communications system isn’t the only time that Governor Warner has gone to bat for his law enforcement agencies. From his first days in office, Warner not only recognized that the Virginia State Police were understaffed and underpaid, he decided to do something about it.

"Governor Warner came into office at a time when pay for our sworn personnel hadn’t been improved for several years, the Department’s turnover rate was two-and-half times higher than the traditional rate and we were in dire need of a new radio system," said Colonel W. Steven Flaherty. "Governor Warner immediately recognized the importance of public safety and took the necessary steps to remedy many of our greatest obstacles."

"When I came into this job, I didn’t realize that State Troopers started out at under $30,000," the Governor admitted. "We’ve taken the starting salary from $29,000 to I think we’re going to be at $34,000 come November."

During his first 100 days in office, Warner’s administration reviewed and strengthened the recruiting programs and strategies of the State Police, adding several recruiters and increasing trooper trainees. But recruiting troopers was only half the battle, retaining them on a near poverty level salary was another.

Thanks to Warner’s nonpartisan approach, troopers and deputies saw their first significant pay raise in years. Newer troopers were assisted with an increase in 2004, but older troopers were still waiting for their increases. In 2005, the General Assembly failed to provide a “longevity” raise for senior troopers and deputy sheriffs as it had for all other state employees.

Governor Warner offered a budget amendment for consideration during the Veto Session which ultimately passed unanimously in both houses.

The Virginia State Police’s new headquarters and fusion center, dedicated in October, was another focus of Warner’s administration.

"The state police become, in many ways, the first line of defense in the event of a terrorist incident," Warner explained. "I think increasingly it’s going to be the first line reaction to natural disasters. You only have to live through one Hurricane Isabel to realize that it’s not a nicety but a necessity that we ended up with a new emergency management and fusion center."

Since taking office, Warner and the Commonwealth have lived through several hurricanes including Isabel and Gaston, which was downgraded to a tropical storm. Isabel tore through Central Virginia on September 18, 2003 causing $1.9 billion in damage and 32 storm-related deaths. Gaston brought Richmond more than twelve inches of rain in under ten hours on August 30, 2004. Flooding caused nearly $18 million in damage and claimed eight lives. Warner recently announced more than $4 million in Community Development Block Grant disaster recovery funds for those areas hardest hit by the two storms.

"I think that particularly post-Katrina, there continues to be even more focus on the State Police’s disaster relief responsibilities," said Warner.

The Governor sees the state police as a coordinating force when it comes to incidents like natural disasters, sniper attacks and gang activity.

"The state police is the glue that’s going to hold these multi-jurisdictional task forces together," he predicted. "So I see that the role is going to continue to evolve."

Evolution was also Warner’s theme when asked about the Virginia State Police’s greatest challenge for the future.

"I think one of the challenges is going to be to make sure that the state police continue to look like the face of Virginia," he said. "In a state that is now more than 30% African American, Latino and Asian and 50% plus female, we need to try to make sure that the state police still has the ability to connect with the changing face of Virginia. And making sure you’ve got a state police that reflects that, I think that’s a challenge that every law enforcement agency faces."

The welfare and future of Virginia has been at the heart of Warner’s administration since day one. Even during his victory speech upon being elected Governor, Warner vowed to put Virginia first without drawing party lines.

"We are all one Virginia," he stated.

This train of thought will continue, Warner hopes, through to the next gubernatorial administration and beyond. "You’ve got to treat people with respect, even if you don’t agree with them," he explained. "Because even if you don’t agree with them on this issue, you may find a chance with them on the next."

Whatever party you lean towards, you can’t deny Warner’s results. Virginia received the top score in the Government Performance Project’s "Grading the States 2005” report, the only comprehensive, independent analysis of how well each state is managed. Virginia is the sole state with straight A’s across the board when it comes to money, people, infrastructure and information. The Commonwealth tied with Utah as the only two states to achieve an overall score of A-. Needless to say, Warner is going to be leaving quite a legacy in his administration’s wake.

As for his future, it’s no secret that Governor Mark Warner is rumored to be a potential Presidential candidate in 2008. Trooper Magazine couldn’t resist the opportunity to ask what his plans were for the future. His response was optimistic yet nonspecific.

"I’m going to be part of this national debate. I think that some of the things that we’ve done in Virginia are the kind of approach that can be used in Washington,” Warner said. "A little bit of truth could go a long way. And this country would like to have a few more leaders who are willing to step up and tell the truth, and be a little less about their respective party’s interest and more about their country’s interest."

The members of the V.S.P.A. truly appreciate the Governor’s support and friendship throughout his administration. Thank you Governor Warner.

Pull quotes:

Near the beginning of the article:

"I think there is normally a special bond that gets created between a governor and their state police." – Governor Warner

For the middle:

"Governor Warner immediately recognized the importance of public safety and took the necessary steps to remedy many of our greatest obstacles." - Colonel W. Steven Flaherty

Photos: You already have 01-04 Warner on the CD with caption info…

05-Warner: The Virginia State Police Association gave the Governor a leather Virginia State Police leather jacket as a thank you for all of his hard work on budget reform and the Trooper pay raise. From left: VSPA Executive Director Wayne Huggins, VSPA President Ed Haith, Jr., Governor Warner and Colonel W. Steven Flaherty.

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AVIATION UNIT UPGRADES EQUIPMENT NEW MED-FLIGHT OPERATION ALSO COMES ON LINE

By Miles W. Turner, III

The Virginia State Police, long a leader in law enforcement aviation in not only Virginia, but also the nation, has recently undergone some major positive changes. Gone is the department’s aging fleet of Bell Jet Ranger and Long Ranger helicopters. In their place are new Bell 407 helicopters – four of them. Additionally, the Richmond Med-Flight operation has on order a new larger twin engine American Eurocopter BK-117 helicopter. The current Eurocopter BO-105 aircraft that was used for Med-Flight operations in Richmond has been reassigned to the all-new Med-Flight III operating out of Lynchburg.

The new aircraft have been needed for some time. Until the arrival of the new 407’s, only one aircraft in the state police fleet was equipped with a hoist – the Bell Long Ranger that was purchased in the late 1980’s for primary Med-Flight duty in Richmond. Even with the hoist, this single engine jet (turbine) powered aircraft had some space and weight limitations that made it impractical to use for hoist-based rescue and recovery. This made rescue operations very difficult.

According to superintendent Colonel W. Gerald Massengill, “I had a member of the General Assembly riding with me as we flew over the flooded areas in Second Division a few years ago. He asked why we could not use the helicopter to do more rooftop or other flood rescues.” The colonel and the legislator were riding in one of the nearly twenty year old single engine Jet Ranger helicopters without a hoist and, the colonel continued, “ I had to tell him our aircraft just were just not capable of performing that type of mission. He mentioned then that he’d try to fix that.” At the culmination of a long request for proposal and bidding process, the new aircraft are here and ready for action.

The Virginia State Police Aviation Unit is commanded by Aviation Lieutenant Nicholas E. “Nick” Saunders, a 15-year veteran of Virginia State Police Aviation. Lieutenant Saunders, who came to the state police following a 21-year stint in the United States Marine Corps, has commanded the unit since his promotion to Aviation Lieutenant in December of 1998. Saunders came to the department as a Pilot-Single Engine in 1987 and then attended basic school, after which he was promoted to the rank of Trooper-Pilot. After nearly 11 years, he was selected to lead the aviation unit into the new millennium by the Superintendent.

When asked what he felt like his greatest accomplishment was, he was quick to say, “I would not be able to do anything without having such a great staff. They deserve the credit for the way the unit operates”. When pressed for one aspect he is most pleased with during his tenure as unit commander, Saunders remarked, “I am glad I was afforded the opportunity to assist this unit in obtaining new aircraft”. It was no small task. When asked about his visions for the future of state police aviation, Saunders added, “I’d like to eventually see us get a BK-117 for all three Med Flight operations, I’d like to see the unit move towards stabilizing personnel, and I’d like to see us hire our other two mechanics.” Over the last several months, due to promotions, military call-ups and other reasons, several pilots have left the aviation unit.

The assistant commander of the aviation unit is Aviation First Sergeant Robert N. “Bob” Possumato. Bob came to the department from the United States Navy where he had served as an aviator. Like Saunders, Possumato was hired as a Pilot-Single Engine. Upon completion of basic school Possumato was promoted to Trooper-Pilot. After several years in aviation assigned to Manassas, Bob was promoted to Sergeant and assigned to Division II Headquarters in Culpeper as a Communications Sergeant. When the First Sergeant position in aviation was advertised, Bob was selected and assigned to the Aviation Unit Headquarters.

There are currently four Aviation bases for the Virginia State Police Aviation Unit. They are located strategically throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia in Abingdon, Chesterfield, Lynchburg and Manassas. The Chesterfield base shares space with the Aviation Unit Headquarters at the Chesterfield County Airport. The base is supervised by Sergeant Terry A. Austin. Austin was a road trooper in Division V, Isle of Wight. He later received training to be a pilot and served at both the Manassas and Chesterfield bases of the Aviation Unit. He was promoted to Sergeant and after a brief period in the field as a road Sergeant in Isle of Wight, he returned to Aviation to supervise the Chesterfield base.

The Manassas base is supervised by Sergeant William M. “Bill” Yates. Yates was also originally a road trooper who later received pilot training and moved into Aviation. He has served as the supervisor of the Abingdon base and as a road supervisor in Division VII, Fairfax, before returning to lead Aviation in Manassas.

Sergeant Pat A. Bruce currently supervises the Lynchburg base. Pat came to the state police after retiring from the Fairfax County, Virginia Police Department where he also served as a helicopter pilot. Pat was assigned to the Abingdon base until he was promoted to Aviation Sergeant and assigned to supervise the newly formed Lynchburg base.

Sergeant Marcus A. Holden is a former road Trooper who was promoted to Trooper-Pilot. When he was promoted to that position, he was assigned to Abingdon and remained there following his promotion to Aviation Sergeant.

The staff of the aviation unit is authorized eighteen additional pilots outside of supervision to round out the complement of the four bases. Currently, there are a number of vacancies that the unit has been interviewing for both inside and outside the agency. While the qualifications are currently under study, at this point the requirements to be hired from outside the agency as a pilot are: Must be licensed at the commercial level as both a fixed and rotor wing pilot; 1,000 hours as pilot-in-command of a rotor wing aircraft (helicopter); at least 500 of those hours must have been in a turbine (jet) aircraft, and 200 hours must have been night flying. The candidate must also posses an instrument rating.

The Department has been operating medical evacuation helicopters in various areas of the state since 1984. The idea for the Med-Flight program was to serve areas of the state that lacked medevac programs. The first site, Med-Flight I, is located in Chesterfield County. Med-Flight II, which began operating next, is located at the Virginia Highlands Airport in Abingdon. Med-Flight III, our newest edition, is located at Lynchburg Regional Airport. The department’s remaining base is located at Harry P. Davis Airport in Manassas. Due to the large number of medical evacuation helicopters in this busy Northern Virginia area, the Manassas base serves as a law enforcement only site.

Another unique aspect of the Med-Flight program is how the aircraft are staffed. All the pilots are state police employees. The paramedics come from two sources. In Chesterfield, the Chesterfield and Henrico County Fire Departments provides paramedics for the program. In Abingdon and Lynchburg, the local hospitals employ the paramedics. This unique idea has kept the costs lower for the state police. Employing the paramedics and keeping their training current would cost well over $60,000.00 annually per employee.

The state police aircraft that the department had been using prior to the purchase of the new helicopters ranged in age from 15 to over 20 years old. While far from being at the end of their useful life, the need for newer, more powerful aircraft has long been recognized. The Med-Flight operations, in particular, felt the need for a twin-engine helicopter for safety and added power. After the Abingdon office started operation of Med Flight II in 1987, the state police realized the need for twin-engine aircraft. After securing funding, two new American Eurocopter BO-105 helicopters were purchased in 1993. From the pilot’s perspective, these twin-engine turbine aircraft were safer and more powerful than the Jet Rangers they replaced. From the paramedics’ viewpoint, placing the medical equipment needed for medevac operations into a Jet Ranger has been likened to placing all the equipment from a modern advanced life support ambulance into a VW Beetle and then adding the patient, pilot, and paramedic. The added room was well appreciated!

As it became apparent that Lynchburg would soon be operating as a Med-Flight base, the timing was right for replacing much of the equipment. Lynchburg would need a twin-engine helicopter for its Med-Flight operations and the need for more powerful helicopters for the police side of the aviation unit’s mission had been recognized. After securing permission from the legislature, a request for proposal (RFP) was written and distributed.

“We needed more capable aircraft,” Lieutenant Saunders remarked. “Our RFP for the new Med Flight helicopter was designed around an aircraft that could fly EMS (Emergency Medical Services), search and rescue, and executive transport that would also be single pilot IFR capable.” In layman’s terms, that means that in bad weather or poor visibility, a single pilot could fly the helicopter on instruments. “The police aircraft also needed a more stable platform, more lifting ability, a hoist and the capability to operate the FLIR,” Saunders continued. FLIR (pronounced “fleer”), or forward looking infrared, is a device that picks up the heat from a person and can be used to locate lost subjects or wanted persons in low or no-light conditions and displays this on a small video screen located inside the aircraft.

The police aircraft contract was won by H.A.S. Corporation in Fort Worth, Texas. The contract called for taking in all of the department’s Bell 206B Jet Rangers and the one 206L Long Ranger on trade. They also provided four new Bell 407 helicopters equipped with hoists and mounts for the FLIR. The department currently owns two FLIR units and they are mounted on the 407 aircraft at the Manassas and Lynchburg bases. “I hope to eventually have all the police helicopters equipped with a FLIR,” Lieutenant Saunders said. All of these aircraft have been delivered and are currently operating at their respective bases. “These 407’s give us almost another 1,000 pounds gross weight in lifting capability,” Saunders remarked. That is nothing to sneeze at in a helicopter, which is very weight conscious. The 407 have a four-blade rotor system, as opposed to the two-blade system on the Jet and Long Rangers. This makes it much more stable during lifting and hoisting operations and can make for a smoother flight. The 407’s were also ordered with EMS kits installed so that the can serve as back up Med Flight aircraft should the need arise.

American Eurocopter won the EMS aircraft contract. They are to provide a new BK-117 dual engine turbine helicopter. Although originally scheduled for delivery in March of 2001, production problems have pushed that date back. By the time this issue of Your Virginia State Trooper magazine goes to print, the new BK-117 should be here and in use. To speed the transition into the new aircraft, and since the late delivery is the fault of the vendor, the state police arranged to lease an EMS-capable BK-117 for $1.00 a month to begin transition flight training. It is in use for that purpose as well as daytime Med-Flight missions as of this writing. It will not be used for night EMS missions due to the helicopter not being equipped with a Night Sun® searchlight. This extremely bright remote controlled spotlight is required by the Virginia State Police for all Med-Flight missions at night for the safety of the aircraft and crew. One of the new 407 helicopters has been “filling in” on night duty for Chesterfield Med Flight operations in the interim.

Keeping all this equipment flying is no small feat. State Police Director of Aviation Maintenance Bud Hirsch and Aviation Mechanic Todd Daneker both have their hands full performing scheduled and unscheduled maintenance on the fleet of airplanes and helicopters operated by the state police. Unlike your family car, which might not make it to the shop until the transmission quits, aircraft have a rigid maintenance schedule that must be adhered to in order to keep all the aircraft safely flying. There are regularly scheduled maintenance inspections that must be performed after certain amounts of flight hours. These inspections can be as simple as a 50-hour inspection, which is more of an oil change and safety inspection. They inspections can also be as involved as a 2400-hour inspection where the entire aircraft is disassembled down to the airframe and inspected, tested and repaired prior to reassembly.

Although authorized for four mechanic positions, budgetary issues have limited the state police to hiring only two of the four. While this does not affect the safety of the aircraft, it does require some of the more labor-intensive work, like the 2400-hour inspections, to be farmed out to commercial vendors. Currently, only vendors in Texas and Pennsylvania are capable of performing the heavier inspections on the aircraft. This requires a pilot flying the aircraft to one of these locations and dropping it off, then later coming back to retrieve it. These inspections are costly, even if performed in house because they are so labor intensive. A recent 2400-hour inspection on one of the twin-engine aircraft cost nearly $100,000.00. Additionally, Lieutenant Saunders added, “You sometimes find yourself at their (the vendor’s) mercy. If more of the maintenance could be completed here by our mechanics, I think scheduling the maintenance would be less of an issue. It also helps in building the mechanic/pilot confidence levels.”

As with almost every aspect of State Police life, it would grind to a halt without the undying efforts of our support staff. The Virginia State Police Aviation Unit is no different. Betty Little and Denise Chandler fill out those roles with a passion. From processing invoices to handling paperwork to answering the never-ending phone calls, these two ladies truly keep the aviation unit flying. Virtually every person interviewed for this article made mention of the tireless efforts expended by the unit’s administrative staff, both secretarial and mechanical. This article is dedicated to their efforts.

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Brenda Simmons has seen a lot in her years as a trooper.

But little has affected her like the devastation she witnessed when Hurricane Floyd inundated Franklin and Southampton County with hurricane-strength winds and almost 18 inches of rain in September.

The city of Franklin was deluged, with more than 130 businesses and about 100 homes destroyed by water that gushed from the swollen Blackwater River.

“This has really touched me. When I got here, I couldn’t believe it. The town was under water,” Simmons said. “I really feel sorry for the people who live here. It brought tears to my eyes when I heard one lady talking about how she had lost her wedding pictures.” Simmons, usually assigned to the Area 46 office, got a firsthand look at the disaster. She, along with almost 200 other troopers from all over the state, arrived on the heels of Floyd to try and bring peace and order to a situation that was quickly becoming chaotic, scary and overwhelming for residents and local police.

The contingent of troopers brought to the area was the largest to be called to one place since 1989, when State Police responded in force to Labor Day riots in Virginia Beach and a coal strike in the western part of the state.

In all, 165 troopers and 14 sergeants came to help residents and city officials deal with Floyd’s aftermath—including a lack of phone and electrical service that lasted for days. With little notice, they traveled from as far away as Bristol and Northern Virginia. For coordinators of the State Police response, the operation proved to be a definite challenge. “Once you make the decision to bring in a workforce like this, it’s a logistical nightmare,” said Andy Engemann, field lieutenant for Division 5.

The troopers, once on hand, each needed a tetanus shot because of the unsanitary conditions caused by the dirty floodwater. Then everyone got an assignment. The main goal was to form a perimeter around the city of Franklin and in parts of Southampton County, thus keeping residents and curious onlookers out of a potentially dangerous situation.

At most every street corner, troopers could be seen manning intersections. “Everyone wants to go down and sightsee. But nothing would get done if we didn’t have a perimeter,” said Trooper Jim Reynolds, normally assigned to Area 47. “There is a lot of destruction down there. It was so bad that in some buildings, water blew out windows. I’ve seen flooding, but never anything this high.”

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Certain members of the Virginia State Police shared a deep commitment to their professional careers and desired to improve their working conditions and benefits, which ultimately would result in improving the quality of service to the citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Thinking that many voices united are stronger than scattered individual voices,these charter members founded the Virginia State Police Association twenty-five years ago. In spite of resistance from their supervisors, these members forged ahead through rough times to build and support the fledgling association. They gathered at homes and offices to discuss and formulate their ideas and desires, and met with an attorney to discuss their rights and means of change within their Department.

On December 9, 1974 these members gathered in Charlottesville and at 8:49 p.m. they officially formed the Virginia State Police Association. On March 5, 1975 at 6:40 p.m. the Association held its second meeting in Roanoke, and on September 30, 1975 at 6:37 p.m., a third meeting was held in Richmond.

Since its inception, the Virginia State Police Association has become an honored and professional organization and is now providing services and benefits far exceeding all previous expectations.

"To be mutually helpful to one another" is still the primary purpose of the Virginia State Police Association – but today that is only part of the story. Helping members through scholarships, retirement grants and emergency relief funds is a prime focus – but the scope of giving has widened – to include the Department of State Police in general, and school and community programs across the Commonwealth.

Dedicated on March 9, 1990, the largest gift to the Department from the Association was the statue located outside the entrance to the Academy. A uniformed trooper, life-size and bronze, will stnd forever in recognition of the law enforcement officers the statue is modeled after. To troopers past the statue is a tribute, to troopers present, it is an inspiration, and to troopers yet to come, it is a legacy.

The VSPA provides the Department with little bears that do a great deal of good in helping to dry young tears. Officers carry the Trooper Teddy bears in their patrol cars in case duty calls them to a scene where a child has been involved in an accident or has been traumatized in some way. The trooper gives the child a Trooper Teddy as a gift.

The Association’s goal of "being mutually helpful to one another" is realized through programs and benefits for its members. Since the scope of "helping" has widened to include schools and communities and youth-focused charities, the giving further fulfills the original motto of helping members of the Department. By projecting an image of professionalism, caring and support of programs and people in Virginia – the Virginia State Police Association provides members of the Department with additional reason to be proud of their positions.

Today more than 2,000 members of the Virginia State Police Association want to spread the word that Viginia State Troopers care about enforcing the law, but they also care about Virginians. When it comes to the Commonwealth, they are protecting and connecting.

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"Daddy, are you mad or glad?" asked Hannah, four-year old daughter of Sergeant Mike Berry. "I'm glad, why do you ask?" countered Berry. "Because you look mad," replied Hannah. "I'm not mad," Mike assured her. "Daddy looks this way, even when he's glad."

Hannah's observations were a bit prophetic of the impressions Virginia State Police Association President Mike Berry leaves with people. Mike's business-like "no-nonsense" approach sometimes hits hard as he prefers to come in, assess the situation, decide what is needed and make changes which have impact -- usually with a direct, decisive and sometimes blunt swiftness that leaves people breathless. "I don't like wasting time. If it needs fixing, fix it. If it can be made better, make it better. Berry said."

As Mike works to lead the Association into the year 2000, he plans to continue this approach. "I ran (for office) on the platform that I would make changes and give the Association a new direction," he said." New equipment and software at the VSPA office, and a new plan for marketing VSPA merchandise are two smaller changes that are reflective of a bigger change, of which Mike is extremely proud. He is working with the Board of Directors to ensure that the C-5 general Association and the C-3 Emergency Relief Fund, which are both separate corporations are run like the big businesses they have become.

"Another big change is in leadership style," he said. "I've been working for more open communication with the members as well as the board members. "Every one has a free say," said Mike. "Members' concerns are our concerns. We want to hear what they have to say. We want to know their dreams, their hopes as well as their fears. The foundation for any successful organization is open two-way communication. Without it, you can quickly fall apart."

As Mike begins to hear about what is hurting in a member's life, his mind starts clicking with ideas of how the Association can help. "We are trying to run the Association and the Emergency Relief Fund in a way that allows us to not only effect lives, but to change them as well. Our goal is to solve problems for our members, not just to put a Band-Aid on it," he said.

Mike is sometimes moved to tears by the cases that call for Emergency Relief. A trooper searching for a cure for his son, a story that has a happy ending, is indelibly stamped on his mind. And so goes the "softer" side of Mike, a man who tries his best to rule with a Christian heart. A man with extreme compassion for those in need -- especially when children are involved in any way.

Mike begins each day on his knees. "I try to pray every day for strength, guidance and wisdom," said Berry, "I feel God working in my life and in our profession," he said. "In the book of Romans it says that police officers are appointed by God. Ours is an honorable profession, and I look at it as more of a calling than a job," he said.

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Christopher and Venus Freitus walked into their son’s room one morning and found him staring up toward the top bunk. Sean had just turned five, and his condition had reached a crisis point.

Nearly comatose, Sean didn’t seem to know his parents, his brother, or even himself. He couldn’t talk, but his parents could see his frustration as if he were attempting to communicate. When he did try to speak, the result was baby gibberish.

Sean also began wetting his bed -- a habit which he had broken years ago. He would cry in his mother’s arms for hours, showing signs of mental and physical anguish.

The Eastern Shore trooper and his wife began the seemingly endless visits to area doctors, where Sean was examined, given blood tests and an MRI. The doctors offered little hope. Most diagnosed Sean as autistic. The American Psychiatric Association terms autism as the most severe form of “pervasive developmental disorder”. One doctor told the Freituses, “It is time to accept the fact that your son will never amount to anything.”

“We could not accept this with what we had seen (in Sean) before he regressed,” said Chris. “Although he had lost the ability to decipher the written word, he had been a remarkable early reader.”

There were, however, earlier signs of a problem. Sean fought for his life after being born six weeks early, which could have affected his neurological development later. It wasn’t until Sean was about two or three that his parents, particularly his mother who as an elementary teacher observes such things, noticed a slight delay in Sean’s development. The pediatrician referred the Freituses to a neurologist who advised them to give it time to see if Sean would catch up on his own. It looked as though he might until his condition worsened.

“It looked as if we had bottomed out with doctors,” said Chris. “Even crossing the bay to Norfolk -- we had seen eight doctors and that was almost everybody.”

Then Venus made a call to the Autism Society of America, where a woman told her about the Environmental and Preventive Health Center in Atlanta. “They might be able to help Sean with a highly successful but experimental course of treatment,” she said.

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