COHPSCOHPS OCTOBER 2017 Concerned Oklahomans for the Highway Patrol Society Newsletter INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Rokisky honored for dedication C.A.R.E. Conference 2 Oklahoma Trooper Spouses 3 to COHPS, OHP
About COHPS 4 Submi ed by Gordon Hampton
On August 29, COHPS board members Bill Inhofe and Gordon Hampton, along with Troopers from Troop B in Tulsa, gathered to recognize Tim Rokisky for his dedica on to the COHPS organiza on and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol Tim was the first sponsor for the COHPS golf tournament in 1999, and he con nues to support the annual tournament and other ac vi es of the COHPS organiza on to this day. He was presented with a plaque for his support of the 2017 COHPS golf tournament and a life me COHPS membership trophy.
COHPSCOHPS www.cohps.org 501(c)(3) organiza on
Photo provided L‐R: COHPS Director Bill Inhofe, Lt. Johnny Fairres #97, Trp. Dackry Howard #574, Tim Rokisky, Lt. Derek Burton #139, Trp. Aaron Riggs #825, Trp. Dus n Smith #327.
COHPS group hosts luncheon at 2017 Operation C.A.R.E. Conference
The 2017 Opera on C.A.R.E. (Collision Awareness Reduc on Efforts) Conference took place at the Skirvin Hotel in Oklahoma City Sept. 17‐20. Speakers included DPS Commissioner Mike Thompson, OHP Chief Ricky Adams, Lt. Gov. Todd Lamb. OHP Capt. Ronnie Hampton, Noble County Sheriff Charlie Hanger, OHP Capt. Garre Vowell and OHP Lt. Joe Williams.
Hanger, who re red from OHP in 2005, presented a session en tled “One Traffic Stop: Timothy McVeigh,” about McVeigh’s arrest a er the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing. Other session topics included precision L‐R: COHPS board member Jerry Don Henry, OHP Chief Ricky Adams and policing, drone mapping, and best prac ces in impaired COHPS President Jim Laurick at the luncheon on Sept. 20. driving enforcement. A endees visited the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building and toured the Oklahoma City Na onal Memorial and Museum; they also enjoyed a riverboat tour of historic Bricktown.
Launched in 1977, Opera on CARE was formed as a mul ‐jurisdic onal program of patrol, enforcement, and planning ac vi es commi ed to the goal of accident reduc on.
Photos: Lt. Kera Philippi Above, le : C.A.R.E. conference luncheon. About 70 representa ves from 34 states a ended this year’s event. Above, center: OHP Chief Ricky Adams addresses the group. Seated: OHP Chaplain Sam Garner, Lt. Gov. Todd Lamb, DPS Commissioner Michael Thompson. Above, right: Conference coordinator OHP Capt. Garre Vowell speaks at a display honoring fallen officers.
2 Oklahoma Trooper Spouses SubmiƩed by Kayla Burch, President
In 2015, following the tragic loss of Trooper Dees in the accident that involved both him and Trooper Burch, it became very apparent that there was both a need and desire for spouses to be able to connect to one another and for families to be available as a resource for each other. As a result, Oklahoma Trooper Spouses (OTS) was founded in February of 2016.
The mission of OTS is “To unite the spouses of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol while providing ongoing support and camaraderie.” The co‐founders are Kayla Burch and Nikki Kinsler, spouses of Trooper Burch #699 and Trooper Kinsler #770. In 2016, OTS officially became a 501 c(3) non‐profit organiza on.
Currently, OTS has 225 members and is growing almost daily. Those eligible for membership include individuals over the age of 18 who are the significant other/domes c partner of a commissioned Oklahoma State Trooper who is in good standing with the OHP or who was in good standing at the me of their re rement or death.
OTS sponsors many ac vi es throughout the year. Each year, there are two state mee ngs (spring and fall), individual troop mee ngs, and an annual three‐day retreat. The retreat is a wonderful opportunity for spouses from all over the state to be able to get together in one central loca on and get to know one another be er as we all travel this journey as a trooper spouse together.
To help offset the cost of retreat, one large‐scale fundraising event is held each year, keeping in mind the mission of OTS in uni ng spouses. In 2016, the event consisted of statewide pain ng par es, where on one night throughout the en re state, spouses and friend all got together to paint, and in 2017, the event hosted mul ple statewide Bunco nights. OTS’s Community Outreach Commi ee was formed in 2017, and as their first project, the commi ee organized seven statewide blood drives held on one of two dates in August. This commi ee is a wonderful asset to OTS, as it opens doors for the public to be able to see what their state law enforcement officers and spouses do to serve their communi es.
OTS sends birthday cards to each member during the month of his/her birthday and also sends out cards for condolences, congratula ons, prayers, get well, and thinking of you. These cards are not only sent to members, but also to non‐member spouses, families of troopers or their spouses, or other law enforcement agencies throughout the country.
This year with Lieutenant Meyer’s accident and death, OTS was able to show what we were truly created to do, which is to support one another. Not only were members reaching out to the Meyer family to support them during this me, but OTS helped to organize a GoFundMe page, meal train, and T‐ shirt fundraising events for the Meyer family as well.
OTS is well into its second year, and the organiza on con nues to learn and grow with each passing day. It is an organiza on that we are proud of and we can’t wait to see what the future holds, as it is something that can only get be er with me and experience.
3 ABOUT THE COHPSCOHPS ORGANIZATION
Thanks to membership dues, COHPS is dedicated to the support dona ons and golf tournament COHPS of our troopers, both ac ve and proceeds, the COHPS organiza on Board of Directors re red, and their families. has accomplished many goals in Each year, unfortunately, troopers recent years, including: Jim Laurick 405‐202‐6100 are injured in the line of duty. Direct dona ons to troopers and President Edmond COHPS has made these situa ons a their families in mes of need top priority by making reaching out Annual sponsorship of Christmas Gordon Hampton 918‐625‐8917 to these troopers and their families dinner events for troopers and their Eastern Vice‐Pres. Broken Arrow — not only to help them through families across the state. difficult mes, but to let them know Sponsorship of an annual event Dr. Joe Taron 405‐308‐3650 that they have the support of all our honoring troopers’ spouses in Western Vice‐Pres. Shawnee COHPS members. apprecia on for their support. To join COHPS, visit our website at Sponsorship of the Department of Gene Fitzpatrick 405‐641‐8296 Public Safety’s 75th anniversary www.cohps.org and click “Join Us.” celebra on in 2012. Secretary Shawnee Personal memberships are $12 per year and corporate memberships Funding of Proudly Protec ng Pam Simmons 580‐471‐6749 Oklahoma, Bob Burke’s book about are $100 per year. Remember, your the 75th anniversary of OHP. Treasurer Mangum membership fee is tax deduc ble.
Bob Ellis 918‐791‐1045 Director Grove
Jerry Don Henry 580‐471‐5035 Director Altus
Bill Inhofe 918‐260‐8583 Director Muskogee
Joe Landon 918‐798‐6800 COHPS Director Collinsville
P.O. Box 3258 Paul Roan 580‐371‐5373 www.cohps.org Shawnee, OK 74802‐3258 Director Tishomingo
4