O/T Magman, Got Bucky?

As for the young man who was shot while dragging a Trooper behind his ATV, well, the courts will have to figure that one out. A lot of tragedy in this whole issue.

I don't think that lack of support after the tickets start getting issued again is true everywhere, I'm starting to think they really have it in for you guys up there in the north for some reason. I remember the 16 months I spent up there at Upstate Correctional 98-99 ( constructing it, not serving in it !! ) I can think of a few S.H.U. cells that this guy should spend some time in, it's one lonely cold place in the dead of winter and some of those recreation pens have no view at all. I recall you had better obey the speed limits and not be driving with one drop of alcohol in your system around there, even though it was rural, there was an air about it up there, maybe that is why the people are so negative, but drinking and driving, speeding etc. etc. it is what it is, either pay attention or get nailed. Used to be a little more relaxed here, but like everywhere, it's all changed now. Maybe some of the assigned guys up there don't like the area as well and can't wait to get to a desirable area, so they go by the book and the people don't like it.

Senate majority leader Bruno, who lives in town here, I believe may be responsible for making the local barracks here active with training, for recent academy grads, I know two of your people working at the academy, I'll have to ask one of them. With the increased population, traffic and concerned residents who live on roads that were seldom used back country roads which are now burdened with traffic, it seems political pressure has been placed by the people to increase trooper activity here.

Currently, there is a lot of trooper activity in this immediate area which I am led to believe is due to the training activities from Troop G, coming to the Brunswick barracks, yet it was not but a few years ago that the same barracks was reduced to a substation, with a phone box to call another barracks at the other end of the county which quite frankly was a real bad thing.

Some people balk and b*tch and moan about it, but the need is there, some people drive like jerks, we have a lane reduction spot on this road and everyone tries to battle it out there, a good friend and local businessman allows your guys to set up in his parking lot, to mitigate this nonsense, by catching the jerks who rage over this, all they need to do is realize every other car should merge, works well in NYC. I liked it better without all the presence of law enforcement, but it's increasingly necessary, crime is creeping up into this area as well, and although I've had many not so good experiences in my career with law enforcement, and have formulated opinions on such, I still support NYS troopers, I grew up with many who were fathers of my friends and whose sons have followed in their footsteps.

One such example, a little history lesson if you don't already know. Martin Luther King made a speech in Washington in 1964, "I have a dream" at the monument, one of your people was beside him, Trooper Gundrum ( ret.) look closely at the photos or footage, he is there in uniform, he worked out of the barracks next to me, his son is now a very respected forensics investigator attached to the BCI, whom is a long time friend and an overall great person. His fathers generation of troopers were very respected, they were a great bunch, some of which are no longer here today. Your spokesperson Maureen Tuffey, I remember her being one of, if not the first female troopers, assigned to the Brunswick barracks next to our farm, that was quite some time ago, she must have 30 years in by now, these are good people, and were good neighbors then. They did a great job, as best could be asked of them.

On Saturday, that procession of motorcycles is alleged to have raised $7700 for the benefit of these troopers ( I'm not sure of the details here ) in a short time, they also got caught in a nasty thunderstorm with large hail, I know bikers are not amongst law enforcement's favorite clientele, however in a short period, they organized a rally, rode in honor of someone who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty and also provided something for their family. I'm not a big motorcylce fan because of the risk involved and the funerals I've been to, but I stood in a moment of silence as they rumbled through.

My point with all of this is that your agency does have support from the people, aside from all the negativity and disputes from traffic infractions and the like, I do and will thank those who wear a uniform and honorably pursue their work while in that uniform.

What I cannot stand is a sour law enforcement person, these are the ones who do the injustice to those who are fair and honorable both within their ranks and the citizens outside of the ranks. I'm not sure why you let these people get to you Bret, but you should know there are many who support NYS Troopers here and other areas regardless of traffic infractions, d.o.t. inspections, bad experiences and the like, the hundreds if not over 1000 riders that came through here saturday are those same people who drive trucks or are on the other side of the fence, yet without hesitation or gratitude, they honored one of your finest because they support your cause. Truth is they may not all have been avid supporters, genuine loyalists, upstanding squeaky clean citizens, but they showed up, donated, and rode in that nasty weather for a reason. I'd even think you may have had some career criminals in there, odds being so with that many people involved but I thought it might lift your spirits to hear of this in bad times.

Don't let those "whiners" get to ya !

Then he shoots the 1st trooper in June, just last week he is alleged to have gotten a vantage point on 2 MRT trained NYS Troopers, and shot both of them, with a hunting rifle, severed the artery in Trooper LongoBardo's leg and he never recovered, leg was amputated and the other trooper is still in recovery, and not yet in fair condition last thing I read. I had spoken with a friend in their ranks and this obviously was very difficult ordeal for all involved. I am shocked he was taken alive.

The trooper who died, was a U.S. Marine with multiple tours in either Iraq or Afghanistan, married with a young child that will never know him.

He was also a neighbor in town where our farm is, who joined the effort to stop this man, he died for it. May god rest his soul and ease the pain of his family

Yesterday, there was a motorcycle rally, the longest I've ever seen on this state road in all the years I have been here, for the benefit of these men, no cost, all voluntary, with an astounding number of riders, the obvious reason was to salute these men and gather donations for them and their families. It was escorted by NYS Troopers from the nearby barracks, same of which I've lived next to my entire life. I'm not much of a motorcycle fan, especially the loud harley types, even having owned and ridden when that was all I had, the rumble that was heard yesterday silenced everything else around and people stood in recognition of these men, because when they came through no one needed to tell you what it was for, you knew, one of America's finest was being given a salute.