The State Police Association of Massachusetts
[Memorial to Fallen Officers]

We kick off this month with a story out of SP Lee. Tpr. Mike Goonan was just starting his Mid shift with a troll through the town of Lee when he attempted to stop a car for a plate light violation. The driver decided that speeding away might be enough to dissuade the Trooper and a brief chase ensued. The car came to a screeching halt in front of Mike, who was clearly able to see the sole occupant climb from the drivers seat into the back seat, and then make like he was going to get out the back door. When Mike approached the car the driver then decided that locking the car and hiding behind the seat might be a clever ruse. He finally opened the door, explaining that his friends had just dropped him off. The seventeen year old then admitted to being the driver, and to possibly having a drink, confirming two of the Troopers observations. Field Sobriety Tests (FST’s) provided further confirmation of intoxication, as did the open bottles of Jagermeister and Southern Comfort. Hey, if I was drinking Jager I’d have imaginary friends too. A charge of unlicensed operation was thrown into the mix as well. As you read this, Tpr. Goonan is serving his country proudly in Afghanistan. Safe home, Mike.

Tpr. David Pinkham (SP Shelburne) was observing traffic one evening on Interstate 91 in Bernardston when he stopped a car for an unsafe lane change. The odor of burnt marijuana and some green, leafy residue on the lap of the very nervous driver led the Trooper to suspect the presence of narcotics. The driver stated that there was none in the vehicle but then admitted to having a “one-hitter” when the Trooper informed him that he was going to search the car. Tpr. Adam Leonczyk arrived to assist with said search and a large quantity of marijuana was located hidden inside a seed bag in the back of the trunk. The driver helpfully informed them that he had three pounds of weed, even though he had already pleaded the fifth.

Tpr. David Pinkham was back in action a few weeks later, stopping a car for speeding on Interstate 91 northbound in Greenfield. The male driver verbally identified himself, stating that he did not have his license with him. The female owner of the car was present, as well as three small children, two of whom were not wearing seatbelts. Dave was unable to find a matching license for the nervous driver and decided that he would help him with a more thorough search of his wallet, locating a New Hampshire ID Card with slightly different information than the driver provided. Differing stories regarding a visit to a sick sister in New Jersey heightened the Troopers suspicions, as did being informed of prior narcotics convictions on the part of the operator, and he asked for consent to search the car. Tpr. Bernard Trott (SP Cheshire) arrived to assist, whereupon they discovered that the glove box was stuffed with marijuana. The driver was arrested and the female was allowed to continue with her (now seat belted) children.

Lt. Thomas Daly (BHQ CAT Team) was on patrol in the City of Springfield one evening when he stopped a car for a red light violation. While having conversation with the driver he observed what appeared to be a firearm in the armrest of the door. Tpr. Brian Clapprood (BHQ CAT) arrived to assist with removing the occupants from the vehicle. As Brian began to pat down the passenger he slipped from his grasp and bolted, with the Trooper in hot pursuit. Tpr. Angelo Valentini (MSP Gang Unit) and some of Springfield’s finest helped Brian net his quarry a couple of blocks away, where he was found to be in possession of a large bag of marijuana. Another large bag of marijuana was located in the vehicle. The firearm turned out to be a gun-shaped lighter.

Tpr. Pat McStay was starting his Mid shift out of SP Springfield when he observed a vehicle that was all over the road on Interstate 91 in Longmeadow. The guy was driving with no lights on, using his left turn signal but pulling right, and almost striking the guardrail on a couple of occasions. Once Pat got the car stopped he observed the operator attempt to hide a bottle of alcohol under the seat. He didn’t bother hiding the cup in the console. The driver didn’t want to be bothered with looking for his registration, handing a bunch of paperwork to the Trooper, and didn’t even attempt to get his wallet off the floor to get his license. When questioned about his operation the driver admitted that he had, what else, two beers! FST’s were attempted. We’ll at least give him credit for attempting. But he squarely failed them all. Once in custody a quarter bottle of tequila was found in the car, along with some in the cup in the console. Oh, and a little marijuana in his pocket. A .15 on the BT sealed the deal.

Lt. Daly was on his way home from an Eve shift with the BHQ CAT Team when he was almost struck head-on after a van veered into his lane on Route 5 in Longmeadow. It’s a good thing the van was only going about 20mph and the Lieutenant handily avoided a collision. He turned around and followed the van, initiating a motor vehicle stop as it was getting on to Interstate 91. The van stopped right in the middle of the ramp. Tpr. Keller Williams (BHQ CAT) and Daniel Kelly (SP Springfield) responded to assist with the stop. The driver was “bombed”, probably due to the three beers and the “Jager Bomb” that he admitted to drinking (I will be seeking an endorsement from Jagermeister for all the references to their product this month). He then went on to bomb the FST’s, completing the one-leg stand test with both feet on the ground. He rounded out the evening with a score of .21 on the BT. I wonder what he got on his previous OUI conviction?

Tpr. Dan Kelly was dispatched from SP Springfield near the start of a Mid shift with a report of a wrong-way driver on Interstate 291 in Springfield. The driver was oblivious to Dan, who was driving on the eastbound side of the median barrier, with lights and siren, trying to get his attention. Of course, he was also oblivious to the traffic headed straight at him! But eventually he must have figured out something wasn’t quite right so he stopped his car to figure it out, right in the high speed lane. Tpr. Tiberi (SP Springfield) arrived on the westbound side and they got the vehicle turned around and over to the breakdown lane. When asked how much he had to drink the driver stated, “probably too many”. He then promptly fell to the ground. He got back to his feet long enough to fail the FST’s before falling down again. Once he was arrested and taken to the barracks he was offered a breath test, but refused, stating “I’m not stupid”. No, not you, buddy!

Tpr. Paul Kudryk was in the middle of his Eve shift in Springfield when he stopped a car that had a revoked plate attached to it. Whilst dealing with the belligerent operator he was approached by a belligerent third party, who stated that he just wanted to get something out of the car. Like what, drugs or something? Paul placed the driver in the back of his cruiser while he dealt with the newcomer, who was persuaded not to get involved. Tprs. Amy Waterman and Glenn Witaszek of the BHQ CAT Team arrived to assist, locating a bag of marijuana hidden behind a panel in the dashboard.

Tpr. Keller Williams (BHQ CAT) stopped a car in Springfield for a rejected inspection and learned that the operator as suspended. When Tpr. Matt Donah, also of the CAT Team, arrived on scene an inventory of the vehicle was conducted prior to towing. Some peculiar bulges in the leather covering around the parking brake lever turned out to be bags of marijuana. These, combined with other drug packaging materials and a large quantity of small bills, led to an arrest for possession with intent to distribute.

Tpr Luis Rodriguez was doing his stint with the CAT Team in Springfield when he attempted to stop a car for a plate violation. The driver took off at a high rate of speed, adding stop sign, red light and marked lane violations to the list. Luis located the car near an elementary school, where the driver decided he’d have better luck on foot, leaving his female passenger in the car. Luis opted to deal with the car and passenger first, finding a bag of crack cocaine on the floor when he went to retrieve the keys. The hysterical passenger was able to provide her boyfriends information and the rest of the CAT Team responded to the area, locating him a few blocks away. It didn’t matter how far he got from his vehicle, which was all of twelve feet from the elementary school, adding another drug charge in a school zone to his record. As you read this, Tpr. Rodriguez will be serving his country proudly in Iraq. Good Luck, Luis.

Tpr. Jeff Gordon was near the Springfield Barracks one recent afternoon when he attempted to stop a car for speeding on the city streets. The driver responded to the sight of the blue lights by speeding up and leading the Trooper on a brief chase that concluded at the drivers’ friends’ house nearby. The man quickly got out of the car and attempted to walk into the house before Tpr. Gordon intercepted him. He took up a fighting stance and began to resist the Trooper, calling out to people in the house for help. Jeff was able to get him cuffed but was having some trouble getting the rather large fellow stuffed. A liberal dose of OC spray was not enough lubricant to get him through the door of the cruiser. By now, a small group of people had come out to of the house and were surrounding the Trooper and his capture, demanding to know what was going on. Tpr. Gordon ordered them to stay back. A female in the group stated, “Get back, you know the Staties don’t play around”. Ah, the “One Riot, One Trooper” legend lives on. Doesn’t it make you feel proud? Jeff was able to complete his arrest without interference.

Tpr. Mark Weiner was on a Mid shift out of SP Springfield when he stopped a car for speeding on the city streets. Once he approached the vehicle he detected the heady aroma of a combination of alcohol and burnt marijuana, neither of which the under-21 female occupants could account for. While having conversation with the driver he observed another license in her sweatshirt pocket and asked to see it. When she handed over two more licenses from two different people, the driver stated that she knew nothing about them, even though they were in her pocket. She also used enough profanity for three people in her conversation with the Trooper. Denial is not just a river in Africa, because the passenger denied any knowledge of the still-warm blunt that was located at her feet. Both young ladies were taken into custody and Tpr Amy MacLean (SP Northampton) came down to conduct a more thorough search, locating a bag of marijuana in the drivers pants (that’s the obligatory crotch reference for this month taken care of).

Tpr. Mike O’Neill was wrapping up a Day shift out of SP Cheshire when he stopped a car for speeding in the town of Windsor. Tpr. Sean Carroll (Berkshire Narcotics) arrived on scene and recognized the driver from a previous narcotics arrest. The driver turned out to be revoked and Mike became concerned about the possibility of encountering needles in the car when he went to inventory it after observing some other paraphernalia in the vehicle. When informed that the Troopers would get a narcotics canine to search the car if necessary the driver fessed up to having two bundles of heroin hidden in the seat of the car.

In the middle of an Eve shift out of SP Cheshire, Tpr. Matt Mielke stopped a car in Pittsfield for a plate light violation. The odor of marijuana led to an exit order and a subsequent search of the vehicle. The search resulted in the discovery of a quantity of crack cocaine, packaged for individual sale. This was added to his other open distribution cases. This incident took place almost two years to the day that Tpr. Stephen Troy arrested the driver for trafficking heroin and cocaine in Lee.

Down at SP Northampton Tpr. Dan Askew stopped a vehicle on Route 5 in Holyoke for an inspection violation. Again, the odor of marijuana led to some pointed questions regarding the presence of narcotics in the vehicle. The eighteen year-old driver emphatically stated that there was none, but Dan thought otherwise and conducted a search, turning up one, two three pipes, a bottle of vodka, a grinder, three ounces of marijuana and a butterfly knife.

Tpr. John Vasquez (SP Springfield) stopped a vehicle on his way home through Northampton one evening for a left lane violation. Tpr. Mike Tucker (SP Northampton) stopped by to assist in time to learn that the operator was unlicensed and had seven outstanding warrants. They decided to split the bill, with Mike taking the arrest for the warrants and John issuing the summons for unlicensed. I think seven warrants rivals the B Troop In The Book record, but to put Mike over the top, Tpr. Brian Pearl advised him later in the evening that he should swing into the barracks to arrest the female party who came in to bail the guy. She had a warrant of her own!

Tpr. Pearl did it again when he ran a check on a party who came in to bail his friend, who had been arrested by Tpr. Bill Loiselle. The party came back with a warrant and was promptly taken into custody. It’s nice when they come and turn themselves in.

Tpr. Matt Donah (BHQ CAT) was on patrol on Interstate 91 in Northampton when he stopped a car for marked lanes. Furtive movements brought about an exit order, assisted by Tpr Steve Burgess (BHQ CAT). The discovery of some drug paraphernalia caused the female operator to “squimmer around”, as the report stated, attempting to keep Tpr. Burgess from finding the crack cocaine in her pocket. Some powder cocaine was founding the center console, as well as a baggie of marijuana.

Tpr. Dan Pinkham (SP Northampton), the taller of the Pinkham crime-fighting duo, stopped a vehicle on Interstate 91 in Whately for following too close. Lack of seatbelts led to the need for identification, which turned up a warrant for the back seat passenger. Tpr. Mike Tucker and Tpr. Brian Pearl arrived to assist with taking him into custody. While searching him they discovered some objects that were associated with the use of narcotics, specifically injecting heroin. The discovery of used needles with residue provided enough reason to search the car and its occupants. The driver was allowed to continue but the female passenger was taken into custody, as well as the guy with the warrant. Back at B-6 Tpr. May Pekarski (SP Shelburne) came in to conduct a thorough search of the female, locating 100 bags of heroin secreted in her secrets. Oh look, another crotch reference!

Tpr. Mike Tucker (SP Northampton), was observing traffic on Route 202 in South Hadley, when he saw a car with a broken tail light and followed it into Granby, where he conducted a motor vehicle stop. Furtive movements, nervous passengers and the odor of burnt marijuana got Mike all excited. The male passenger had some trouble deciding what his name or date-of-birth was, so both occupants were ordered out. A search of the female driver located some marijuana. More marijuana, ecstasy and morphine were located in the car. The female then became verbally and physically abusive toward Tpr. Tucker, kicking him and refusing to comply with his directives. She then worked one hand free from the cuff and swung it at him. Tpr. Bill Loiselle calmed her aggressive tendencies with a liberal dose of OC spray. After both parties were taken into custody, subsequent charges were filed against the male passenger relating to some stolen credit cards that were located in the car.

Well that about does it for another month. Wraps it all up. If you’d like to see your name in the paper then send me your stories. That also goes for the units that work in the B Troop area. And remember, it’s better to be in the book, than in the news.

As a side note, the recent round of military deployments reminds me to send best wishes to all the Troopers, and their families, who are currently on active duty. You are in our thoughts.