Produced by DPS Public Information, (512) 424-2080 February 2006

DPS trooper killed during traffic stop Dear Fellow Employee, trooper Billy J. Zachary, 32, was killed Sunday, Jan. 1, DPS has signed a contract 2006 when he was struck by a pickup truck while conducting an afternoon with The Gables Group Inc. of traffic stop on IH-20 near Monahans. Miami, , to evaluate the He is the 79th DPS officer killed in the line of duty. active countermeasures training Trooper Zachary had two vehicles stopped on the shoulder of west- we provide to our trooper-train- bound IH-20. He was issuing a citation to a driver when he was struck by ees. We decided to examine the a pickup truck driven by Mario Andres Valdez, 33, of Odessa. Trooper training after DPS recruit Jimmy Zachary was thrown into the bar Ray Carty Jr. died from injuries ditch separating the interstate from he sustained during active coun- the frontage road. termeasures training in May 2005. “Trooper Zachary was trying to Dr. Richard J. Miller and Dr. ensure the safety of the drivers on Fabrice Czarnecki began their the roadway he was patrolling. Un- work last month. They are sched- fortunately, the move-over law uled to deliver their final evalua- could not protect him from an tion and recommendations to unattentive driver,” said Col. Tho- DPS in early March, when a new mas A. Davis Jr. class of recruits will be joining us. Trooper Zachary is survived by I look forward to hearing their his wife, Tara Johnson Zachary, and recommendations so that we can their three-month-old daughter Zoe. continue to provide the best, saf-

Trooper Zachary had been with est training possible to our recruits. the DPS since February 2004 and ○○○○○○ had been stationed with the High- Just a reminder: Severe way Patrol in Monahans since Weather Awareness Week is graduating from the DPS Academy in August 2004. February 26 though March 4. He graduated from Madisonville High School and Sam State That would be a good time for you University. Before coming to DPS, he owned a business in Huntsville that to take a few moments to make performed lawn care and light maintenance for corporate and private prop- sure your family is prepared for erties. severe weather and other emer- “Our thoughts and prayers are with Tara and Zoe,” Col. Davis said. “I gencies. Tornado and hurricane know that our DPS family will pull together and focus on caring for his season will be upon us soon. family.”

DPS online: www.txdps.state.tx.us DPS “on the air”: 512-424-7777 [email protected] Awards wreck caused by a drunk driver. from the car. The child had been sub- The fatality wreck took place in merged in the water between seven and 10 minutes. The four rescuers While a HP trooper in Kaufman Gregg County where one vehicle took turns providing CPR until he County, William Kasper rescued a rolled down an embankment and was began to breathe again. Amazingly, mother and her two children after submerged in a body of water. the child recovered and showed no their car crashed into a creek. McClenton witnessed the wreck and signs of any permanent damage from Kasper was investigating another immediately entered the cold water. the ordeal. The four were nomi- wreck near Terrell in rainy weather He found a 5-year-old boy com- nated by Sgt. Richard Brown, HP when a separate vehicle ran off the pletely submerged when he noticed Anderson. road, overturning upside down in the water bubbles and pulled the boy out creek waters. The mother and her of the water to safety. He then went children, ages 9 and 10, were strug- back in the water and helped a teen- Short Shots gling to free themselves from the age girl to safety. McClenton was pickup as water rushed in the cab. nominated by Tr. Jonathan Ander- DPS plays Santa Kasper rushed into the water and son, HP Longview. Once again, DPS gave bikes for used his asp baton to break out the Christmas to children across the side window and pull the trio from Four people were awarded state. The bicycles were donated to the vehicle, allowing them to swim Director’s Awards for saving a 2- DPS by the Houston PD. Troopers to safety. Kasper was awarded a year-old after a car hydroplaned and from the eight Regions chose fami- Director’s Citation for his live-sav- ended up on its hood in a pond in lies that were in need; some of the ing actions. He has since promoted Smith County. The mother was able bikes went to students at Reilly El- to Criminal Intelligence sergeant and to free herself, but her child re- ementary across the street from is stationed in Garland. mained trapped in his car seat in the Headquarters; others went to a family vehicle. Passing motorists Barry displaced by Hurricane Katrina. In Tr. Eric Pechacek, HP Baird, Griffing, Paige White and Richard all, 45 kids received new bikes for received a Director’s Citation for res- Wood entered the water in an at- Christmas. The Training Academy cuing a woman from certain death tempt to rescue the toddler. Harold spearheaded the program, which has after a fiery fatal crash in Callahan Brooks then arrived and attached a been going on about five years, and County. He responded to the scene tow strap and was able to pull the Criminal Intelligence personnel where two vehicles were on fire. One vehicle far enough out of the water played a key role in the Reilly give- woman was trapped inside her car so that the child could be removed away. with multiple injuries, including bro- Tr. Jim Cook, HP ken legs and punctured lungs and Cross Plains (far left) was not able to help her rescuers. and Tr. Travis After a fire extinguisher failed to stop Hounsell, HP Cross Plains (white t-shirt the flames, Pechacek and another with his elbow next to bystander broke the window out and Tr. Cook), help fight forced the door open, and the the wildfire that al- trooper was able to pull the woman most destroyed the clear of the car. town. Making things more difficult for the Darrell McClenton received a men: the fire hose did Director’s Award for saving two not have a nozzle, people from chilly waters after a making it extremely difficult to handle. Critical Incident Response Team made a difference for the few hun- Deaths Deployed to New Orleans dred officers we contacted.” Billy J. Zachary, Tr., HP Several members of the DPS DPS was asked to send Monahans (Feb. 2004 – Jan 2006) Critical Incident Response Team additional teams. But all personnel died January 1, 2006; Richard Eu- traveled to Baton Rouge in early had to stay in to help respond gene Raines, ret. Tr. II, DL September to provide support to to Hurricane Rita, so no further Sherman (May 1946 – Aug. 1977) police, fire and other emergency teams could be spared. died December 29, 2005; Lenora workers after Hurricane Katrina. Chaplain Donna Kleman did re- Routon, ret. Tech, DL Austin-HQ The team worked in Baton Rouge deploy to New Orleans later with a (Jan. 1953 – Nov. 1982) died De- and informally in New Orleans. group of chaplains. “People were still cember 24, 2005; SoueJane Chen, Team members deployed were: talking about what a good job the Accountant I, Director’s Staff Aus- Sgt. Terry Field, MVT Bryan; Sgt. DPS team did; we paved the way tin-HQ (Oct. 2003 – Dec. 2005) Stephen Reynolds, Narcotics for other support teams who died December 9, 2005; Jack Hurst; Cpl. Randy Conarroe, THP followed.” Sutherland, ret. Major, TLE Aus- tin-HQ (Aug. 1937 – Feb. 1977) Mt. Pleasant; Tr. Richard Mile Markers Alexander, CVE Mt. Pleasant; Tr. died January 2, 2006. Brady Lunceford, THP Canton; Promotions Cpl. Bob Lindley, THP Longview; HP On the Sumer Wassef, Victim Services Rita Loran Mooney, Supv., Garland; Chaplain Stan Brasuell, Comm. Svc. Lampasas to Regional mend... Frisco; Chaplain Donna Kleman, Supv., Comm. Svc. Austin. Best wishes for a speedy recovery from line-of-duty injuries go to: Abilene; and Chaplain Steve Best, Tr. Michael Windham Jr., HP Georgetown. CLE Gainesville, injured during pursuit; The chaos that accompanies any Kevin David Wright, Tr. II, HP Tr. Christopher VanDyk, HP disaster forced the team members to Webster to Sgt., Narcotics Svc. Denton, injured in a traffic crash; be flexible in their efforts to provide Beaumont. Tr. Raymond Sanders, HP support. Many of the officers and New Caney, injured in a traffic firefighters had sent their families out Retirements crash; George M. Wesley, Tr., HP Tr. George Correa, HP of New Orleans before Katrina Pearsall, shot by suspect; arrived while they stayed behind and Austin-Capitol, 18 yrs., 1 mo.; Carol Tr. Arminda Meadows, HP remained faithful to their oath to Eleanor Dunavant, Tech, HP Ama- Victoria, injured during struggle serve their community in time of rillo, 15 yrs., 5 mos.; Beverly Ann with suspect; need. “It did not take us long to Spradling, Tech, DL Sherman, 10 Tr. Patrick Brookshier, HP discern the primary issues and yrs., 5 mos.; Austin, injured during struggle emotions of these faithful public Kim Overby Drummond, Sen. with suspect. Cpl., CVE Canton, 28 yrs., 5 mos., Good news! The following servants: grief and anger,” said employees have returned to work Chaplain Steve Best. 22 days; Christopher Kevin full-duty: Sgt. Sal Abreo, Texas Sgt. Field said that police offic- Boggs, Sen. Tr., CVE Sulphur Ranger Austin; Tr. Thomas ers in New Orleans were working Springs, 24 yrs., 5 mos., 20 days; Matthew McGinnis, HP under rough conditions. “Many of Johnnie Lee Robertson, Oper. III, Corsicana; Tr. Janet Martin, HP the NOPD officers had never left the IMS Austin-HQ, 2 yrs., 9 mos., 20 Brownfield; Tr. Darrell J. city. They were operating their po- days; Koleck, HP LaGrange; Tr. Donald Charlene Biemer, Tech, Crime Ray Mills, HP Hillsboro; and lice districts out of hotel lobbies, Tr. Patrick McElroy, HP without running water and limited Records Svc. Austin-HQ, 4 mos., Lampasas. emergency power...We felt like we 25 days. The competitive examinations for the following positions will be conducted at the Texas Department of Public Safety Regional Headquarters Offices (Region 7 examinations will be conducted in the Robert E. Johnson Building located at 1501 North Congress Street, Austin. Region 8 examinations will be conducted at the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office, 715 East El Cibolo Road, Edinburg) as follows:

Wednesday, April 5, 2006 at 8:00 A.M. Thursday, April 6, 2006 at 8:00 A. M. Captain, Highway Patrol Service Captain, Driver License Division Lieutenant, Highway Patrol Service Lieutenant, Driver License Division Sergeant, Highway Patrol Service Sergeant, Driver License Division Sergeant, Texas Ranger Division Sergeant, Criminal Intelligence Service

Wednesday, April 5, 2006 at 1:30 P.M. Captain, Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Lieutenant, Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Sergeant, Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Sergeant, Narcotics Service The Oral Examining Board will convene at the Texas Department of Public Safety Law Enforcement Promotional System Conference Room beginning at 8:00 A.M. as follows: Captain, Driver License Division Monday, April 17, 2006 Sergeant, Highway Patrol Service Tuesday, April 18, 2006 Lieutenant, Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Monday, April 24, 2006 Lieutenant, Driver License Division Tuesday, April 25, 2006 Lieutenant, Highway Patrol Friday, April 28, 2006 Sergeant, Driver License Wednesday, May 3, 2006 Sergeant, Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Monday, May 8, 2006 Sergeant, Narcotics Service Monday, May 15, 2006 Sergeant, Criminal Intelligence Service Monday, May 22, 2006 Sergeant, Texas Ranger Division Wednesday, May 24, 2006

The Oral Examining Board will convene at the Division Conference Room beginning at 1:00 P.M. as follows: The interview board starting times for these two boards may be adjusted due to schedule conflicts. Candidates will be notified of any changes. Captain, Highway Patrol Division Wednesday, April 26, 2006

The Oral Examining Board will convene at the Texas Highway Patrol Division Conference Room beginning at 8:00 A.M. as follows: The interview board starting times for these two boards may be adjusted due to schedule conflicts. Candidates will be notified of any changes. Captain, Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Thursday, April 27, 2006

The application form HR-106 should be submitted directly to the Human Resources Bureau. Applicants must also submit a copy of form HR-106 to their Service Commander through proper channels. Only those candidates who are qualified will be able to compete in the written examinations. Applications should be addressed to the Human Resources Bureau, MSC 0251, Texas Department of Public Safety, Box 4087, Austin, Texas 78773, faxed to 512-424-5627, or emailed through DPS email system to “Terry Preston” and should be received no later than 5 P. M. on Friday, March 24, 2006.

Announcements are forthcoming and will be placed in Outlook at Public Folders/All Public Folders/Law Enforcement Promotions. Application form HR-106 can be found in Outlook.