Sig 11-10 Second.p65 - Oklahoma Department of Public Safety

the Safety Signal
November 2010
Green was a leader, mentor and “trooper’s captain”
”We are all
devastated over the news of
Cpt. Green’s death. He will be
remembered as a strong, stable
leader who proudly
served the citizens of the
state of Oklahoma. We
offer our support and
sincere condolences to
his friends and family, as
well as to those who
served with him.”
Col. Van M.
Guillotte, chief of the
Oklahoma Highway
Patrol, was speaking of
Cpt. George Green who
died October 26, one day
after he was critically
injured in a collision
with a dump truck while
exiting the Turner
Turnpike near Sapulpa.
Green was taken
to St. John’s Hospital in
Tulsa in serious
condition, but passed away
around 3:30 p.m. the following
day. His death was a
tremendous loss to the highway
patrol because of his dedication
and the leadership he provided;
he will be deeply missed.
The Sand Springs
newspaper reported Lt. George
Brown saying, “It’s devastating.
Captain Green was a leader. He
was the commander over the
entire Turner Turnpike; he had
several troopers under his
command. I personally worked
for Captain Green for a number
Cpt. George Green was a beloved
member of the Oklahoma Highway
Patrol and will be missed by all.
of years here in Tulsa.”
Brown said it’s always
hard losing a fellow trooper, but
Green was especially influential
to many younger troopers.
“It’s tough,” Brown
said. “A mentor, he was an
excellent leader, and he
cultivated lots of young leaders
within the highway patrol.
Captain Green had an uncanny
ability to develop young
leaders.”
Brown said Green had a
way of making a tough job
more manageable.
”He had a saying, and,
you know, with this job there
are lots of traumatic things
that can affect a young
trooper. Captain Green
always said ‘this, too, shall
pass,’ and sometimes that
was all you needed when
you were having a bad day.”
Green was a man who
spent most of his life helping
keep Oklahomans safe and
was just months away from
some much-deserved rest
and relaxation.
”He was 31 years on the
patrol, 56 years old, and
slated to retire very soon … as
in this next spring.” Brown
said Captain George Green will
be sorely missed. ”He was a
(Continued)
If you would like to
submit information or
a story idea to be
published please send
your information to
Public Information
Officer Deanna
Hargus, editor, via e-
mail to
dhargus@dps.state.ok.us
or call 405-425-7708.
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Green (Con’d.)
great guy. He was a firearms
instructor and someone who
was very dedicated to his
people, and he always went out
of his way to make sure we
were safe as well as the
public.”
As a
fellow firearms
instructor, Lt. Ben
Crockett recalled
working with
Green for several
years.
“He was
only one of few
active firearms
instructor
captains,” said
Crockett. “He
never failed to
send me an
‘attaboy’ when he
thought I deserved
it, and he would
always send me
‘pick-me-ups.’
He was just
awesome.”
Crockett
recalls speaking to Green just
days before his death.
“I had called him about
a week before because I needed
some advice, and we visited for
about 30 minutes,” said
Crockett who was on his way
home the day of Green’s
collision when he heard the
report of the accident. He
turned around and headed to
the location.
“It was a truly tragic
turn of events. We gathered
with other troopers in Tulsa,
and I got to visit with the
family at that time. When he
was in surgery, I never, ever,
Received via DPS Web site
\comment page
Name: Robert Morales
Title: Captain George Green #35
Comment:
To the DPS family and especially the
Highway Patrol family. I want to send my
deepest condolences for the loss of Captain
Green. I was a 37th academy class mate of
George’s in 1979. George was a man of
conviction for what he believed in. George’s
humor, his professionalism and his
presence will be sorely missed by those that
knew him. Please know that I think of the
troopers everyday and hope and pray that
they all make it home to their families. The
Department lost a great man today. Stay
safe, God Bless you all.
Robert Morales retired badge #128
pictured him ending up on that
wall out there,” said Crockett
who was referring to the wall in
the Robert R. Lester Training
Center that displays members
of the patrol who have been
killed while on duty.
Crockett later told how
the day following Green’s
death, he and about 16 others
were on the gun range in
Muskogee when all of sudden
Blackberries and cells began to
sound off. Green’s death was
announced.
“We all just had to stop
for awhile,” said Crockett. “I
could tell everyone just wanted
to talk about it,
especially since
George was such a
presence in firearms
training over the
years. We
acknowledged his life
and his career, and
gathered for a prayer.”
Shortly
afterward, Crockett
recalls receiving a text
from fellow firearms
instructor Trp. Charles
Cowden that said, “I
can’t think of a better
place to be at that
time then on the gun
range. He would have
liked that.”
Hundreds of
local, state, federal
and out-of-state law
enforcement officers
gathered to honor
Green at his funeral ceremony
at the Olivet Baptist Church in
Sand Springs. Lines of
uniformed and civilian
mourners walked underneath a
massive 30- by 40-foot U.S.
Flag flying from a Sand Springs
fire engine in honor of Green,
and entered the church to attend
the ceremony. OHP Chaplain
Sam Garner acknowledged the
family and those in attendance
and spoke of Green through
verse.
- 2 - (Continued)

Green (Con’d.)
Cpt. George Green with his family, in his office and
enjoying his favorite pastimes. He is shown with wife
Susan (top, left), daughter-in-law Britton, son John,
son, Patrick (second from top, left), daughter-in-law
Lindsey (not shown), and grandson Teddy (above).
- 3 - (Continued)

Green (Con’d.)
“To love someone more dearly every day, to
help a wandering child to find his way, and smile
when evening’s done, this is my task. And when at
last my work on earth is done, when at last my
Savior’s face I see and when I hear him say to me,
‘my child, well done.’ This is my task.
“At an early age, George completed his task.
He did it very well. He did it with honor, he did it
with dignity, and he would probably look around
here today and say, ‘they all showed up here for
me?’ Yes we did. We showed up for George today,”
said Garner.
Lt. Ron Davis delivered a message that
included prayer, recitation of a Bible passage, and
stories and anecdotes about Green.
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“He was a man absolutely devoted to
his family. George was a dedicated
professional. When it was time for business,
George was all business. Serious. He had the
respect of all his peers for that. He was ... a
mentor. I’ve known good leaders, and George
was surely one of the best. If there was ever a
question about what the right thing to do
would be, you could always count on George
to suggest the proper course of action.
“And that was the thing about George.
He never seemed to ‘order.’ Just to suggest, or
direct, and whatever needed to be done got
done. He was a leader,” said Davis.
(Continued)

Green (Con’d.)
The audience watched
as photos of Green were shown,
set to music. As the hymn
“Amazing Grace” could be
heard on the bagpipes, people
filed out of the church and
troopers lined up, standing at
attention just outside the
church. Following a 21-gun
salute, a fly-over left chills to
all who witnessed it.
Green is survived by his
wife Susan, son, Patrick,
daughter-in-law Lindsey, son
John, daughter-in-law Britton
and grandson Teddy. He is the
first Oklahoma state trooper
killed in the line of duty since
2006.
”It is a sad day for the
highway patrol, and a sad day
for the citizens of Oklahoma.
We have lost one of the patrol’s
finest whose professional and
personal contributions will not
soon be forgotten,” said
Guillotte.
With a bachelor’s
degree earned from the
University of Central
Oklahoma, Green was accepted
and graduated from the 37th
Oklahoma Highway Patrol
Academy in 1979. He served in
various assignments throughout
his career as trooper, lieutenant
and most recently, captain.
Oklahoma City, Tonkawa,
Tulsa and Barnsdall were some
of the locations in which he
served, and he was assigned to
both the Lake Patrol section
and the Kilpatrick, Cimarron
and Turner turnpikes. He was a
firearms instructor, certified
scuba diver and an advanced
instructor of Certified Law
Enforcement and Education
Training.
“You go ahead, and
come back for me.”
-- Susan Green
(George’s favorite quote from a recent hiking trip.)
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Meek and Estes named Dispatchers of the Year
The Rogers County Law
Enforcement Association
convenes on an annual basis to
recognize and show
appreciation to the
officers residing and
working in Rogers
County for their
dedication and service to
the public. There is a
banquet held annually for
the officers to fellowship
and receive recognition
from the community.
Many private individuals
and businesses in Rogers
County donate money
and gifts to be given as
door prizes. The local
Elks Lodge donates the
space for the banquet and
has done so for nearly 40
years.
Communications
Officers Martin Meek
and Link Estes were two
of three dispatchers honored for
their service. They were
nominated in a letter submitted
by Communications Sgt. Mike
Donegan:
Hello. My name is
Sgt. Mike Donegan. I am the
communications supervisor
at Troop B in Tulsa. We
cover Rogers County, along
with Tulsa, Creek and
Okmulgee Counties. I’m
making two nominations for
Dispatcher of the Year.
Below is a description of the
incident that took place that
turned out to be a trooperinvolved
shooting.
On Feb. 24, 2010, at
approximately 00:22 a.m.,
Trooper Shiloh Hall #518 was
Communications personnel Lt. Tom
True (left) and Sgt. Mike Donegan
(right) with CO Martin Meek, Dispatcher
of the Year.
on routine patrol when he made
a traffic stop on a subject.
Our communications officer, or
dispatcher, on duty
Communications
Officer Link Estes
works his console at
troop headquarters.
He shared honors as
Rogers County Law
Enfrocement
Association
Dispatcher of the
Year.
at that time was probationary
Communications Officer
Martin Meek. This was his first
solo shift. His trainer,
Communications Officer
Link Estes, was actually
riding with Hall to listen
to Meek and see how he
performed on his own.
There were other units
working throughout our
troop area as well.
During the traffic stop
that Hall made, his
subject became
combative and Hall was
knocked to the ground.
A radio call was made
for help to Meek at
headquarters. Taking
the high-stress call,
Meek remained calm and
professional as he
started other units and
agencies to assist Hall
who was in need of help.
Meanwhile, Estes, who was
(Continued)
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Dispatchers (Con’d.)
riding with Hall, engaged to
assist him. The subject had
broken away with Hall, and
reached over the seat of his
vehicle for a weapon. Hall
fired shots wounding the
suspect who fled on foot.
During the radio call
reporting shots fired, again
Meek remained calm and
professional notifying
responding units and
agencies, and starting
EMS services to the
scene. Hall and Estes
caught the subject.
Meek was hired
on Jan. 4, 2010. He
was 20 years old when
this high-stress incident
took place; barely with
Oklahoma Highway
Patrol Communications
for two months. Since
then, Meek has
continued to handle
numerous high-stress
incidents. My job
requires me to listen to
them as I am
responsible for his
evaluations. His voice
never gets elevated. He
remains calm,
professional and
promptly secures all the
services that are needed, If you
listened to any of these
incidents you would think he
was an experienced
communications officer when
actually, this is his first job
servicing with law enforcement
and first with any kind of
dispatching.
Therefore this is why
I’m nominating both Meek and
Estes for Dispatchers of the
Year by handling the above
incident professionally. This
incident could have ended
horribly if not for their actions.
Respectfully, Sgt. Mike
Donegan
Oklahoma Highway
Trp. Russell Stripling (left) and Rogers County
Law Enforcement Association Vice President Trp.
Jon Ysbrand present Communications Lt. Jack
Choate with the lifetime membership award.
Patrol
Troop B - XE
Communications, Tulsa.
Although Estes was
unable to attend, he and Meek
were provided plaques for their
outstanding service to the
public.
Lt. Jack Choate of the
Oklahoma Highway Patrol was
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awarded the lifetime
membership to the Rogers
County Law Enforcement
Association for his nearly two
decades of dedicated service in
Rogers County.
Choate graduated from
the 46th OHP academy. His
original assignment was to
Troop L in the Rogers County
Detachment in
1991. He worked
there until 2004
when he was
assigned to the
Will Rogers
Turnpike, Troop
XA headquarters.
He was briefly
reassigned to the
Turner Turnpike
with Troop YB
from 2005-2007
where he was
promoted to
lieutenant in 2005.
He returned to
Troop L in 2007
and was able to
return to Rogers
county as the
supervisor later
that year. Choate
has served as
president of the
Rogers County Law
Enforcement Association and
received Officer of the Year
from the association in 2001.
With the exception of the 20
months on the Turner Turnpike,
Jack has worked in one of the
busiest and most demanding
counties for 19 years. He also
received a plaque for his
service.

Troop B news
By Lt. Jack Choate
Trp. Andy Floyd
Trp. Matt Logsdon
Lt. Choate,
Yesterday morning Oologah Talala EMS responded to a medical
emergency for a 47-year-old woman reportedly not breathing. The address was
4320 E. Country Lane, just west of Oologah off of Highway 169.
Troopers Andy Floyd and Matt Logsdon heard the call go out and on
their own accord responded to assist. Upon their arrival the woman was in full
cardiac arrest and the troopers provided CPR and assisted the OTEMS crew
throughout the treatment of this critical patient.
OTEMS understands that these troopers had no “duty to act” on this
medical call, but they responded in the best interest of the patient and our
citizens. These OHP Troopers selfless response to this call allowed this patient
every opportunity by providing excellent basic life support (CPR) freeing up our
crew to perform the advanced life support measures which is extremely difficult
to do with only 2 medics on scene by themselves.
Despite the efforts of your Troopers, the OTEMS crew and eventually the
NWFD crews, this patient died of her illness. That said, she was provided
everything that our industry knows to allow her the opportunity to survive. The
quick response of Floyd & Logsdon that began the basic life support
component, the prompt response of the advanced life support ambulance and the
assistance of the first responders truly did give this woman a fighting chance.
Please share with Troopers Floyd and Logsdon our heartfelt
appreciation for their selfless response and true compassion for a fellow
Oklahoman. It is good to know we can all work so well together for the same
goals. Thank you.
Kelly E. Deal, NREMT-P
Director of Operations
Oologah-Talala EMS
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eViews
Lt. Kevin Robison
Trp. Heath Meyer
Title: Oklahoma Highway Patrol
Thanks!
I don’t know if this is the appropriate
place to send this but I wanted thank
the two Highway Patrolmen who
stopped to check on a stranded
brown suburban on I-35 just south of
Norman Friday, November 5, around
3 p.m.
I was taking my 14-year-old son to a
doctor’s appointment in Norman. My
4-year-old son and my 3-year-old
twins were also in the car with me.
My car just died and I had to pull over
to wait for my husband.
I didn’t get their names but I am very
grateful and wanted them to know
how much I appreciated their time
and assistance.
We made it back to Ardmore safely.
Thank you very much!!
Tracie Floyd
Hearing Officer Candy Ramsey
Title: Highway Patrol Violation
Just wanted to commend Candy. I
was calling to simply obtain a phone
number for my boss to talk to
someone about a ticket he received
in your state. He was driving from
Dallas to Tulsa ... I couldn’t read a
thing on the ticket. Candy spent 30
minutes with me finding that
information successfully. Please hire
more Candies ... Thank you Candy
for your kindness and desire to make
Oklahoma proud!
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Anne
(Continued)

eViews (Con’d.)
Title: Renewal or replacement of drivers
license by mail
Dear Oklahoma Department of Public
Safety,
I would like to commend you on your
outstanding service in the Renewal or
Replacement of Drivers License by mail
department. Last week I realized that my
Oklahoma drivers license was expired while
on a temporary internship in Texas. I
immediately contacted Marilyn (Driver
License Examining division) to see about
getting a new one. She was not only
extremely friendly but also knowledgeable
and very helpful. My driver license was
shipped back to me the day after I sent it in.
Marilyn deserves to be recognized for her
outstanding attitude and her dedication to
serving the citizens of Oklahoma. Thank
you very much.
Matthew Robb
Certificates
Wrecker Services division employees Wanda Branson (left) and Kim Davis received
recognition for 20 and 5 years of service respectively by Assistant Commissioner
Larry Alexander.
- 10 -

Troopers on a Train event highlights railroad safety
By Alice Collinsworth
OHSO Communications Manager
Oklahoma Highway Patrol troopers were
invited to take part in Oklahoma Operation
Lifesaver’s “Trooper on a Train” event in August
2010 to observe firsthand the dangers of railroad
crossings on the Amtrack route between Oklahoma
City and Gainesville, texas.
OHP personnel taking part during various
segments of the trip included Cpt. Paul Timmons
and Troopers Heath Green, Tracey Laxton,
David Duggan and Casey Hall.
OOL is a nonprofit educational program
committed to preventing and reducing collisions,
death and injuries on railroad crossings and
railroad rights-of-way.
Allyn Mills, OOL executive director, said
many drivers ignore the signs and signals at
railroad crossings.
“Due to their large size and angle of
approach, trains arrive at crossings sooner than
drivers think they will and often with tragic
results,” he said in a news release.
Timmons said the train ride illustrated the
problem quite clearly.
“We hadn’t even gotten out of Oklahoma
City when we saw a driver go around the cross
arms and cross the tracks in front of a train,”
Timmons said. “We also observed young people
hanging out on the right-of-way. Both these
behaviors are obviously quite dangerous.”
A total of 39 train-involved crashes were
reported in Oklahoma in 2009. Four of the
crashes involved fatalities.
Cpt. Paul Timmons (right) visits with Darrell Dixson (left),
engineer, and Chad Scanlon, road foreman of engines, during
the Oklahoma Operation Lifesaver “Trooper on a Train”
event.
- 11 -
Cpt. Paul Timmons is pictured in the engine
car of an Amtrak train bound for Fort Worth,
Texas during the Oklahoma Operation
Lifesaver “Trooper on a Train” event.

Oklahoma’s newly reorganized
motorcycle safety committee meets
Group will recommend use of funds from state’s new fee increase
By Alice Collinsworth
OHSO Communications Manager
Members of the newly reorganized Advisory
Committee for Motorcycle Safety and Education
met Friday at the Oklahoma Highway Safety
Office. This meeting is the first since the
passage of legislation allowing the state to add a
$3 fee, designated for motorcycle safety and
education, to the existing cost of registering a
motorcycle.
The legislation, which takes effect Nov. 1,
established a revolving fund into which the
money is to be deposited; members of the
Advisory Committee will recommend the use of
these funds. Money will be used to educate
motorcyclists themselves regarding operational
rules and safety, and also will fund programs to
educate motorists on sharing the road safely
with motorcycles.
“This new funding will help make our roadways
safer for everyone,” said Kevin Behrens,
committee chairman and assistant director of
the Oklahoma Highway Safety Office.
“Motorcycle registrations are on the increase in
Oklahoma, and the owners themselves are
willing to foot this bill because they know this
funding will help reduce deaths and injuries.”
According to the Oklahoma Tax Commission,
there were 123,906 motorcycles registered in
the state in 2009. This is a 7.4 percent increase
over the 115,381 registered motorcycles in
2008.
According to OSHO statistics, 105 motorcyclist
fatalities were reported in 2009; 1,269
motorcyclists were injured.
Other committee members include instructors
and owner/operators John Pierce, Collinsville;
Terri Collier, Stillwater; Dan Newman, Oklahoma
City; Don Browning, McLoud; and Ron Peirce,
Moore. Completing the committee are Frank
Stone, Oklahoma Insurance Department,
appointed by Insurance Commissioner Kim
Holland; and Sgt. Acey Hopper, Edmond Police
Department, representing OHSO.
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Wrecker Services news
Wrecker Services division
employees celebrated October birthdays
for Kim Davis (top, left) who has been with
Dept. of Public Safety for five years,
Lurene Cannon (above left) who has served
11 years and Mike Hoffpauir (above, right),
13 years. Gennie Meazell explained, “We
put everyone’s name in a cup and when it’s
close to someone’s birthday they draw a
name out and that person has to make them
a birthday cake of their choice.
“Kim drew Mike’s name so he
brought her a blackberry cobbler, and we
got her a gift certificate from her favorite place to
shop, Kohl’s. Lurene drew my name so I made her a
German chocolate cake and Wanda [Branson] got
her a gift set from Bath ‘N Body Works. She has a
house at the lake and she is there almost every
weekend. I like to paint so I painted her a picture of
two little boys sitting on a rock by the water fishing.
“Mike drew Kim’s name so she made him
yellow cupcakes with chocolate frosting, his favorite.
We got him two tickets to the Western Heritage
Museum and a gift card from Wal Mart.”
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At large ...
“Jacolby is Sahara’s second bed. They sleep like this
often.” Almost 30-year employee of the department,
Communications Officer Tara Weatherall goes home every
night to her two favorite “people.”
“Sahara is the little one. She’s part Daschund and Jack
Russell, and is one year old. Jacolby is my two-year-old
German Shepherd. I have had both of these since they were
puppies.” Weatherall said they are the best of pals. Photo by
cell phone.
Brenda Pape (standing, left)
and husband Dennis (standing
right) flew to Tampa Florida
with their sons DPS Gault
employee Chris (kneeling left)
and Chad to see a Tampa Bay
Buccaneers game. Family
friend and professional football
player Gerald McCoy invited
them to the Tampa Bay vs. St.
Louis game in October to
watch him play. With less than
10 seconds on the clock, the
Buccaneers scored a
touchdown with a failed twopoint
conversion and a final score of 18-17 to win the game. McCoy, former OU defensive
tackle, entertained the Papes at his new home and treated them to dinner. The event fell on
Brenda’s birthday and she received a bouquet of roses and balloons and a birthday cake from
McCoy and his family. Think they’re looking forward to another trip to Tampa?
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