Message to Mexican Drug Cartel: Don't Mess with Texas
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www.statetroopers.org Volume 21, Issue 2 Spring 2012 Message to Mexican drug cartel: Don’t mess with Texas Vessels named for troopers killed on duty A proactive approach to crime along the enforcement activities. The vessels are 34- weapon, the vessels are also equipped with Texas border is hopefully about to pose a foot Yellow Fin Special Purpose Shallow standard marine electronic equipment, real problem for Mexican drug cartels and Water Interceptors powered by three sepa - along with advanced tactical electronics. human smugglers. rate 300 horsepower Mercury Verado Each boat costs $580,000. The Texas DPS used grant money for its outboard motors. Equipped with armor The department’s first vessel, the J.D. new Tactical Marine Unit, comprised of 19 plating and six FN Mark 240 Bravo auto - Davis Patrol Vessel , was christened and troopers who completed extensive training matic weapons capable of firing 900 launched Dec. 8 and is named for Texas before beginning their maritime law rounds of ammunition per minute per Highway Patrol trooper Jerry Don Davis, Continued on page 7 The J.D. Davis Patrol Vessel was launched in December as the Marine division’s first boat. The second boat was commissioned March 1. © American Association of State Troopers, Inc. 2012. All Rights Reserved. Fellow Troopers, Highway our privilege to maintain these greatly tion , and Brotherhood Assistance. Keep Patrol Officers, and State needed benefits. in mind that the life insurance policy Police Officers: The men and women who volunteer includes accidental death and dismem - their time to serve on the AAST board of berment coverage and a line-of-duty AAST members and board directors, all of whom are state troopers, death feature, both of which are very members alike are proud of work hard to keep your out-of-pocket cost important for our active duty members. our rich heritage. AAST was as low as possible while maintaining On the topic of scholarships, I’d like to founded in 1989 by a state quality benefits. Over the years, AAST’s remind those of you with college-age trooper who saw the need for membership dues have only increased children that scholarship applications are additional benefits for when the economy has mandated an accepted through July 31 each year. See r e America’s state troopers, both active i increase. This is one of those times. below for application details. b r and retired. More and more troopers We thank the hundreds of members who Also, in February, Florida governor a B began stepping up to show their support participated in the online membership sur - Rick Scott announced the reappointment h t i of this vision and jumped on board to e vey in December as we evaluated a course of Alia Faraj-Johnson to the Florida Elec - K help develop this remarkable concept of action in these difficult economic times. tions Commission. Congratulations to that quickly began spreading through - Based on your input, the board concluded Alia, who serves on the AAST Scholar - out the country. that the best option is to maintain the life ship Foundation board of directors. We Thus began the American Association insurance benefit. This decision requires an are proud to have the involvement of of State Troopers, and we’ve been going increase in membership dues. accomplished men and women. strong ever since, now serving thousands Effective May 1, 2012, AAST member - I’d like to close by thanking Executive of active and retired state troopers from ship dues will increase to $75 per year, Director Ken Howes for his nearly five n Coast to Coast. beginning when your next payment is due. years of dedicated leadership with AAST. e Not only does our vision include valu - For example, if your current dues are paid Ken asked me to confirm to the member - P able benefits, such as the scholarship through July 31, then your increase will ship that he has been planning for many s ’ program, life insurance, and the Trooper take effect with your July payment. years to retire in 2012 so he can spend more t Connection , but the mission of AAST Please know that your board works time with his family and on the golf course. n e also includes helping develop strong tirelessly to find ways to bring in funds Ken, we wish you all the best and look for - d bonds of camaraderie among brother from other sources to avoid putting the ward to having you visit the office often. i s troopers nationwide. The assemblage of extra costs on our members. Always remember: Every day’s a e troopers is not limited by state lines; our We hope that the increase is only tem - holi day, and every meal’s a feast. r brotherhood knows no boundaries. porary. I personally challenge each of P We have been privileged to give over you to maintain your membership and to Fraternally, e $2.1 million in scholarships since incep - bear with AAST as we trudge through h t tion, as well as over $186,000 in this time together. In fact, $75 a year for Brotherhood Assistance to troopers and a $5,000 life insurance policy is quite a m their families in times of need. Further, good deal, not to mention that member - o r AAST has provided over $3 million in ship also includes scholarships for Keith Barbier F life insurance benefits since 2005. It is members’ children, the Trooper Connec - President Scholarship deadline approaches Members are reminded that your college-age children may be AAST scholarships and must meet the qualifications for the third eligible to receive a scholarship from AAST to be used at an scholarship award, as previously stated, and the scholarship must be accred ited post-secondary institution. used at a Florida school. 1st Scholarship- $500 The scholarship will be awarded annually to a student intending to use his or her education to pursue a career in law enforcement. Students must be high school graduates with a minimum 2.5 grade Applicants must submit a 500-word essay entitled How My Educa - point average (4.0 scale) and must submit a 500-word essay entitled tion Will Advance My Plans for a Career in Law Enforcement. How My Education Will Advance My Career Plans. Deadline for receiving applications: July 31 2nd Scholarship- $1,000 Students applying for any AAST scholarship must complete and Students who maintain a minimum 3.5 GPA during the first submit an official scholarship application along with the school schol arship period qualify for the second award. transcript, letter of acceptance or proof of registration, and other 3rd Scholarship- $1,000 required materials. Students who maintain a minimum 3.8 GPA during the second Applications are accepted January 1 through July 31 each year. scholarship period qualify for the third award. All information must be mailed and received at AAST headquar - ters by 5:00 p.m. EDT on July 31. Incomplete material will be V.J. Johnson Memorial Scholarship- $1,500 returned to the student. Material submitted by facsimile or the This scholarship honoring longtime AAST board member and Internet will not be accepted. Florida trooper, Sgt. V.J. Johnson, is available to students whose For details or to obtain a scholarship application, visit AAST member parent is an active or retired Florida trooper. Students apply - online at www.statetroopers.org. Or call AAST Membership Services, ing for this scholarship must have previously received the first two 800-765-5456, ext. 204. 2 _____________________________________________________________________________ AAST Trooper Connection Spring 2012 A spirit of giving AAST appreciates the state troop - ers who volunteer their time to help bring joy to those who might not otherwise have a happy holiday season. Your kindness and com - passion go far beyond the smile you put on the faces of those who are less fortunate. You make a dif ference in people’s lives. National Officers Keith Barbier President AAST Headquarters Jeff Lane 1949 Raymond Diehl Road First Vice President Tallahassee, FL 32308 Trooper Connection ® is the official publication of the American Association (800) 765-5456 Chris Ricks of State Troopers, Inc. and is published Angie Ishee, Editor Second Vice President quarterly as a service to AAST members We want to hear from you! Trooper Connec - in conjunction with tion ® welcomes your comments, articles, and Claude Johnson American Graphics & Design, Inc., article ideas. We also encourage you to send Third Vice President www.agad.com photographs along with your articles. Please President: Jenny DeBack contact the Public Relations Department: Graphic Designer: Kenneth Musick AAST Public Relations Dept. Cindy Chic (800) 477-9860 Secretary Bylined articles contain opinions of the E-mail: [email protected] writers and do not necessarily reflect Visit AAST online: www.statetroopers.org J.D. Johnson AAST policy. © Copyright American Association of State Troopers, Inc. 2012 Treasurer AAST Trooper Connection Spring 2012 ____________________________________________________________________________ 3 Weather-stricken troopers need your help According to reports, 38 people were troopers received damage, but fortunately time for these communities to clean up killed by tornadoes that scarred communi - only two have been reported to AAST as the ruins left in the wake of the unthink - ties in the nation’s midsection from suffering tremendous loss. able storms, and years before normalcy Alabama to Indiana March 2-3. Several It will take an undetermined amount of returns. Tpr. Scott Caudill of Kentucky State Police Post 8 in Morehead helps sort relief sup - plies donated for eastern Kentucky communities rav - aged by storms and tornadoes on March 2. KSP’s 16 posts throughout the state acted as collection points for donations des - tined for the affected areas.