fall 2011 sc trooper

1 South Carolina Trooper

Troopers Recognized for Troopers Recognized for Outstanding Service Outstanding Service

South CarolinaSouth CarolinaTROOPTROOPERERVolume 24, Number 1 Fall 2011Volume 24, Number 1 Fall 2011 www.sctroopers.orgwww.sctroopers.org

Corporal D. Kevin CusackCorporal D. Kevin CusackMarch 13, 1965 - March 27, 2010March 13, 1965 - March 27, 2010


David M. Latimer III

Executive [email protected]

C.R. CooperPresident

[email protected]

B. G. DewittVice President

[email protected]

W.C. WestSecretary

[email protected]

D.J. Bron, Jr. Treasurer

[email protected]

SCTA Board of DirectorsSCTA Board of Directors

Gerald D. RothellTroop One

[email protected]

J.C. Ashley Troop Two

[email protected]

T.E. NanceTroop Three

[email protected]

J.A. CartierTroop Four

[email protected]

M.W. ThompsonTroop Five

[email protected]

D. A. McMurryTroop 6

[email protected]

R. H. Rowe, Jr.Troop 7

[email protected]

M.D. TomsonHeadquarters

[email protected]

H. R. Deese (RET)Retirees Representative

[email protected]

CHANGE OF ADDRESS FORMIf you are moving, or have moved, please let us know! Simply fi ll out the information below and mail it to: SCTA Offi ce, 4961 Broad River Road, Columbia, SC 29212 or you may fi ll out an online address change at www.sctroopers.org.

RANK: ____________ TROOP:______ POST:______

NAME:__________________________________________

ADDRESS:________________________________________

CITY/STATEZIP:___________________________________

MESSAGE TO OUR ADVERTISERS: As this publication is fi nanced by monies received from advertisements, we express our sincere appreciation for your support. We strive to make this a high quality publication that will provide the best possible exposure for our advertisers. We encourage our members and all our readers to patronize those businesses who make this publication possible.

YOUR COMMENTS, PLEASE: Comments, criticisms, or suggestions for the magazine are always welcome! This is your magazine, and we need your ideas for articles in upcoming issues. Send news about your county and troop events, stories, awards, etc. Good quality photos are accepted. Please direct your correspondence to SCTA Offi ce, ATTN: Editor, 4961 Broad River Road, Columbia, SC 29212 or via e-mail to [email protected].

ABOUT THE PUBLISHER: The SCTA is proud to publish the South Carolina Trooper magazine. Graphics by Rachel E. Cambre. Printing by R.L. Bryan. For advertising questions, please call (800) 633-2236, ext. 11.


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F E AT UF E AT U R ER E S :S :12 Remembering Kevin Cusack

13 An Extended Family For Fallen Offi cers’ Children C.O.P.S. Kids Summer Camp By Brooke McKay

14 Beyond Words By Jason Cartier

16 Status of Proposed Changes to IRS Regulations Involving Public Employee Pensions By Atty Richard E. Mulvaneytty Richard E. Mulvaney

18 Southeastern Troopers Gather for Specialized Training: SCHP-NCSHP-VSP-GSP By J. Eric Skidmore, Chaplain, SCHP 20 SCHP/NCSHP Peer Support Program Adopted by Georgia State Patrol 22 SCTA Awards $10,000 in Scholarships in 2010 and 2011

24 SCTA Welcomes New Board Members

26 Facing Your Mortality After a Deadly- Force Incident By Charles Remsberg

D E PA RTD E PA RT M E N T SM E N T S4 Letters to the Editor

5 Executive Director

6 Chaplain

7 Line of Duty Deaths

8 Legal Assistance

10 In Memoriam

28 Troopers on the Move

35 Store Items

South Carolina Troopers Association4961 Broad River Road ● Columbia, SC 29212

www.sctroopers.org ● [email protected]


Dear SCTA.....Letters to the Editor

Dear SCTA, On behalf of the South Carolina Highway Patrol (SCHP), I would like to

thank you for all of your support over the recent months concerning the loss of our coworker, and more importantly, our friend, Corporal Kevin Cusack.

During a time when the public’s faith in law enforcement has tapered off, it is so refreshing to see the outpouring of support and assistance that you have provided. This support has had such a positive snowball effect on the troopers, and it reiterates to them that they truly are a supported group of law enforcement offi cers.

March 27, 2010, will be a day that will always be remembered by the SCHP and more importantly, the troopers from Troop Four. For this was the day when a coworker, friend, supervisor and true public servant ended his watch. Since that day, stories of Kevin’s life have been abundant, and will forever be a topic of discussion among the troopers who knew him, and worked with him.

Because of your support and assistance, the permanent memorial that you helped erect on August 9, 2010, that stands on SC-49 from SC-55 to SC-274, will continue to rekindle remembrance well beyond the current troopers, but also for future troopers and the thousands of citizens that travel that stretch of road each and every day.

As troopers, we are often faced with the obligation of having to investigate fatal collisions. Our troopers are very well trained and versed in assisting the families of those killed in automobile collisions but, no matter how much training we receive, there would never be enough training to help us pull through such a tragic incident when it happens to one of your own.

This is why I so graciously thank you, because it was the support and the assistance of individuals just like you who have not only helped us heal, but provided us with permanent memories so that this hero will never be forgotten.Respectfully, Captain Marc S. WrightTroop 4 Commander

Dear SCTA, Thank you very much for your kind letter dated March 30, 2010. I know

that Kevin had a special love for the Troopers Association, and enjoyed stopping in there on many occasions. He also made sure our family received many items from your store, and that I did not forget my yearly membership as well. We noted the Association as a memorial option, as we felt this was something he would have wanted.

The events of the last two weeks seem like a horrible dream for most of us, but we are able to fi nd peace and comfort in our thoughts of the joy we know he now has in Heaven. We are grateful for every kind word, or pleasant moment that any of you spent with him. I also appreciate the condolences and assistance offered thus far by Director Latimer. He has shown true compassion to me and my family.

The information you requested in your letter is enclosed, and if there is something else that is needed, please let me know. Again, thank you for your time and assistance with this matter and most importantly, thank you for all you did for him.

Sincerely, Sheila Cusack Floyd

Dear SCTA, Thank you for the generous contribution of $2,000 to the

Law Enforcement Chaplaincy for South Carolina Fallen Trooper Memorial Fund.

We appreciate your support of this important project.Sincerely, Rev. Dr. J. Eric Skidmore

Greetings, South Carolina Troopers Association, I want to personally thank your organization for granting me this

scholarship, which means a great deal to me and my family. I recently lost my grandmother to cancer, and I know how much she wanted me to receive this scholarship and fi nish school-this was her dream as well as mine. Because of your thoughtfulness, this scholarship is going to help me achieve my dream of graduating from Clemson University in the Fall of 2011. Again, thank you and God Bless you all!Sincerely, Kendall Millhouse

Dear SCTA,The South Carolina Highway Patrol and Make-A-Wish would like

to thank you for making a child’s dream come true.Thank you for your support!

Sincerely, Captain Jo NellTroop 5 Commander

Dear SCTA,Thanks to the SCTA for the scholarship during these hard economic

times.Thanks, Brittany N. Harvey

Dear SCTA, I am honored to be one of the fi ve recipients for the Trooper’s

Association scholarship and it will help with my college career more that you will ever know. Sincerely, Mallori Lawson

Dear SCTA: Thank you for choosing me to receive a scholarship award. I am

very grateful for the SCTA’s generosity. Sincerely, Melinda Taylor


Message from the Executive DirectorI hope that you, like me, are excited to see the SCTA Trooper Magazine

back in circulation. I would like to fi rst and foremost thank Rachel Cambre for her hard work and dedication in getting our Trooper Magazine put together.

Certainly 2011 has been an eventful year and I think that most of us are looking forward to a fresh start in 2012. As a result from the fallout of our economic conditions, I believe that 2012 will bring some signifi cant and perhaps long-lasting changes to the way in which the Highway Patrol will look moving forward.

As all of you know, it has been a very long time since any raises have been made to trooper pay and I think that the toughest part is still to come. Not only will the budget be tight, but there will more than likely be changes to our retirement system. That being said, I can assure you that the SCTA and its Board of Directors will be working very hard to ensure that our members concerns will be heard.

As we enter into the fi nal part of 2011, it bears repeating that our troopers, like all of our members of the armed services, make a signifi cant sacrifi ce during the holiday season to ensure that our citizens have the freedom and safety to enjoy time with family and friends. These sacrifi ces are just part of what makes the Highway Patrol such a unique and tremendous organization and every one of our troopers should be proud of the role they play in making South Carolina a great place to live and work. ▲▲▲

David M. Latimer III

“I can assure you that the SCTA and its Board of Directors will be working very hard to ensure that our members concerns will be heard. ”

It’s Time to Renew Your Membership!In order to prevent a lapse in your SCTA membership benefi ts, including legal

representation (Active Members) or life insurance (all members), be sure to update/

renew your membership for 2012.

We encourage you to take advantage of payroll deduction by visiting us online

at http://sctroopers.org/membership_registration.htmlp // p g/ p_ g . You may also pay via cash,

check, credit card or PayPal.

If you have any questions regarding your membership, please e-mail the SCTA Offi ce

at offi [email protected] @ p g or call 800.633.2236, ext. 10.g


Message from the Chaplain

“I realized that toys, decorations,

promotions, positions, and

even jobs are all pretty trivial when compared to family

and friends.”

When I was sixteen years old, I bought my fi rst chain saw and started the “practice” of cutting trees. (I’ve been practicing ever since!) I have been very fortunate through the years that the trees landed where they were supposed to and I haven’t been seriously injured. Mishaps from time to time make us humble; I was humbled at my parents’ house.

The tree was a very large pine. I roped it near the top and connected it to my pickup. When it came crashing down, it was not far off of its intended mark, but it was enough to obliterate my mother’s four foot tall decorative lighthouse.

My heart sank when I realized that only toothpicks would be able to be salvaged from the splintered mess. The only thing on my mind was the loss of this decorative structure and what I would need to do to replace it.

As I started the tree clean-up, my friend that was helping me told me he wasn’t feeling well and thought he would go home. I encouraged him to rest and then join us for lunch but he insisted on leaving. As he turned to go, I turned to resume my work. Something caused me to turn back around and look in his direction. To my amazement, he was prostrate on the ground with his face in the grass. His entire body was twitching and jerking and he was making no attempt to reposition his face so he could breathe.

I rolled him over and cradled his head in my lap. He was gasping for breath and his eyes were rolled back. By the time the ambulance arrived, his breathing had returned to normal but he was unaware of his surroundings.

As I look back on that day, I remember how the shattered lighthouse had captured all of my attention. The beautiful weather, the singing of the birds, the fact that I was in good health, were all overcome by the loss of such a small decoration. When my friend collapsed, a reality check came! I realized that toys, decorations, promotions, positions, and even jobs are all pretty trivial when compared to family and friends. Why do so many sacrifi ce so much to attain things that have minimal signifi cance?

Jesus said, “Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?... But fi rst seek his kingdom and his righteousness, and these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6: 25, 33 (NIV)

My friend has recovered and I enjoyed a day at his house cutting trees. My sister gave my Mom a six foot tall lighthouse with a strobe light for

Christmas.I realize a little more the importance of keeping my life focused on

relationships.When asked about important life issues, Jesus said, “Love the Lord your

God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the fi rst and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 22: 37-39 (NIV)

Keep your eyes open for The Lighthouse!

Richard I. Coleman (RET) SCTA Chaplain

Lighthouses and Toothpicks

7 South Carolina Trooper7 South Carolina Trooper

2010 D.K. Cusack (Lancaster)2010 D.K. Cusack (Lancaster)

2009 J.S. Nash (ACE Team)2009 J.S. Nash (ACE Team)

2008 J.D. Haynes (Orangeburg)2008 J.D. Haynes (Orangeburg)

2005 J.W. Parker (Sumter)2005 J.W. Parker (Sumter)

2002 K.J. Johnson (Berkeley)2002 K.J. Johnson (Berkeley)

2002 M.J. Rao (ACE Team)2002 M.J. Rao (ACE Team)

2000 E.F. Nicholson (Greenville)2000 E.F. Nicholson (Greenville)

2000 D.T. Bailey (Greenville)2000 D.T. Bailey (Greenville)

1998 J. Ham Jr. (Darlington)1998 J. Ham Jr. (Darlington)

1997 F.L. Lingard (Orangeburg)1997 F.L. Lingard (Orangeburg)

1996 R.S. Hewitt (Florence)1996 R.S. Hewitt (Florence)

1995 M.A. Chappell (Clarendon)1995 M.A. Chappell (Clarendon)

1994 R.L. Hester (Anderson)1994 R.L. Hester (Anderson)

1992 M.H. Coates (ACE Team)1992 M.H. Coates (ACE Team)

1992 H.M. Godbold (Kershaw)1992 H.M. Godbold (Kershaw)

1991 D.H. O’Brien (Beaufort)1991 D.H. O’Brien (Beaufort)

1991 M.L. Titus (Bamberg)1991 M.L. Titus (Bamberg)

1989 H.M. Coker Jr. (Fairfield)1989 H.M. Coker Jr. (Fairfield)

1988 G.T. Radford (Dillon)1988 G.T. Radford (Dillon)

1987 R.P. Perry Jr. (Williamsburg)1987 R.P. Perry Jr. (Williamsburg)

1985 B.K. Smalls (Jasper)1985 B.K. Smalls (Jasper)

1983 J.R. Clinton (Chester)1983 J.R. Clinton (Chester)

1981 D.L. Alverson (Orangeburg)1981 D.L. Alverson (Orangeburg)

1979 R.A. Mobley (Florence)1979 R.A. Mobley (Florence)

1979 W.E. Peeples (Colleton)1979 W.E. Peeples (Colleton)

1974 B.W. Strickland (Lexington)1974 B.W. Strickland (Lexington)

1973 F.H. Anthony (Greenville)1973 F.H. Anthony (Greenville)

1972 R.O. Caffey (Orangeburg)1972 R.O. Caffey (Orangeburg)

1970 J.A. Traylor (Sumter)1970 J.A. Traylor (Sumter)

1970 A.A. Thomason (Sumter)1970 A.A. Thomason (Sumter)

1969 R.V. Woods (Beaufort)1969 R.V. Woods (Beaufort)

1966 M.C. Steele (Chesterfield)1966 M.C. Steele (Chesterfield)

1961 J.R. Riddle (Clarendon)1961 J.R. Riddle (Clarendon)

1959 H.C. Yonce (Greenwood)1959 H.C. Yonce (Greenwood)

1958 H.B. Ray (Orangeburg)1958 H.B. Ray (Orangeburg)

1956 A.R. Carter (Williamsburg)1956 A.R. Carter (Williamsburg)

1950 A.T. Sealy (Greenville)1950 A.T. Sealy (Greenville)

1942 N. Nettles (Spartanburg)1942 N. Nettles (Spartanburg)

1941 J.P. Monroe (Florence)1941 J.P. Monroe (Florence)

1941 G.G. Broome (Jasper)1941 G.G. Broome (Jasper)

1940 H.M. Smith (Chesterfield)1940 H.M. Smith (Chesterfield)

1939 W. Bell (Lancaster)1939 W. Bell (Lancaster)

1938 L.L. Rhodes (Darlington)1938 L.L. Rhodes (Darlington)

1937 K.E. McNeill (Darlington)1937 K.E. McNeill (Darlington)

1935 E. Hennecy (Florence)1935 E. Hennecy (Florence)

1934 E.D. Milam (Greenville)1934 E.D. Milam (Greenville)

1934 H.M. Reeves (Richland)1934 H.M. Reeves (Richland)

1933 J.D. Cunningham (Spartanburg)1933 J.D. Cunningham (Spartanburg)

1932 W.P. Lancaster (Lee)1932 W.P. Lancaster (Lee)

The South Carolina Troopers Association dedicates this page to our fellow State Troopers who have made the ultimate sacrifi ce while serving the citizens of South Carolina. May their memories live on forever.


A Shooting or an Accident…Nobody likes to think about it!But, it can happen to any State Trooper at any time.

There’s a shooting or a serious accident….someone is hurt…you’re involved.

As an SCTA member, you are not alone! The SCTA is here to protect your rights.

If it happens to you:Don’t panic! Calm down and compose yourself.• Don’t rush into making a statement.•

If you are asked to make a statement, call O’Leary Associates

1-866-521-1078O’Leary Associates will provide you with an attorney prior to making a statement—either

on the scene or wherever needed.

Wait until you talk to the SCTA Attorney before making any statements, oral or written.

The SCTA is serious about protecting you!


With the SCTA’s Legal Assistance Benefi t…

“Do I need Board approval?” NO!

“Do I need the general membership’s approval?” NO!

“Will personalities be involved in my request” NO!

Under the Legal Assistance Benefi t of the SCTA, only three simple questions are asked:

Are you an SCTA member in good standing?1.

Were you an SCTA member on the day of the incident?2.

Was the incident within the scope of your offi cial duties as a State Trooper?3.

As an SCTA member, you have available to you 24-hour, on the scene coverage.

The SCTA is here for you when it counts!

For Legal Assistance, Contact O’Leary Associates

866.521.1078 or 803.779.5556


Guy R. Ackerman, who passed away January 1, 2010.

F. Kenneth Lancaster, Sr., who passed away February 28, 2010.

Joel K. Gamble, who passed March 5, 2010.

Kenneth P. Gibson, who passed away March 20, 2010.

Elaine B. Kimbrell, who passed away March 19, 2010.

D. Kevin Cusack, who passed away March 27, 2010.

Vivian I. Steele, who passed away April 15, 2010.

Keith C. Deaton, who passed away May 12, 2010.

Pamela N. Lucero, who passed away May 22, 2010.

Joel D. Smith, who passed away June 20, 2010.

E.V. Mitchell, who passed away June 26, 2010.

James C. Arrington, who passed away July 8, 2010.

Ann S. Gibson, who passed away July 31, 2010.

Ben Frank Hayes, who passed away September 21, 2010.

Clarence J. Keefe, who passed away November 23, 2010.

Harold W. Perry, who passed away December 28, 2010.

Billy Wayne West, who passed away February 4, 2011.

Robert J. McCrary, who passed away February 15, 2011.

Joseph E. “Jake” Robinson, Jr., who passed away February 26, 2011.

Oscar L. Derrick, who passed away March 1, 2011.

William Steve Wallace, who passed away May 2, 2011.

Joseph T. Lloyd, who passed away May 26, 2011.

David B. Wardlaw, Sr., who passed away June 2, 2011.

Jacqueline P. Vaughan, who passed away June 6, 2011.

Emily M. Millhouse, who passed away July 5, 2011.

Nell B. Meek, who passed away July 27, 2011.

IN MEMORIAMIN MEMORIAM


Legal Representation• for Active Troopers (for incidents which occur within the line of duty)

All members in good standing have • Basic Life Insurance. There is also an Accidental Death Benefi t which is paid when a member dies from accidental bodily injury. (*call or e-mail for specifi c information)

Emergency Relief Fund-• available to any member in good standing who, through no fault of their own, requires fi nancial assistance.

Annual Scholarships• are awarded to members in good standing as well as their dependents. Scholarship applications are available the 2nd Monday in January.

Basic Carolina AAA Motor Club Membership• for Active Troopers who are SCTA members.

National Troopers Coalition Membership• for Active Troopers. The NTC represents State Troopers nationwide. Visit their website atwww.ntctroopers.com.

Subscription to • South Carolina Trooper magazine.

The SCTA monitors and pursues legislation • that will enhance public safety and the working conditions of our members. The NTC performs the same task on the national level.

20% discount on merchandise• at the SCTA Store for SCTA members. Shop online at www.store.sctroopers.org

Member-only discounts• to various theme parks and recreation areas including Hollywild Animal Park (Wellford); Carowinds; several Myrtle Beach venues including Ripley’s Aquarium, Myrtle Waves and NASCAR Speedpark; Riverbanks Zoo & Gardens (Columbia); Disney Theme Parks, Sea World, and Busch Gardens. Unless specifi c information is required (listed below), you may call the SCTA Offi ce, 800.633.2236, ext. 10 or send an e-mail to offi [email protected] to request information and prices.

For Disney Theme Park discounts, visit their • website: www.officialticketcenter.us.USERNAME: SCSTA PASSWORD: trooper•

For Carowinds discount tickets, go to • www.carowinds.com and click on the

“tickets” link. Then click on “Corporate Partners” and enter the code sct11.

For special vacation deals and savings at • Anheuser-Busch Adventure Parks, go to www.adventureclubonline.com and click on “Tickets” for printable coupons.

Show your SCTA Membership card or • SCHP badge at Hollywild Animal Park (www.hollywild.com) and receive a 15% discount .

SCTA Membership Card• , identifying you as an SCTA member as well as an SCTA member decal, exclusively for SCTA members, to display on your vehicle.

SCTA Membership Has Its Benefi ts!

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Cpl. Jon Eddins, Cherokee County“I met Kevin Cusack in May 1990.

When I reported to York County, Kevin was one of the fi rst troopers that I met. He wore SCHP boots with his uniform, and I remember thinking how squared away he looked. Shortly after that, he and Melissa were at my house (or me & Kristy at theirs) morning, noon and night. Mostly at night...because once Kevin got his belly full, he’d get in my Lazy Boy recliner and would stretch out. He didn’t want to go home.

Kevin loved the South Carolina Highway Patrol and the State of South Carolina.

There are so many memories, but one favorite comes to mind. One day, we left Jack’s Barber Shop and were coming down Highway 55 to Clover. Kevin saw a small cardboard box in the road. He made me stop so he could pick it up so no one would have an accident trying to avoid it. He had played a joke on me the week before and told me then that he knew he had it coming back to him. I guess at this particular moment, he had forgotten about that, but I had not. He got out, grabbed the box, and I drove off...Left him standing in the middle of Highway 55 shaking his head. He said when he saw the tailgate of my truck go over the second hill, he had a fl ashback of his prank the week before and he knew he better start walking.

I waited about 15 minutes, then headed back to get him. He was good-humored about it, and we laughed and went on. That was one of many fun times we had. That kind of brotherly love lasted 20 years. I sure do miss him, but know without a doubt, we’ll meet again. He made a big impact on my

life and I will never forget him. Kevin was a ‘what you see, is what you get,’ kind of person, and that’s what I loved most about him.”

S/Tpr. Rob Frock“I met Kevin when I was younger

before getting hired with the Highway Patrol. It wasn’t until I was transferred to York County that I really got to know him. The fi rst day I started working locally, he called me and told me to meet him at T-Bonz on the lake. I later found out that this one was his favorite restaurants along with the local barbecue place. During supper, he talked to me about truth and loyalty. As we started to leave the restaurant, some people stopped us on the way out and asked us if we pulled them over, would we give them a ticket. I will never forget what Cusack told them. He looked at them and grinned his sneaky grin and told them he would treat them just like family. It wasn’t until later that I caught on to that joke. This night will forever be so treasured by me … a true friendship was started.

Kevin was very proud to work as a South Carolina Highway Trooper. He was a wonderful mentor to me and so many others. There is no possible way I could ever put into words all that Kevin taught me or all that we shared. Since the terrible accident on that early

Saturday morning, every time I get in my patrol car to go to work, I can feel his presence with me. He is still with us everyday, in his own special way. May all of us carry these wonderful memories with us and remember the values he held so highly. We could all learn a lot from Kevin. He is truly missed.”

L/Cpl. Michael Hassen:“Shortly after I completed my training, Kevin was promoted to Corporal and I was put on his team. I would remain on his team for the next seven years. Kevin made me the trooper that I am today. Everything that I learned about the SCHP, I learned from Kevin. Kevin lived and died for the SCHP. The most important thing in his life was his relationship with Jesus Christ. He put Christ fi rst in everything, then others and then himself. Whenever we were off, we were always doing something together. He would call me sometimes and say “Wanna get a haircut?” Then, whether I needed it or not, we would go see Mr. Jack at the barber shop in Rock Hill then end up in Gastonia eating barbecue. Kevin was forever the jokester. He had this unbelievable ability to make you laugh even when you were having the worst of days. On third shift on Sunday nights, Kevin would call dispatch and let them know

that we were stepping out at church and to call him on his cell phone if they had any calls for service. He loved his church family and pastor, Dr. Elwood Seamster, or Dr. E, as Kevin called him. On March 27, 2010, around 0330 hours Kevin achieved his ultimate goal. Kevin, you will forever be my hero. God rest your soul, and I will see you again one fi ne day.”▲▲

Remembering Kevin CusackRemembering Kevin CusackEnd of Watch March 27, 2010End of Watch March 27, 2010

Kevin Cusack & Jon Eddins


Andromeda Haynes and her two children, James and Chandler, feel like they have become part of a really big family - the family of Concerns of Police Survivors- and it all happened at C.O.P.S. Kids Summer Camp. The camp was held at the Salvation Army Lake Camp in East

Troy, Wisconsin, July 26-August 1, 2010. C.O.P.S. Kids Summer Camp is for the surviving children ages 6-14 and their parent or legal guardian of America’s fallen law enforcement heroes killed in the line of duty. This year 229 campers attended camp; there were 135 surviving children and 94 surviving parents or guardians. Also helping make summer camp a success were 16 mentors (13 are sworn law enforcement offi cers, one surviving adult child, and two law enforcement wives), 13 mental health professionals, and seven others to help the camp run smoothly. This summer was the fi rst time Andromeda

and her children had attended C.O.P.S. Kids Camp. Her husband, Lance Corporal James Haynes with the South Carolina Highway Patrol, was killed in the line of duty on February 1, 2008. “Concerns of Police Survivors to me is what a real family is about, having these types of retreats and camps brings together people who understand what you are going through. It allows us to relate to someone who truly understands,” stated Andromeda. Summer camp provides family interaction,

camp activities, grief counseling, relaxation, and lots of old-fashioned fun. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources held sessions for archery, canoeing, pellet guns, 22 rifl es, fi shing, and t-shirt making for the kids. The staff at the camp facility provided high ropes and low ropes courses, swimming lessons, and a nature hike. “The kids enjoyed all the activities. My 8-year-old son got fi rst place with the pellet guns and caught a fi sh…

which may seem small to some, but it meant so much to him and really helped his self esteem,” said Andromeda. Concerns of Police Survivors’ mission is to “rebuild shattered

lives” of the surviving family members and affected coworkers of law enforcement offi cers who have made the supreme sacrifi ce in the line of duty. In addition to C.O.P.S. Kids Summer Camp, C.O.P.S. hosts a wilderness experience for surviving teenagers and weekend retreats for adult children, parents, siblings, spouses, in-laws, and affected coworkers of fallen offi cers. “The impact of how C.O.P.S. can help your children emotionally and

physically is amazing. C.O.P.S. is a wonderful, loving organization; one that will embrace you in your time of need. An extended

family… that’s what it is,” concluded Andromeda. C.O.P.S. is a national, nonprofi t organization with

51 chapters throughout the United States. C.O.P.S.’ membership is comprised of more than 15,000

surviving families; and, unfortunately, that membership continues to grow as 140-160 law enforcement offi cers are killed every year in the line of duty. The majority of funding for the 2010

C.O.P.S. Kids Summer Camp came from Law Enforcement United’s inaugural ride. Law Enforcement United is a new organization of Federal, State, and Local law

enforcement offi cers, as well as civilian support members, who made a 250-mile

bicycle journey, dubbed the Road to Hope, from Chesapeake, Virginia, to Washington,

DC. LEU’s fi rst contribution to C.O.P.S. was for $110,000, which represents more than two-thirds of the

total cost for the camp. Visit www.nationalcops.org for more information on the organization and the programs offered to America’s surviving law enforcement families. ▲▲

An Extended Family For Fallen Offi cers’ ChildrenC.O.P.S. Kids Summer Camp By Brooke McKay, C.O.P.S. Marketing Coordinator

Andromeda, James, and Chandler Haynes at C.O.P.S.

Kids Camp 2010


That pretty much summarizes the initial feeling that overcomes you when you fi rst step foot into the National Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington, DC. While it is a venue that every Law Enforcement Offi cer should see at some point during their career, our recent visit to this memorial was on terms that I pray everyday that we can avoid.

On March 27, 2010, Corporal Kevin Cusack made the ultimate sacrifi ce while serving the citizens of South Carolina and, on May 13, 2011, Corporal Cusack’s name was revealed on the memorial wall where it joined almost 19,000 other names of police offi cers from across the country who also made the ultimate sacrifi ce.

May 12, 2011 – May 17, 2011 was National Police Week in Washington, DC. It marks a time when mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, and children who have lost loved ones in the line of duty can unite. Those who had loved ones pass in the 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s come back each year to support the families and friends who lost their loved ones more recently.

This year, 316 new names were added to the wall, dating back from as early as October 22, 1791, when Cornelius Hogeboom of the Columbia County Sheriff’s Offi ce in New York lost his life in the line of duty. Of the 316 new names added,

165 were from those who made the ultimate sacrifi ce in 2010, including Kevin.

The unity and the brotherhood of the blue and gray pulled through as it always does in diffi cult times and the South Carolina Highway Patrol sent four Troopers to escort the Cusack family on their journey to see the evidence of heroism and valor that their father, brother, and son had given for this country. Captain Wright, First

Sergeant Guempel, Corporal Love, and Corporal Cartier were chosen to ensure that the family was taken care of during this week.

Troopers are reknown for playful picking on each other. After all, that what brothers do; but I learned fi rsthand that this trip was nothing like the “vacation” that so many of them jokingly implied I would be going on. I can honestly say that I would prefer to remain back in the County and work just to avoid the harsh reality that all of us were exposed to.

The 23rd annual candlelight vigil was held on the evening of May 13. The Honorable Janet Napolitano, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, provided special remarks which were followed up by the keynote address from the Honorable Eric H. Holder, Jr., Attorney General of the

United States. Each of them spoke of

the perils surrounding law enforcement and

Beyond Words By Jason A. Cartier

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Richard & Casey, Kevin’s children, at the Candlelight Vigil


reiterated the essential function that each of us play on a daily basis. The fl ickering of each candle seemed to go on forever as each of the fallen offi cer’s names were called one by one.

May 15, 2011, marked the day of the 13th annual National Peace Offi cers’ Memorial Service which was held on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol. As each name was called, the family of the fallen offi cer was escorted to the front of the stage to pin a rose on the Memorial Wreath. The Cusack family was escorted by Captain Wright; F/Sgt. Guempel and Corporal’s Love and Cartier were selected to be honorary honor guard members who lined the red carpet as the keynote speaker, the Honorable Janet Napolitano, entered to address the crowd of almost 20,000 police offi cers from as far away as Australia.

Corporal Cusack’s devotion to the Highway Patrol was the epitome of what each and every Trooper should strive for on a daily basis. While I will be forever grateful for having the opportunity of accompanying the family to honor Kevin, it was also a journey that I wish none of us had to embark on.

**Special Thanks to the Offi cers of the United States Capitol Police for their abundant assistance.**


Status of Proposed Changes to IRSStatus of Proposed Changes to IRS Regulations Involving Public Employee Pensions Regulations Involving Public Employee Pensions

IRS Recognizes the Risk of Summary Changes to IRS Recognizes the Risk of Summary Changes to Negotiated and Statutory Retirement PlansNegotiated and Statutory Retirement Plans

Atty Richard E. Mulvaneytty Richard E. MulvaneyGeneral Counsel-NYSTPBAGeneral Counsel-NYSTPBA

At the Fall 2008 conference of the National Troopers Coalition, the fi rst call to arms occurred in reference to disturbing information about the Internal Revenue Service proposing changes to federal regulations involving

its oversight of public employee pensions. Immediately following that conference, a course was set for yours truly to ring the alarm to any labor union who would listen. Unfortunately, many labor unions squawked at my public pronouncements that the sky was about to fall on our police pensions in a way that would fundamentally change the public pension structure throughout the United States. Before I go into the meat of my hysteria, it is important to walk my readers through the chronological order of events that led us to where we are right now.

On August 27, 2007, the Internal Revenue Service issued a bulletin seeking input from interested parties in regards to proposed changes to IRS regulations that would apply stricter defi nitions to public pension systems that would ordinarily be applied to private pension systems. Historically, federal IRS regulations derived from the Employee Retirement Income Security Act [ERISA] applied to corporate or private pension systems in an effort to ensure that corporate raiders could not dismantle worker’s pensions in the wake of corporate takeovers.

Some of the benefi cial aspects of the ERISA laws are to provide employers and their employees with clear defi nitions of when an employee is vested in the pension plan, as well as the spelling out of funding requirements that must be undertaken by the employer to keep the pension plan solvent.

Some adverse aspects of ERISA include reporting requirements to the IRS and the requirement that the pension plan must be “qualifi ed” under the strict guidelines. If the pension plan loses its “qualifi ed” status the plan also loses its tax deferred status, which results in a taxable account that will barely appreciate in value given the heavy tax burden.

Since the inception of ERISA regulations, public

pension systems were generally exempt from the burden of “qualifying” under the IRS provisions. The thought was that public pension systems were properly funded by the local or state government’s ability to tax. Thus federal oversight was not needed under the doctrine of state sovereignty to enter into binding agreements to self-fund and self-police to ensure the public trust. Fast forward to 2007.

In February 2007, the Tax Exempt and Government Entities Division of the IRS issued a notice of proposed changes to ERISA that would require public employee pension systems to “qualify” under ERISA. As part of this qualifi cation, the public pension systems were required to establish minimum vesting standards in line with ERISA. Sounds pretty good so far but the devil was further in the details.

The notice also established proposed changes to defi nitions when public employees, including Troopers, would qualify to receive their full pensions. Under the proposed new regulations, pension system participants (that means Troopers), must reach “normal retirement age” in order to qualify for full pension benefi ts. In other words, the IRS no longer recognized that a defi ned benefi t pension that allows full pension benefi ts after a specifi ed period of service would be a qualifi ed pension plan. Rather, the new defi nitions required the pension plan to establish that public safety employees must reach age 50 before they receive full pension benefi ts since that age has been established as the

“normal retirement age” in the fi eld of law enforcement.Hence, if this IRS regulation change went into effect, the

expectation of full pension benefi ts after 20 years of service is a thing of the past. By virtue of an agency regulation change, long fought pension benefi ts obtained by most law enforcement unions would be restructured without any negotiations between the principle parties. Even worse, many States could simply say they won’t be subject to IRS ERISA scrutiny or, could not qualify their pension systems and thereby withdraw from providing defi ned benefi t pensions altogether. By invoking the doomsday option the state could simply blame the federal government as forcing the state’s hand to do something they have wanted to do for many years-that is-get out of the public pension business.

I was asked to give a speech on Dec. 9, 2008, to representatives of over 350 labor organizations as part of the Public Employees Conference. My tone was intentionally radical to force this issue to the forefront and give it maximum attention. (Continued on page 17)


Unfortunately, I was undermined by certain representatives of New York City unions, in concert with the city pension administrators, by their pronouncements that the IRS regulations “really weren’t a big deal” since it didn’t apply to them.

I must admit, after getting over the shock of apathy permeating out of the room, I started to second guess my position as to this subject’s relative importance amongst labor’s elite representatives. Was it me who had lost my objectivity in evaluating the importance of this issue? Or were those leaders siting in the room that day bamboozled by the supposed ‘friends’ of labor dispensing bogus talking points at the behest of a union-killing mayor? The ensuing days after the conference would vindicate my crying “fi re” in the movie theatre.

Literally two days after I extolled the horrors of impending pension doom, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg pronounced that he was seeking state legislation to change city police and fi re pensions. Amongst the details of his new pension scheme was the requirement that police offi cers would not receive full retirement benefi ts until? You guessed it, age 50!

So it seems that someone else was paying attention to the age 50 requirement under the IRS ERISA notice and not just NTC members or this loud-mouthed lawyer. But all is not lost. Yet…

In May 2009, New York State Troopers PBA representatives met with U.S. Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) in Washington, DC to voice our grave concerns about the proposed regulation changes. As Chairman of the Finance Committee that oversees the IRS, he is in the best position to stop the regulation changes in its tracks. He was very receptive to our concerns and affi rmed that he would not be in favor of such draconian regulations. In fact, other state police organizations within the NTC are meeting with their elected offi cials to keep the pressure on all offi cials in a position to infl uence the outcome of the proposed changes.

On January 2, 2010, the IRS delayed any implementation of the proposed rule changes due to a slow response from state plan administrators to pre qualify their plans.

Obviously, the slow response is the direct result of state plan administrators wearily whistling past the graveyard. I submit that gross irresponsibility of state legislatures in failing to properly fund their pension obligations has placed those funds in the untenable position that would forfeit their qualifi ed status under the ERISA law and thus cause a complete breakdown of the funds as they would become taxable entities forcing the state governments to fully fund the pension plans by law. Realizing the pending doom, the IRS has delayed implementation until January 2013.

Most recently, Dan Sisto, Legislative Director for the New York State Troopers PBA and I had a meeting in Washington D.C. with Mark Iwry, Senior Advisor to the Secretary of the Treasury regarding our concerns. Mr. Iwry appeared to be one of the key decision makers in fi nalizing the regulations and was quite candid about the current state of the proposed changes.

Amongst the points detailed by Mr. Iwry were:Cycle C - Notice seeking public response for the • proposed regulations changes are now closed.Cycle D -Notice seeking State Plan Sponsor • response to the proposed regulations are now closed.Cycle E -State Public Employment Retirement • Plans early qualifi cation period is now closed.

The Treasury Department seeks to unify the defi nition of a government plan with IRS and ERISA laws. Although, Treasury specifi cally recognizes clear differences between government plans and private plans:

Government Plans are exempted from minimum • funding requirements unlike private plans.Government Plans are not subject to minimum • participation requirements unlike private plans.Government Plans get special treatment regarding • contributions.Government Plans have no minimum distribution• requirements unlike private plans.• Government Plans are not required to invoke • vesting requirements unlike private plans.

“Normal Retirement Age” is a defi ned term under ERISA that gives standard directions to all plan participants and administrators when a certain trade or profession is deemed to be suitable to receive full pension benefi ts. The IRS wants to incorporate standardization into the Police and Fire professions.

But given the overwhelming lack of support from both unions and public plans for the standardization terms, the Treasury Department continues to evaluate the concerns

about the artifi cial invocation of an age requirement for Police and Fire retirement plans.

It should be noted that Mr. Iwry indicated that the IRS will not extend the interim period for invocation of the new regulations past January 31, 2013. He also stated, after hard questioning by Dan and me that the IRS will continue to recognize and most likely carve out statutorily imposed pension plans as well as pension plans derived out of collective bargaining. Hence, it appears that government plans may be required to submit status reports of the plan’s economic condition to the IRS, but the plans will not be subject to any arbitrary age qualifi cations.

I will continue to update all members as to the status of the proposed regulation changes as we get closer to 2013.

As such, we must continue to pressure our legislators to maintain the status quo. ▲

1 INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE PROPOSED CHANGES TO TREAS. REG. SECT. 1.401(A)-1(B)(1)(I).

This article was reprinted from the Spring 2011 issue of National Trooper Magazine.


Also, members of the peer support teams of NCSHP, VSP and SCHP have gathered for advanced training in order to improve their skills in assisting their brothers and sisters in law enforcement.

The PlacePerched on a hill

overlooking Lake Chatuge, The Hinton Rural Life Center has become a place of annual pilgrimage for Troopers looking for a return to a sense of normalcy after critical incidents that have rented space in their hearts and minds for months, sometimes years.

Georgia Joins The TrainingFor the fi rst time in the ten years of partnership, The

Georgia State Patrol joined the Carolina and Virginia Troopers on the mountain for their annual Post Critical Incident Seminar and Peer Team In-service. At the end of the week, all indicated a desire to return in 2012.

Days 1-3 were given over to the traditional Post Critical Incident Seminar (PCIS). Created by the FBI in the

mid-1980’s, the PCIS provides three days of training and peer support where many Troopers catch a glimpse of some light at the end of their tunnel. To learn more about the PCIS model, go to http://www.scleap.org/ and watch the PCIS Video.

Days 4-5 were set aside for the advanced trainingof current Peer Support Team members from each of the four states. Offerings for February 2011 included 14 hours of Advanced Critical Incident Stress Management training. An elective 8-hour course, “The Changing, Face of Crisis and Disaster Mental Health Intervention,” was also

offered.Out In the FieldIf you asked any of the Troopers about the importance

of this joint training, they will tell you, “it builds our capacity to support each other across state lines following critical incidents.”

Examples include:Virginia Tech Shooting• – NCSHP and SCHP

Southeastern Troopers Gather for Specialized Training:SCHP-NCSHP-VSP-GSP

By J. Eric Skidmore, Chaplain, SCHP

Troopers from the Carolinas and Virginia have gathered for the last ten years at a remote training site in the Southern Highlands of North Carolina in order to work on their own wellness and resiliency following traumatic incidents on the job.

South Carolina Trooper

Partnering state fl ags on display


support VSP on campus after the worst mass murder in U.S. HistoryMurder of GSP Trooper Chad LeCroy• – VSP, NCSHP, SCHP Troopers assist GSP Critical Incident Support Team following the tragedyLine of Duty Death of SCHP Cpl. Kevin Cusack-•

-NCSHP Troopers joined SCHP peer team during follow up with Cusack’s coworkers

Over the years, many Troopers have said, “my work with the Peer Support Program, helping other Troopers and helping other state and local offi cers has been one of the most meaningful experiences of my career.”

May this inter-agency effort of mutual aid across state lines continue for many years yet to come.

▲▲▲

For more information about the PEER Support Program in these four states, please contact one of the following:

North Carolina:Trooper Larry McKeithan [email protected]. Tom Griggs [email protected]

Georgia:Lt. Andy Carrier [email protected]. Martin Teem [email protected] VirginiaCapt. Joe Walters [email protected]. Ken Blank kennet [email protected] South CarolinaSgt. Bryan McDougald [email protected]. Eric Skidmore [email protected]

What the Partners Are Saying..

Carolina offi cers contributed unselfi shly to the founding of the Georgia Critical Incident Support Team. When we had our two tragedies last December (2010), Carolina and Virginia offi cers helped us in many ways to support our people. To be able to continue to fellowship with and to learn from these Peers is of great benefi t to us.

- Georgia State Patrol

There’s no fear in being a PEER, it can save your career.- South Carolina Highway Patrol

I think its great to have inter-agency, joint training and support because all Peer members share the same ideas. Example: North Carolina/South Carolina Teams dealing with Troopers death. Both agencies were able to help GSP with their Troopers death. All Peer member are cross trained so we can go to other states and help each other out when they need support etc.

- North Carolina State Highway Patrol

This was my second year attending the multi state in-service and third time in a multi-state PCIS. The networking opportunity alone is worth far more than the cost. The relationships established have benefi ted me and my Department immeasurably. When crisis hits and your team is overwhelmed, there is nothing better than seeing a familiar face walk in, with their team members to lend a hand. Thanks to the hosts and planners of the Hayesville PCIS. I can not say enough about the experience or what I have gained from attending.- Virginia State Police


SCHP/NCSHP Peer Support

Program Adopted by

Georgia State PatrolDuring the Spring of 2010, the North Carolina

State Highway Patrol requested assistance from the SCHP Peer Team & SCLEAP in the training of 30 additional Troopers for their Peer Support Program (called Members Assistance Team). During the period between February and September, The Georgia State Patrol got information regarding the upcoming training. With the support of their Commander, Major Mark McDonough, GSP recruited and deployed 20 troopers from across their state to receive training and serve as the first members of the GSP statewide peer support team. On September 20-21, twenty GSP Troopers joined members of NCSHP and NC ALE Agents for a 3-day intensive training in Peer Support and Critical Incident Stress Management on the campus of the NCSHP Training Academy in Raleigh, North Carolina.

SCHP and NCSHP peer teams have pledged their support to GSP as they get their own peer support team up and running. Chaplain Skidmore received word from Georgia only 8 days after their team had been trained that a local agency had requested the services of the new GSP Peer Support Team following an incident where an officer was shot and wounded and the suspect was later shot and killed. Their first deployment went well. NC and SC Peer Team members look forward to this emerging partnership with GSP.

Post Critical Incident Seminar

A Three-Day Training for Law Enforcement

Professionals

Used By FBI Since 1985

Sponsored ByThe South Carolina

Law Enforcement Assistance Program

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Assistance Program2501 Heyward Street

Columbia, South Carolina 29205Office: 803-252-2664

Fax: 803-252-2841www.scleap.org

Call For Dates of Next PCIS

Do you have photos, news, or other items you would like to submit for possible publication in the next issue of South Carolina Trooper magazine? We would love to hear from you! E-mail your submissions to [email protected]. We look forward to hearing from you!


ATTENTION SCTA MEMBERS:South Carolina Trooper is YOUR magazine!

If you have news, stories, photographs, awards/achievements, etc. that you would like

to share with your fellow SCTA members, please e-mail them to [email protected]@sc.rr.com

or send to SCTA Of ice-ATTN: Editor; 4961 Broad River Road, Columbia, SC 29212.

Show us the lighter side of your job!


In 2010 and 2011, the South Carolina Troopers Association awarded $10,000 in scholarships to deserving individuals. Scholarships are available to SCTA members in good standing, as well as their dependents. Congratulations to the following recipients, and best of luck to all of them in their scholastic endeavors!

2011 Recipients

SCTA Awards $10,000 in Scholarships

Christine Connelly, daughter of CPT & Mrs. Doug Connelly (RET), is a freshman at Charleston Southern University. She is studying nursing, with the hopes of becoming a Neonatal nurse.

Brittany Harvey, daughter of L/CPL Terry Harvey is a sophomore at Clemson University majoring in Biology. She hopes to attend medical school and become a pediatrician.

Mallori Lawson, daughter of LT D. Russell Lawson, is a freshman at Clemson University and is majoring in Food Science-Dietetics and Nutrition .

Kendall Millhouse, grandson of L/CPL T.U. Millhouse, Jr. and the late Emily Millhouse, is a senior at Clemson University and is majoring in Sociology, with hopes of pursuing a Masters Degree upon graduation.

Melinda Taylor, wife of MAJ Leroy Taylor, is pursuing her Juris Doctor from the Charlotte School of Law in Charlotte, North Carolina.


In 2Be sure to check the SCTA website, www.sctroopers.orgwww.sctroopers.org, in January 2012, for the 2012 Scholarship Application and eligibility criteria.

010 and 2011, the South Carolina Troopers Association awarded $10,000 in scholarships to deserving individuals. Scholarships are available to SCTA members in g

2010 Recipients

SCTA Awards $10,000 in Scholarships (continued)

Jennifer Canfora, wife of TFC Vincent Canfora, is pursuing a PhD in Human Services with a Counseling emphasis at Capella University.

Courtney Gamble, daughter of CPT & Mrs. Jones Gamble, is a senior at the University of South Carolina and is pursuing a degree in psychology. She plans to become a licensed psychologist upon graduation.

Emily Herring, daughter of CPL & Mrs. William D. Herring (RET), is pursuing a degree in Public Health at the University of South Carolina. Upon graduation, she plans to enroll in the USC School of Law.

Courtney Kelly, daughter of CPT & Mrs. Chrystal Kelly, attends the College of Charleston and is pursuing a degree in biology.

Taylor Reed, daughter of F/SGT & Mrs. Erskine Reed, attends Winthrop University and is pursing a degree in Elementary Education.


SCTA Welcomes New Board Members

The SCTA welcomes the following new board members: President Chris Cooper, Vice President Brad

Dewitt,Troop 2 Representative J. C. Ashley, Troop 3 Representative T. E. Nance, Troop 4 Representative

Jason Cartier, Troop 5 Representative Mark W. Thompson, Troop 6 Representative Darek McMurry, Troop 7

Representative Rob H. Rowe, Jr., and Troop 8 Representative M. D. Tomson.

Chris Cooper swears in M.D. Tomson, Troop 8 (HQ) Representative

Clint Fairey (left) swears in President Chris Cooper

Chris Cooper swears in J.C. Ashley, Troop Three Representative

BK Floyd (right) swears in Jason Cartier, Troop Four Representative

Chris Cooper swears in Rob Rowe Jr., Troop Seven Representative

Chris Cooper swears in Darek McMurry, Trooper Six Representative

Chris Cooper swears in Mark Thompson, Troop Five Representative


When Shawn Schumacher’s roommate came home one Thursday last November, Schumacher peppered him with a barrage of questions that just “weren’t normal,” the young man later told detectives from the Hillsboro (Ore.) PD. “Did you see the secret police outside?” Schumacher demanded to know.

“Did you see the little green gargoyles on the wall?” Schumacher asked. “Did you survive it?!” Schumacher

exclaimed. Too, too weird, the roommate

concluded. He hurried to his room, locked the door, and shoved his dresser in front of it. He was scared for his safety, he said later, because he knew Schumacher had at least one gun in the house — a .50-cal. Desert Eagle, so powerful that it “rocked him back” when he fi red it.

The next morning, Schumacher seemed “relaxed but jittery.” His eyes were “extremely dilated and he was very alert.” The roommate asked if he was going to work. “I don’t have to work anymore,” replied Schumacher, a meat cutter.“Why, did you win the lottery or

something?” Schumacher said, “Just wait and

see...”Shots FiredThe next day at nearly 1330 hours,

Offi cer Kurt Van Meter, 34, an 11-year street veteran and force-and-tactics instructor, was patrolling westbound on the main drag through Hillsboro’s busy downtown commercial district when he heard a sergeant come on the air and blurt that he’d heard six shots fi red in the general vicinity of their department’s West Precinct headquarters, just a few blocks east of Van Meter’s 10-20.

Van Meter whipped his car around and sped toward the gunfi re. He was heading, he soon discovered, right into a triple whammy: an ongoing active shooting, a hazardous high-speed pursuit, and, ultimately, a fatal offi cer-involved gunfi ght. “Any one of those alone could be considered a critical incident,” he recently told PoliceOne.

He believes that the harrowing experience — including its aftermath

— drove home invaluable “lessons learned” that he feels are important to share with offi cers and agencies everywhere.

As investigators were able to reconstruct events, the ordeal began when 28-year-old Shawn Schumacher, shirtless and barefoot despite the chilly weather and driving a northbound green 1997 Honda Civic, rammed into a pickup truck in heavy traffi c two blocks south of the police station. He backed up with a squeal of tires and smashed into two other cars. Then he angrily and randomly started pumping .50-cal. rounds from his Desert Eagle semi-auto into vehicles around him.

A middle-aged HVAC repairman, riding as a passenger in a Mazda hatchback traveling in the opposite direction, was hit in the head and killed. Still shooting, Schumacher tore off, weaving crazily through traffi c.

Sgt. Matt Shannon, chatting with Detective Becca Venable in the precinct station parking lot, heard the

gunfi re and called out the initial “shots fi red” report that activated Van Meter. Offi cer Daniel Mace, who happened to be driving near the intersection of the crashes, heard the shots too and took off after the Honda.

Mace barked a description of the vehicle and the route of the chase into his radio. But unknown to him at that moment his messages were not generally heard. In the sudden excitement, he’d neglected to switch back to the department’s open channel from the limited car-to-car channel he was talking on when the shootings erupted.

As he responded to the sergeant’s call, Van Meter saw a speeding Honda fl ash past an intersection, followed by Mace’s unit rolling Code 3. “The driver had his arm out the window fi ring at Mace, so the situation was pretty clear,” Van Meter says, even though he wasn’t receiving

what Mace was urgently describing. “Every fi ber of my being wanted to be there for him.” Hauling ass, he joined the pursuit, along with Venable, who raced from the police station to catch up. “The suspect was shooting back at

us, and my pulse rate was through the roof,” Van Meter says. “I started combat-breathing in an attempt to relax. I wanted to be extra calm on the radio to help keep other offi cers well-grounded, not sounding like al-Qaeda having a seizure.”

High-Speed ChaseAs the chase ripped at 70-80 mph

against lights and through “the busiest part of Hillsboro,” a Portland suburb with a population of some 90,000 people, “two overwhelming thoughts seized my mind,” Van Meter recalls. He remembered that his son’s eighth birthday was just two days away.

(CONTINUED˃˃)

Facing your mortality after a deadly-force incident

One police of icer’s 5 lessons learned from a harrowing “triple whammy” incident in Hillsboro (Ore.)

By Charles Remsberg, PoliceOne Senior Correspondent Sponsored by Blauer

““You need someone youcan reach out to 24/7

who understands what yyyyyou’re gggggoinggggg througggggh”


And he fl ashed back to four years earlier when he’d been T-boned by a mini-van while clearing an intersection on a hot call (that time, injuries kept him off-duty for nine months).

Now there was the added risk that the suspect’s continuing wild shooting would hit one or more of his pursuers, or civilian drivers and pedestrians he erratically fi red at along the way as he sideswiped and bounced off of other traffi c. Van Meter scooted low in his seat, trying to keep his eyes on things through his steering wheel and broadcast a running commentary as speeds zoomed close to 100 mph. “He was fl ying,” Van Meter says. “Some of the holes in traffi c we were weaving through were absolutely insane. But we felt we had to stop this guy.”

The perilous chase ended outside Hillsboro’s jurisdiction, about 8 minutes after it began — “8 minutes of pretty scary shit,” as Van Meter puts it. In the small community of Cornelius, three miles west of Hillsboro, Schumacher, “driving recklessly and passing vehicles dangerously,” collided with a Ford van he was attempting to overtake on the right in a sea of heavy traffi c. His Honda veered into a curb. The impact knocked the left front wheel off its axle, and knocked Schumacher unconscious.

The pileup happened to occur at the intersection where the Cornelius Police Department is located. And a deputy with the Washington County Sheriff’s Offi ce, Daniel Charter, just happened to be stopped at that intersection in his patrol car.

“Cornelius and the Sheriff’s Offi ce don’t share our communications channel,” Van Meter says, “so the deputy had no clue what was really happening. He rolled up within about a foot of the Honda’s bumper, thinking he was going to do an everyday crash report.” Two Cornelius offi cers exiting the PD, Bill Russell and Craig Wellhouser, ran toward the scene as well. Almost simultaneously the pursuing Hillsboro units skidded up. Deafeningly loud rock music was blaring from the suspect vehicle.

Tombstone, OregonSuddenly, Schumacher came to life.

“He jumped out of the Honda with the silver .50-caliber desert Eagle in one hand and a black .45-caliber Desert Eagle in the other,” says Van Meter.

“He walked up to Deputy Charter, who was still in his car, and fi red two shots at him at point-blank range. By some miracle, he missed. One round went just past Charter’s chest and lodged in the seat. The second hit the roll bar on the passenger side.

“He started walking down the middle of the street like Tombstone, shooting both guns. One round grazed the top of Wellhouser’s head. I remember seeing the suspect point one gun toward me. Things got really cloudy.

“I came up to shoot him and just as I was about to squeeze the trigger, a blurry patch of grey fl ashed in front of me. Thank God my brain picked up on that in time. It was Dan Charter’s uniform.”

Van Meter held his fi re, but Charter and the two Cornelius offi cers had an unobstructed target. “They all opened fi re at once,” says Van Meter, who was less than ten feet away. “With nine rounds, they hit him eight times. He went down, twitching, and didn’t get up. A chunk of his head had been blown out.”

Amazingly, aside from the one mortally wounded victim, there were no casualties reported from Schumacher’s marathon fusillade. Van Meter estimates he may have fi red up to 100 rounds.

His motive for the violent spree has not been established. Detectives searching his residence found a makeshift lab and other evidence that he was a user of mescaline, a powerful hallucinogen extracted from peyote cactus and usually associated with

“spiritual quests.” It’s believed he may have experienced excited delirium, which is frequently associated with illegal drug abuse. He was wearing only a pair of camoufl age shorts and driving with his windows down despite inclement weather, suggesting that his body may have been over-heated, a physical phenomenon typical of EDPs.

Van Meter’s Five TipsRefl ecting back on the encounter

and its emotional impact, Van Meter offers these suggestions for other LEOs and departments:

1. As an agency or a single fellow offi cer, show compassion. Quickly after the shooting, Hillsboro PD, headed by Chief Lila Ashenbrenner, rented a hotel room for offi cers who’d been involved in the chase and its deadly climax. “They had pizza for us and grief counselors — guys who’d been through traumatic incidents. That was huge,” Van Meter says. One of his fellow trainers, Offi cer Jeff Branson, “showed up and just stood beside me, not even talking really. It was so comforting just to have someone there that I respected.”

Later the department hosted a candid, multi-agency debriefi ng for all involved offi cers and mandated a confi dential visit with a police psychologist for those from Hillsboro.

“The department said we had to see the shrink but we didn’t have to talk to her once we got there,” Van Meter explains. “To be released from any obligation to talk made you want to talk, to be heard about what you were feeling and not be judged.”

2. Counsel with others who’ve “been there.” Van Meter’s fi rst phone calls were to his father and an uncle, both of whom survived shootings during careers in law enforcement. They talked about potential emotional and physical reactions, “not what I would feel necessarily but what they experienced after their incidents.”

Both mentioned bad dreams, among other things. When Van Meter subsequently had nightmares of his own, including one in which he was relentlessly fi red upon by four fellow offi cers during a call for service, he was better able to accept them as part of a normal brain/body readjustment from his adrenalin-fueled, life-threatening ordeal.

“You need someone you can reach out to 24/7 who understands what you’re going through,” he says.

“One night a diaper commercial that showed babies peacefully sleeping came on TV and I just lost it. I’m a tough country kid, a bull rider! The fi rst rule of rodeo is ‘If it hurts, hide it.’ But I couldn’t stop bawling. My two little boys are my life, and that ad touched some raw nerve.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 34


F/SGT John J. Kesler, Troop 3 HQ, promoted, to Lieutenant effective 9/17/10.

F/SGT Richard L. Ray, Patrol HQ-Resource Management, promoted to Lieutenant effective 9/17/10.

SGT Donald L. Banister Troop 3, Post C, promoted to First Sergeant effective 9/17/10.

SGT Thomas E. Moore Troop 7, Post A, promoted to First Sergeant effective 9/17/10.

SGT Thomas B. Joye, Troop 5 HQ, promoted to Lieutenant effective 12/17/10.

SGT Cherry McLeod, Patrol HQ-Dept. of Education-promoted to Lieutenant effective 12/17/10.

SGT Dennis Boniecki, Troop 6, Post C-Beaufort/Jasper, promoted to First Sergeant effective 07/17/11.

SGT Kenneth D. Stone, Troop 3, Post D-Spartanburg, promoted to First Sergeant effective 07/17/11.

SGT Robert W. Castles, Troop 5, Post B-Dillon/Florence/Marion, promoted to First Sergeant effective 07/17/11.

SGT Mendel C. Rivers, Troop 8-CEF, promoted to First Sergeant effective 07/17/11.

SGT Bobby J. Albert, Troop 4, Post A-Cherokee/Union, promoted to First Sergeant effective 08/17/11.

SGT Shawna N. Gadsden, Troop 6, Post A-Berkeley/Charleston, promoted to First Sergeant effective 08/17/11.

SGT Jeffrey N. Melton, Troop 3, Post A-Anderson, promoted to First Sergeant effective 08/17/11.

CPL Robert L. Hardee Troop 6, Post B, promoted to Sergeant effective 9/17/10.

CPL Dennis Boniecki, Troop 6, Post C-Beaufort/Jasper, promoted to Sergeant effective 12/17/10.

CPL Alfred B. Warren, Patrol HQ 8-Patrol Training, promoted to Sergeant effective 12/17/10.

CPL Thomas E. Stone, Troop 2 HQ, promoted to Sergeant effective 3/2/11.

CPL David J. Babbit, Troop 8, TCC-Blythewood, promoted to Sergeant, effective 07/17/11.

CPL James R. LaChance, Troop 7, Post C-Aiken, promoted to Sergeant effective 08/17/11.

CPL Bryan L. McDougald, Troop 8-CRO, promoted to Sergeant effective 07/17/11.

CPL Everick Patterson, Troop 8-Training, promoted to Sergeant effective 07/17/11.

CPL Billy W. Tyler, Troop 5 HQ, promoted to Sergeant effective 07/17/11.

L/CPL David G. Jones, Troop 1, Post C, promotion effective 8/22/10.

L/CPL Quest D. Hallman Troop 1, Post C, promoted to Corporal effective 9/17/10.

L/CPL Charles B. Horne, Troop 4, Post A, promoted to Corporal effective 9/17/10.

L/CPL Frederick L. Bradshaw, Patrol HQ, ACE-Motor Region 1, promoted to Corporal effective 12/17/10.

L/CPL James M. Brantley, Troop 6, Post B-Colleton/Dorchester, promoted to Corporal effective 12/17/10.

L/CPL James H. Burris, Troop 7, Post B-Calhoun/Orangeburg, promoted to Corporal effective 12/17/10.

L/CPL Christopher F. Costa, Troop 5, Post D-Horry, promoted to Corporal effective 12/17/10.

L/CPL Michael Z. Hassen, Troop 4, Post B-York, promoted to Corporal effective 12/17/10.

L/CPL James R. LaChance, Troop 7, Post B-Orangeburg, promoted to Corporal and transferred to Post C-Aiken effective 12/17/10.

L/CPL Christian P. Logdon, Patrol HQ, ACE HQ, promoted to Sergeant effective 12/17/10.

L/CPL David C. Martin, Troop 6, Post B-Colleton/Dorchester, promoted to Corporal effective 12/17/10.

L/CPL Rudolph Osteen, Troop 1, promoted to Corporal and transferred from Post B-Kershaw/Lee to Post D-Richland effective 12/17/10.

L/CPL Travis J. Riddle, Patrol HQ-Patrol Supply, promoted to Corporal effective 12/17/10.

L/CPL Gerald D. Rothell, Troop 1, Post C-Lexington, promoted to Corporal effective 12/17/10.

L/CPL Jay A. Staehr, Troop 4, Post D-Chesterfi eld/Lancaster, promoted to Corporal effective 12/17/10.

L/CPL Joshua S. Black, Troop 3, Post A-Anderson, promoted to Corporal effective 3/2/11.

L/CPL Jason Cartier, Troop 4, Post D-York, promoted to Corporal effective 3/2/11.

L/CPL Mark R. Danback, Troop 1, Post A-Kershaw/Lee, promoted to Corporal effective 3/2/11.

L/CPL Charles E. Davis, Troop 7, Post B-Calhoun/Orangeburg, promoted to Corporal effective 3/2/11.

T R O O P E R S O N T H E M O V EPROMOTIONS


L/CPL Craig L. Herring, Troop 1, Post D-Richland, promoted to Sergeant effective 3/2/11.

L/CPL Thomas S. Summers, Troop 6, Post C-Beaufort/Jasper, promoted to Corporal effective 3/2/11.

L/CPL Joseph W. Tate, Troop 4, Post C-Chester/Fairfi eld, promoted to Corporal effective 3/2/11.

L/CPL Therese P. Alford, Troop 1, Post B-Kershaw/Lee, promoted to Sergeant effective 08/17/11.

L/CPL Robert Beres, Troop 8-CRO, promoted to Corporal effective 08/17/11.

L/CPL Jeremy L. McCloud, Troop 4, Post C-Chester/Fairfi eld, promoted to Corporal effective 08/17/11.

L/CPL John M. Spencer, II, Troop 8-Training, promoted to Corporal effective 08/2/11.

S/TPR Kevin N. Brown, Troop 3, Post B, promoted to Lance Corporal effective 10/17/10.

S/TPR Robert J. Mangum, Troop 3, Post D, promoted to Lance Corporal effective 10/17/10.

S/TPR Madison Anderson, Troop 8, ACE SIT Team, promoted to Lance Corporal effective 3/17/11.

S/TPR Bradley M. Bastian, Troop 3, Post D-Spartanburg, promoted to Lance Corporal effective 3/17/11.

S/TPR George A. Folk, Troop 7, Post A-Allendale/Bamberg/Hampton, promoted to Lance Corporal effective 3/17/11.

S/TPR Tony L. Gardner, Troop 5, Post B-Dillon/Florence/Marion, promoted to Lance Corporal effective 3/17/11.

S/TPR Brian S. Quinn, Troop 4, Post A-Cherokee/Union, promoted to Lance Corporal effective 3/17/11.

S/TPR Charles C. Sanders, Troop 5, Post D-Horry, promoted to Lance Corporal effective 3/17/11.

S/TPR John K. Tyner, Troop 6, Post B, Colleton/Dorchester, promoted to Lance Corporal effective 3/17/11.

S/TPR Travis T. Blackwelder, Patrol HQ-ACE Team, promoted to Lance Corporal effective 5/17/11.

S/TPR James M. Demay, Troop 1, Post D-Richland, promoted to Lance Corporal effective 08/2/11.

S/TPR David P. Dodson, Troop 7, Post C-Aiken, promoted to Lance Corporal effective 08/2/11.

S/TPR James V. Freeman, Troop 3, Post B-Oconee/Pickens, promoted to Lance Corporal effective 08/2/11.

S/TPR Robert A. Frock, Troop 4-DUI Team, promoted to Lance Corporal effective 08/2/11.

S/TPR Ilean J. Granata, Troop 4, Post D-Chesterfi eld/Lancaster, promoted to Lance Corporal effective 08/2/11.

S/TPR Justin R. Harris, Troop 3, Post C-Greenville, promoted to Lance Corporal effective 08/2/11.

S/TPR Matthew C. Johnson, Troop 3, Post C-Greenville, promoted to Lance Corporal effective 08/2/11.

S/TPR Lee L. Kershner, Troop 1, Post D-Richland, promoted to Lance Corporal effective 08/2/11.

S/TPR David B. Lilly, Troop 5, Post D-Horry, promoted to Lance Corporal effective 08/2/11.

S/TPR Mark L. Meadows, Troop 8-SIT Team, promoted to Lance Corporal effective 08/2/11.

S/TPR Raymond P. Skinner, Troop 1, Post C-Lexington, promoted to Lance Corporal effective 08/2/11.

S/TPR Adam S. Warren, Troop 3, Post A-Anderson, promoted to Lance Corporal effective 08/2/11.

S/TPR Jason T. Briggs, Troop 5, Post B-Dillon/Florence/Marion was promoted to Lance Corporal effective 9/17/11.

TFC Mark R. Amos, Troop 6, Post B, promoted to Senior Trooper effective 10/17/10.

TFC Kenneth F. Small, Troop 5, Post C-Georgetown/Williamsburg promoted to Senior Trooper effective 11/17/10.

TFC Danny L. Calvert, Troop 7, Post A-Allendale/Bamberg/Hampton, promoted to Senior Trooper effective 12/17/10.

TFC Curtis L. Thomas, Troop 7, Post B-Orangeburg-Calhoun promoted to Senior Trooper effective 4/2/11

TFC Timothy F. Bush, Troop 3, Post C-Greenville, promoted to Senior Trooper effective 4/17/11.

TFC John A. Cardona, Troop 4, Post D-Chesterfi eld/Lancaster, promoted to Senior Trooper effective 4/17/11.

TFC Daniel E. Conklin, Troop 5, Post D-Horry, promoted to Senior Trooper effective 4/17/11.

TFC Brandon J. Bolt, Troop 2, Post C-Edgefi eld/McCormick/Saluda, promoted to Senior Trooper effective 05/17/11.

TFC Shane M. Williams, Troop 3- DUI Team, promoted to Senior Trooper effective 06/17/11.

TFC Brian L. Allison, Troop 4, Post A-Cherokee/Union, promoted to Senior Trooper effective 08/17/11. (continued on page 30)

T R O O P E R S O N T H E M O V EPROMOTIONS (continued)


TFC Mitchell L. Altman, Troop 7, Post A-Allendale/Bamberg/Hampton, promoted to Senior Trooper effective 08/17/11.

TFC Adam L. Antley, Troop 1, Post C-Lexington, promoted to Senior Trooper effective 08/17/11.

TFC Rickey L. Ball, Troop 1, Post D-Richland, promoted to Senior Trooper effective 08/17/11.

TFC Jackie S. Bennett, Troop 5, Post B-Dillon/Florence/Marion, promoted to Senior Trooper effective 08/17/11.

TFC Brandon S. Brooks, Troop 6, Post B-Colleton/Dorchester, promoted to Senior Trooper effective 08/17/11.

TFC Christopher A. Brown, Troop 5, Post B-Dillon/Florence/Marion, promoted to Senior Trooper effective 08/17/11.

TFC Kevin G. Ellis, Troop 3, Post D-Spartanburg, promoted to Senior Trooper effective 08/17/11.

TFC William M. Lee, Troop 5, Post B-Dillon/Florence, Marion, promoted to Senior Trooper effective 08/17/11.

TFC Jonathan A. Revis, Troop 4, Post B-York, promoted to Senior Trooper effective 08/17/1l.

TFC David A. Skipper, Troop 5, Post D-Horry, promoted to Senior Trooper effective 08/17/11.

TFC Zachary H. Smith, Troop 5, Post D-Horry, promoted to Senior Trooper effective 08/17/11.

TFC Brandon O. Stokes, Troop 1, Post A-Sumter/Clarendon, promoted to Senior Trooper effective 08/17/11.

TFC James L. Stokes, Troop 1, Post C-Lexington, promoted to Senior Trooper effective 08/17/11.

TFC Jamie M. Tyner, Troop 3, Post C-Greenville, promoted to Senior Trooper effective 08/17/11.

TFC Christopher D. Weldon, Troop 5, Post D-Horry, promoted to Senior Trooper effective 08/17/11.

TFC Franklin D. Wooten, Troop 3, Post A-Anderson, promoted to Senior Trooper effective 08/17/11.

LT Harry B. DuBose, Troop 5-HQ transferred to Troop 4-HQ, effective 08/17/11

SGT Roger K. Hughes, Patrol HQ-CRO, transferred to Troop 1, Post C-Lexington, effective 3/2/11.

SGT Clinton H. Fairey, Troop 2, Post C-Edgefi eld/McCormick/Saluda, transferred within Troop 2 to Troop 2-HQ effective 08/17/11.

SGT Thomas E. Stone, Troop 2 HQ, transferred within Troop 2 to Post C-Edgefi eld/McCormick/Saluda effective 08/17/11.

CPL James F. Brown transferred to Troop 2, Post C effective 9/17/10.

CPL Joyce A. Myrick, Patrol HQ transferred from MAIT-Coastal to Community Relations Offi ce effective 12/7/10.

CPL Jon V. Eddins, transferred within Troop 4 from Post A Cherokee/Union to Post B-York effective 12/17/10.

L/CPL Joseph A. Alban transferred to Troop8-MAIT effective 2/2/10.

L/CPL Bradford L. Buie transferred to Troop8-MAIT effective 2/2/10.

L/CPL Jonathan L. Craig transferred to Troop 8-MAIT effective 2/2/10.

L/CPL Michael E. Duncan, Trooper 3, Post 3 transferred to Troop 9-MAIT, effective 2/2/10.

L/CPL Steven C. Garren transferred to Troop 8-MAIT effective 2/2/10.

L/CPL Russell S. Joye transferred to Troop8-MAIT, effective 2/2/10.

L/CPL Jeremy T. Leach transferred to Troop8-MAIT effective 2/2/10.

L/CPL William M. Nimmons transferred to Troop 8-MAIT effective 2/2/10.

L/CPL Roger D. Thomason, Jr., transferred Troop 4 to Post B effective 7/2/10.

L/CPL Jeremy D. Sisler transferred to Troop 9-MAIT effective 2/2/10.

L/CPL James F. Sweatman, Jr. transferred to Troop 8-Low-State Interdiction Unit effective 2/2/10.

L/CPL Robert Warren, Troop 3, Post A transferred to Troop 10-Insurance Enforcement effective 3/2/10.

L/CPL John C. Lamb transferred to Troop 1, Post B effective 3/17/10.

L/CPL Tommy K. Teaster transferred to Troop 8-SIT Team Region II effective 9/17/10.

L/CPL Michael D. Tomson transferred to Troop 8-SIT Team Region IV effective 9/17/10.

L/CPL Kelly W. Anderson, transferred from Troop 2 to Patrol HQ-MAIT Foothills effective 12/17/10.

L/CPL Jeremy S. Heaton, Troop 2, Post A-Laurens/Newberry, transferred within Troop 2 to Post B-Abbeville/Greenwood, effective 08/2/11.

L/CPL Tyler J. Luther, Troop 8 transferred within Troop 8 to MAIT-Pee Dee effective 08/17/11.

L/CPL Todd J. Proctor, Troop 8 transferred within Troop 8 to MAIT-Coastal effective 08/17/11

L/CPL Robert A. Frock, Troop 4, Post B-York, transferred within Troop 4 to Post C-Chester/Fairfi eld, effective 09/17/11.

S/TPR John D. McGaha, transferred from Troop 8, MAIT to Troop 5, Post D (Horry) effective 4/2/11.

S/TRP Kevin N. Brown transferred to Troop 8-SIT effective 1/17/10.

S/TRP John D. McGaha transferred to Troop 8-MAIT effective 2/2/10.(continued on page 31)

PROMOTIONS (continued)

TRANSFERS

TRANSFERS (continued)


S/TRP John K. Tyner transferred to Troop 6, Post B effective 2/17/10.

S/TRP Jeffrey A. Shumaker, transferred to Troop 6, Post C effective 9/17/10.

S/TRP James L. Booker transferred to Troop 8-MAIT-Coastal Region effective 9/17/10.

S/TRP Travis T. Blackwelder transferred from Troop 7 to Patrol HQ-ACE Interdiction Mid-State effective 11/17/10.

S/TPR Brian T. Roberts, Troop 6, Post A-Berkeley/Charleston transferred to Post B-Colleton/Dorchester effective 2/17/11.

TPR William C. Epps transferred to Troop8-MAIT effective 2/2/10.

TPR John R. Ford transferred to Troop 6, Post B effective 6/17/10.

TFC Vincent M. Canfora transferred to Troop 5, Post D effective 7/2/10.

TFC William C. Harman, transferred from Troop 1, Post C Lexington to Troop 5, Post D-Horry effective 12/2/10.

TFC Justin J. Trotter, Troop 2, Post C-Edgefi eld/McCormick transferred to Troop 6, Post Colleton/Dorchester effective 3/2/11.

SEPARATIONS:CPT Neal S. Brown, Troop 3 HQ, retired 1/16/10.

LT Robert H. Rabon, Troop 1 HQ, retired effective 2/28/11.

LT Jeffrey M. Williams, Troop 4 HQ, retired 06/2/11.

F/SGT Steven Mueller, Troop 4, Post A, resigned 3/16/10.

F/SGT Eric K. Cox, Troop 2, Post B, retired 6/30/10.

F/SGT George L. Williams, Troop 6, Post A-Berkeley/Charleston, retired effective 12/28/10.

SGT Terry G. Causey, Troop 5, Post B, retired 7/31/10.

SGT D. E. Branham, Jr., Patrol HQ-Central Evidence, resigned effective 1/3/11.

SGT Garry L. Stith, Troop 5, Post D-Horry, retired effective 07/16/11.

CPL Donald R. Lee, Troop 2, Post C, retired 1/21/10.

CPL D. Kevin Cusack, Troop 4, Post B, deceased 3/27/10.

CPL Cephus H. Rogers, Jr., Troop 6, Post B, resigned 5/18/10.

CPL Timothy D. Ayers, HQ-MAIT, retired 5/20/10.

CPL Robert S. Blair, Troop 1, Post D, resigned 6/13/10.

CPL Dwight Green, Troop 7, Post C-Aiken/Barnwell, resigned 1/31/11.

CPL Joseph J. Cruz, Troop 7, Post A-Allendale/Bamberg/Hampton/Barnwell, retired 3/31/11.

CPL Paul J. Brouthers, Troop 8-CRO, retired 05/31/11.

CPL James M. Simmons, Troop 2, Post B-Abbeville/Greenwood, retired 6/30/11.

CPL William H. Walters, Troop 1, Post B-Kershaw/Lee, retired effective 07/26/11.

CPL James M. Brantley, Troop 6, Post B-Colleton/Dorchester, resigned 8/1/11.

CPL William M. Hoskins, Troop 1, Post C-Lexington, retired effective 8/8/11.

CPL Keith I. Stafford, Troop 3, Post D-Spartanburg, retired 09/23/11.

L/CPL Kathy A. Hiles, Troop 9-CRO, resigned 1/1/10.

L/CPL John L. Weeks, Jr., Troop 1, Post A, resigned 1/11/10.

L/CPL Brian E. Moyer, Troop 2, Post C, resigned 1/18/10.

L/CPL Donnie L. Gilbert, Troop 3, Post D, resigned 1/24/10.

L/CPL William W. Mather, Troop 2, Post C, resigned 1/24/10.

L/CPL Jeffrey T. Cassidy, HQ-SIT, resigned 3/1/10.

L/CPL James E. Moore, Jr., Troop 3, Post C, retired 3/1/10.

L/CPL Erickson Concepcion, Troop 6, Post B, resigned 3/14/10.

L/CPL Michael W. Melton, Jr., Troop 2, Post B, resigned 3/21/10.

L/CPL Paul A. Nelson, Troop 6, Post C, retired 4/1/10.

L/CPL James A. McLaurin, Troop 7, Post C, resigned 5/18/10.

L/CPL Stephen J. Pearrow, Troop 7, Post B, resigned 5/28/10

L/CPL Rufus D. Bowen, Troop 2, Post C, retired 6/30/10.

L/CPL Joshua R. Edwards, Troop 5, Post A, resigned 7/2/10.

L/CPL Michael A. Hodges, Troop 6, Post A, retired 7/16/10.

L/CPL Grover S. Brinson, Troop 8-MAIT, resigned 7/23/10.

L/CPL Donald L. Stewart, Troop 6, Post A, resigned 8/06/10.

L/CPL Michael P. Barnhill, Troop 6, Post B, retired 8/16/10.

L/CPL Stephen D. Poole, Troop 4, Post A, retired 8/17/10.

L/CPL Roger D. Thomason, Troop 4, Post B, resigned 9/24/10.

L/CPL Dwayne D. Tornabene, Troop 6, Post A, retired 10/15/10..L/CPL James G. Knox, Troop 4, Post C-Chester/Fairfi eld, resigned 1/1/11.

L/CPL John D. McCall, Troop 4, Post A-Cherokee/Union, retired 1/3/11.

L/CPL Wilbert C. Wilks II, Troop 5, Post D-Horry, resigned 1/31/11.

L/CPL William K. Faust, Troop 6, Post B-Colleton/Dorchester, retired 3/5/11

L/CPL Paul D. Rush, Troop 6, Post B-Colleton/Dorchester resigned 4/1/11.

SEPARATIONS (continued)TRANSFERS (continued)


L/CPL Robert A. Strickland, Troop 6, Post B-Colleton/Dorchester resigned 4/1/11

L/CPL Eric J. Burton, Troop 1, Post A-Sumter/Clarendon, resigned 4/8/11.

L/CPL Josef M. Robinson, Patrol HQ-Community Relations, resigned 4/12/11.

L/CPL Robert M. Flitter, Troop 1, Post D-Richland, resigned 4/29/11.

L/CPL Shane A. Savage, Troop 3, Post A-Anderson, resigned 4/30/11.

L/CPL Bobby J. Hucks, Troop 5, Post B-Dillon/Florence/Marion, retired 5/6/11.

L/CPL Christopher R. Logan, Troop 4, Post D-Chesterfi eld/Lancaster, retired 05/11/11.

L/CPL Rodney W. Rummage, Troop 5, Post A-Darlington/Marlboro, retired 5/23/11.

L/CPL James E. Altman, Troop 5, Post C-Georgetown/Williamsburg, resigned 5/23/11.

L/CPL S D. Brookshire, Troop 2, Post B,, resigned 5/30/11.

L/CPL Trevor R. Clinton, Troop 8-CRO, retired 05/31/11.

L/CPL Charles H. Breland, Troop 7, Post A-Allendale/Bamberg/Hampton, resigned 06/17/11.

L/CPL Alexander X. Holloman, Troop 3, Post D-Spartanburg, retired 06/30/11.

L/CPL Edward E. Hartis, Troop 4, Post C-Chester/Fairfi eld, resigned 8/12/11.

L/CPL Byron K. Carver, Troop 3, Post A-Anderson, retired 08/28/11.

S/TRP Roy G. Hopkins, Troop 5, Post C, resigned 5/16/10.

S/TRP Joseph A. Hamilton, Troop 3, Post A, resigned 6/16/10.

S/TPR William L. Carlson, Troop 1, Post D, resigned 7/9/10.

S/TPR Edward E. Fleming, Troop 1, Post A, resigned 7/9/10.

S/TRP Steve G. Worthy, Jr., Troop 6, Post C, resigned 9/1/10.

S/TRP Thomas E. Hayes, Troop 3, Post C, resigned 9/16/10.

S/TPR April N. Brown, Troop 3, Post C, resigned 10/07/10.

S/TRP Jeremy J. Soukup, Troop 3, Post D, resigned 10/07/10

S/TPR Scott R. Grappone, Troop 6, Post A, resigned 10/16/10.

S/TPR Jared L. Smith, Troop 1, Post D-Richland, resigned 12/16/10.

S/TPR Richard M. Salter, Troop 5, Post C, resigned 2/4/11.

S/TPR Troy J. Miles, Troop 5, Post B-Dillon/Florence/Marion, resigned 2/17/11.

S/TPR Eric R. Hewitt, Troop 4, Post D-Chesterfi eld/Lancaster, resigned 3/10/11.

S/TPR George D. Loyd, Troop 4, Post D-Chesterfi eld/Lancaster, retired 4/1/11.

S/TPR Richard P. Ondick, Troop 6, Post C-Beaufort/Jasper, resigned 4/20/11.

S/TPR Randy L. Quinn, Troop 4, Post A-Cherokee/Union, resigned 6/7/11.

S/TPR Kevin L. Montgomery, Troop 4, Post C-Chester/Fairfi eld, retired effective 7/28/11

S/TPR Daniel R. Dodson, Troop 1, Post C-Lexington, resigned 8/15/11.

S/TPR Daniel E. Conklin, Troop 5, Post D-Horry, resigned 9/9/11.

S/TPR Vincent A. Canfora, Troop 5, Post D-Horry, resigned 9/5/11.

TFC Matthew B. Watson, Troop 3, Post D, resigned 2/5/10.

TFC William A. Stratton, Troop 5, Post D, resigned 2/27/10.

TFC Kyle F. Strickland, Troop 6, Post C, resigned 5/1/10.

TFC Steven G. Kesling, Troop 3, Post A, resigned 8/5/10.

TFC Jason W. Willoughby, Troop 5, Post C, resigned 9/8/10.

TFC Mark P. Davis, Troop 6, Post B, resigned 10/31/10.

TFC Paul L. Linton, Troop 6, Post C-Beaufort/Jasper, resigned 12/21/10.

TFC Matthew W. Dean, Troop 3, Post D-Spartanburg, resigned 1/13/11.

TFC David M. Nunley, Troop 1, Post A-Kershaw/Lee, resigned 1/25/11.

TFC John E. Elkin, Troop 1, Post D-Richland, resigned 4/21/11.

TFC Courtney K. Towns, Troop 6, Post A-Berkeley/Charleston, resigned 6/2/11.

TFC Justin G. Gambrell, Troop 3, Post C-Greenville, resigned 06/24/11.

TPR Christopher W. Wolfe, Troop 7, Post B, resigned 1/23/10.

TPR Kevin J. Hull, Troop 1, Post D, resigned 6/8/10.

TPR Andrew K. Sager, Troop 6, Post C, resigned 7/10/10.

TPR Joseph S. Buchwald, Troop 1, Post D, resigned 9/12/10.

TPR Abner N. Rivera Conception, Troop 7, Post C, resigned 10/1/10.

TPR James M. Reepe, Troop 2, Post B-Abbeville/Greenwood, resigned 07/12/11.

TPR Ulysius A. Vance, Troop 6, Post A-Berkeley/Charleston, resigned 09/07/11.

TCO Tressy D. Payne, Spartanburg TCC, resigned 8/27/10.

TCO Kenneth V. Tucker, HQ-Florence TCC, resigned 9/25/10.

TCO Tiffany K. Carroll, Patrol HQ-Charleston TCC, resigned 10/23/10.

TCO Supervisor Tammy W. Tyler, Patrol HQ-TCC, resigned 12/20/10.

TCO Tech. James C. Reeves, Patrol HQ resigned 4/15/11.

TCO Amanda D. Proctor, Greenwood, resigned 4/11/11.

TCO Catherine G. Horne, Troop 8-TCC-Greenwood, resigned 05/10/11.

TCO Donna M. Murrell, Troop 8-TCC-Blythewood, resigned 05/15/11.

SEPARATIONS (continued)


TCO Amanda N. Godbold, Troop 8-TCC-Blythewood, resigned 07/20/11.

Grants Administrative Coordinator Pamela S. Lucero, Patrol Headquarters-Blythewood, deceased 5/22/10.

Admin. Specialist Nancy S. Hall, Troop 4 Headquarters, retired 1/3/11.▲▲▲

SEPARATIONS (continued)

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(CONTINUED FROM PAGE 27)I needed somebody I could call right then who would

listen and convince me I wasn’t going crazy.”He strongly recommends studying about body/brain

reactions during and after massive stress before you are in a critical incident.

“My dad’s motto for survival has always been ‘See it before it happens.’ The more you understand beforehand, the better you can deal with it.”

3. Revisit the event. After two weeks off, Van Meter was told to “ease back into the job” by riding his fi rst shift back with a partner. He rode with Branson. “The fi rst thing we did was retrace the path of the pursuit — a tremendous revelation.” There were whole sections of the route that he didn’t remember, and at the shootout scene distances as he recalled them “in my mind’s eye” were radically different than they proved to be in reality. “That’s the sort of discrepancy some attorney can tee off on later and to challenge your credibility,” Van Meter says.

With the help of his training buddies, he also “revisited” the shootout itself one day, via a scenario reconstruction.

“I felt such frustration because I hadn’t been able to shoot the suspect,” he explains. “He’d tried to kill me, and someone else gets to shoot him? I absolutely wanted to take him out myself! That may not be what society and the media want to hear, but it’s how I felt. I had a need to fi nish the job.”

At an unpopulated 15-acre warehouse site they had access to, Van Meter and the other trainers conducted a mock pursuit. A fellow offi cer played the suspect, “shooting” back from a “fl eeing” car, while Van Meter chased in another vehicle, driving “under the steering wheel” just as he had in the real occurrence. “My emotional brain was right back there again,’ he says. But this time when the suspect launched his fi nal face-off, Van Meter put him down. “You’d be surprised at the psychological closure that gave me,” he says.

4. Pursue non-cop passions. “You need interests that get you away from police work and especially from the critical incident you’ve been through,” Van Meter says. For him, it’s a burgeoning side-career as a country singer and songwriter. “About the only thing I have left from my ex-wife is a

guitar she bought me,” he says. He’d fooled around a bit with amateur jam sessions at a local bar, then several

months before the pursuit he started taking music more seriously, writing as well as picking. Since then, it’s been a welcome way to clear his mind and escape for awhile to a totally different world. One tune he wrote and sang,

“Daddy’s Song,” has gotten radio air time; another, “I Work with Heroes,” is a tip of the hat to his profession, and he’s working on getting an album together.

5. Face your mortality. “Any critical incident is a life-changing experience,” Van Meter says. “I don’t know that you ever get over it completely. It forces you to face the fact that you could die doing this job.

“That’s a harsh reality. But once you really come to terms with that — and accept it — you gain a confi dence that few civilians ever know,” Van Meter concludes.

“I don’t want to run toward gunfi re. I don’t want to shoot people. But if I have to, I know I will.” ▲▲▲

ABOUT THE AUTHORCharles Remsberg co-founded the original Street

Survival Seminar and the Street Survival Newsline, authored three of the best-selling law enforcement training textbooks, and helped produce numerous

award-winning training videos. His nearly three decades of work earned him the pres gious O.W. Wilson Award for outstanding contribu ons to law enforcement and the American Police Hall of Fame Honor Award for dis nguished achievement in public service.

Pre-order Charles Remsberg’s latest book,Blood Lessons, which takes you inside more than 20 unforge able confronta ons where offi cers’ lives are on the line.

This column is sponsored by Blauer. Blauer has been a leader in protec ve uniforms and outerwear for law enforcement and fi re/EMS professionals for sixty nine years and three genera ons of family members. Blauer is commi ed to law enforcement and to keeping offi cers safe.

Have you had a recent status change, including promo on, re rement, transfer, change of address, change of benefi ciary for your SCTA life insurance, etc.? If so, please no fy the SCTA Offi ce by calling 1.800.633.2236, ext. 10. You may also update membership informa on online at www.sctroopers.org or you may send an e-mail directly to offi [email protected].

Please note that in order to update your benefi ciary, you must complete either the online Change of Benefi ciary form, or we can mail you the form. Benefi ciary changes cannot be made over the telephone.


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