This weekend at the candlelight vigil at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC, we will join law enforcement officers from around the country in paying tribute to three NYSP members who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Trooper Timothy Pratt was killed in the line of duty on Oct. 26, 2016 after being struck and killed by a passing motorist while assisting another motorist; Inv. Paul Stuewer passed away on Oct. 5, 2016 from a 9/11-related illness; and Trooper Covel C. “Chase” Pierce passed away on March 10, 2011 from a 9/11-related illness. As you may recall, in August 2016, the N.Y. State Workers Compensation Board formally decided that Trooper Covel “Chase” Pierce of Troop G  “had a work related injury resulting in his death.” Trooper Pierce died in service retirement from brain cancer. The cancer was directly related to his duty work assignments and participation in the recovery efforts in New York City that followed the terrorist attacks on 9/11/2001.

We also honored these heroes this past Tuesday at the State of New York Police Officers Memorial ceremony in Albany, where their names were added to the state’s police memorial wall.

We will never forget the service and sacrifice made by Trooper Pratt, Investigator Stuewer and Trooper Pierce.

— Tom Mungeer