Trooper

Massachusetts State Police - The Nation's Oldest…Established 1865

Newspaper
The Official Publication of the State Police Association of Massachusetts

February 2010 Serving New England's Largest Police Association Volume 23, Number 01

2009 SPAM
Election
Results
CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS
President: (Unopposed)
Richard R. Brown 1163
Vice President: (Unopposed)
Timothy G. Babbin 1160
Treasurer:
Dana A. Pullman 1072
Paul E. Cesan 150
Christopher L. Coscia 76
_____
Total Votes 1298
Secretary: (Unopposed)
Edward F. Hunter 1152

TROOP REPRESENTATIVES
Troop A Representative:
Julie A. Demers
Troop B Representative:
Jeffrey S. Gordon
Troop C Representative:
Andrew J. Daly*
Troop D Representative:
Michael S. Downing
Troop E Representative:
Brian R. Kelley
Troop F Representative:
Robert P. Pitts
Troop H Representative:
Paul Crowley*
Brian Dunn
_____
Total Votes
Troop GHQ Representative:
Mark J. Caron 44
!""Election Results -
Continued on pg. 3
72
104
142
Quite
83
An
Honor
74
On December 29, 2009
91 Tpr. Tim Walsh (SP Norwell)
was presented with the Army
86 Commendation Medal for
37
Valor at a ceremony held at
Florian Hall in Dorchester.
23
(Above) Fellow troopers and
SPAM officials pose with Tpr.
Walsh during the ceremony.
(Left, L-R) Gregory Kelly,
SFC; Tim Walsh, SSG; Major
Thomas Sarrouf; and Jason
Luppold, SFC. Major Thomas
Sarrouf (a trooper assigned to
CIS) presented Tpr. Walsh
with his Medal For Valor.
For more on this presti-
gious award presentation, see
pg. 8.

In This Issue….................
President’s Message ................ Page 2 In The Book ......................... Pages 6-7
Editor’s Message ..................... Page 2 Bulldog Of The Year ................. Page 8
Chaplain’s Corner .................... Page 4 As I Was Saying ....................... Page 14
SPAM helps Ole’ Sarge ................................... Page 4 MSP Sports ................................ Page 16
make the “Our Purpose is Progress,
holidays a Our Goal is Excellence”
little brighter
for many local
families
pg. 15 w w w. m a s s t ro o p e r s . o r g








Page 8 Our Purpose is Progress Trooper Our Goal is Excellence February 2009 February 2009 Our Purpose is Progress Our Goal is Excellence Page 9
Trooper

BULLDOG ATTENTION SPAM MEMBERS

OF THE Y E A R
TPR. JAIME CEPERO
Tpr. Jaime Cepero of the
Narcotics Section/DEA Task Force
has been the case officer/under-
cover officer in an international nar-
cotics/money laundering investiga-
tion since 2004. Tpr. Cepero has
been involved in extremely com-
plex undercover negotiations with
money launders and narcotics traf-
fickers of the highest level in multi-
ple countries, both remotely and
face to face.
As a result of Tpr. Cepero’s inno-
vative investigative methods, the
TROOPER JAIME CEPERO
still ongoing investigation has
resulted in the seizure of approxi-
mately $190,000,000. Along with
the money, approximately 888 kilo-
grams of Cocaine, 45 kilograms of
heroin, and 350 pounds of marijua-
na has been seized. Additionally,
the investigation has been the
basis for the initiation of approxi-
mately 74 wiretap investigations
throughout the world.
As a result of Tpr. Cepero’s
actions, he was awarded the
Bulldog of the Year Award for 2009
at the Annual Meeting on January
7, 2010.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ THANK YOU FROM JAIME CEPERO ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

O
n January 7, 2009 I had the distinct honor to
be awarded the Bulldog of the Year and
although I had a bit of a heads up I found
myself standing there unable to formulate a response
other than thank you. If you know me at all you know
that I am not the shy type or lack comment on any sub-
ject. Specially as in the words of Dana Pullman when
I have watered down a bit. As I sat in the back of the
room and listen to the rest of the meeting, I looked
around and the meaning of the award increased in my
heart not for the reason it was given to me but the fact
that it was recognition from my brother and sister
Troopers. Nothing that I did would have been possible
without the great police work and courage of many
police officers in my DEA Group, police officers local-
ly, throughout the country and in foreign countries.
Federal agents including DEA agents Brian Dejoy,
John Oldano and Dennis Hocker who have been an
equal partner throughout the years. The Colombian
National Police who day in and day out their members
die performing tasks on our behalf, I have had a great
honor of getting to know these men and women, their
families and been accepted as a colleague and a friend.
But I was particularly proud of the role many Troopers
had in the past and current success of the investigation,
they deserve as much recognition and honor. Troopers
Richard Ridlon and Patricia Riley performed great
undercover work at the beginning of this case, Sgt
Bazzinotti who as a Trooper armed with a license plate
a name and a possible route of travel sat for 8 hours
overnight and found a needle in the haystack with 15
pounds of cocaine. The numerous stops and seizures
by Sgt Kane, Sgt McCarthy and the most important
fact that it all started with a State Police investigation
initiated by Sgt Michael Grassia in the streets of
Chelsea from a single hand to hand purchase (which
he made me do as he often talks me into).
Many times I or other Troopers assigned to DEA
have called upon Troopers in various, Investigative
Units throughout the state for assistance and it has
always been provided with the same professionalism
and determination of success. Even more impressive,
in a pinch when we have always been able to pick up
the phone to any barracks patrol or K-9 unit on duty
and with minimal information ask a single Trooper to
perform a tactical stop in furtherance of the investiga-
tion. I have never received anything but enthusiasm
and witnessed nothing less than courage and profes-
sionalism as they perform the task.
That speaks of the heart of a Trooper and the
Professionalism, Pride and Courage of the
Massachusetts State Police. All of these acts and indi-
viduals and many others that it would be too long to
list, over the years gave us the ability to mount this
complicated case which is still moving forward and
made me extremely proud to be a Trooper. Each and
every one of them has and will always have my respect.
Lastly, I would not have been able to do anything
on this job without the one man that gave birth to me
at SP Foxboro and taught me the meaning of being a
Police Officer and Trooper. Trooper (now Lieutenant-
never saw that coming) Dave Rae taught me all I need-
ed to know and I owe to him any success that I have
ever had on the State Police. Dave taught me that in
law enforcement the one thing that means the most
and I should value the most is the respect earned from
those who stand by your side. I am honored, humbled
and deeply touched by this award, but moreover great-
ly honored because it came from you my fellow
Troopers.
Thank You, Stay Safe.
TROOPER JAIME CEPERO JR.
65RTT

Trooper Timothy Walsh receives Army Commendation Medal for Valor

The following narrative was read at the
award ceremony to honor Staff Sergeant
Timothy J. Walsh for receiving the Army
Commendation Medal for Valor.
Staff Sergeant Timothy J. Walsh, United
States Army, heroically distinguished him-
self by exceptionally valorous conduct in
the face of the enemy while sewing as the
Engineer Sergeant, Operational
Detachment Alpha (ODA) - 9211, Special
Operations Task Force (SOTF)-92,
Firebase MeS, Mazaar-e Shariff, Balkh
Province, Afghanistan, in support of
Operation ENDURING FREEDOM on 21
May 2009. Sergeant Walsh was attached to
ODA-3 121 in support of Operation
Phoenix. He, along with his detachment
occupied a position overlooking the Chak
valley in the Wardak Province. Sergeant
Walsh was assigned to the security element
of an 84-man Commando task force. The
ODA collapsing its perimeter began to
establish a patrol base. Sergeant Walsh
moved his element to the southern most
portion of a spur overlooking the Chak val-
ley to provide security for the entire task
force to the south. The task force came
under small arms fire from a squad size ele-
ment with a heavy machine gun and AK-
47s to the north. Within minutes it was fol-
lowed by very effective, grazing fire from a
heavy machine gun firing from the valley
to the southwest. His entire security ele-
ment of Commandos was caught in a kill
zone of effective and overwhelming fire.
Most Commandos ran from the fire head-
ing north while the security position to the
southeast was effectively pinned down.
Sergeant Walsh, knowing the position was
manned by his security element, immedi-
ately stood up, and without regard for his
own personal safety bounded down the
spur to the heavily engaged position. He
then provided covering fire with his rifle
and grenade launcher while the
Commandos manning the position maneu-
vered to the north. The safe evacuation of
the Commando position complete,
Sergeant Walsh prepared to move back up
the spur to the north when he noticed his
(Submitted Photo)
teammate dragging a commando with a life
threatening gunshot wound. Without hesi- (L-R) Jason Luppold, SFC; Tim Walsh, SSG; Gregory Kelly, SFC.
tation, knowing his teammate was in need ______________________________________________________
of covering fire, Sergeant Walsh immedi-
ately took up an exposed firing position
spur and rejoined the rest of his element.
His element was now taking very effective
southwest. Sergeant Walsh, again without
regard to his personal safety, stood and
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Page 16 Our Purpose is Progress Trooper Our Goal is Excellence February 2009

TROOPER SPORTS
MSP
Boxing
Update
_________________
By Tpr. Bob Benoit
58th R.T.T. (Ret.)
_________________ Fourth Annual MSP Law
Enforcement XC Challenge
BOXING BITS Another Huge Success!
The next M.S.P. boxing show will be held in This years race was the best ever. Held at the Wrentham
Springfield on April 7th at 1900 hours at the usual
venue. That's the place where they held the last 3 Developmental Center on November 14th, the turn out was
shows and I can't remember its name. This show great. A record field of 145 runners traversed the 5K (3.1
will be a fund raiser for the Girls Club of Springfield mile) MSTCA Cross Country course in the town of
and with this in mind I hope to see several woman Wrentham. Overall winner in a smoking time of 17:22.7 was
Troopers fighting on this card to benefit this worthy
cause. I am also looking forward to seeing the
Tim Mahoney (brother to Tpr. Brian Mahoney, H-3). The first
Berkshire Buzzsaw along with tough Tpr. Greg female to cross the finish line was Abby Mahoney (wife of
Spahl and the talented Tpr. Galvin on the card. Tpr. Tim and sister inlaw of Brian) in a time of 19:12.3. Top Cops
“Big Tim” Whalen now in “D” Troop promised me one were Tpr. Brendan Dole of the RISP in a time of 18:00.5 and
fight this coming year so I fully expect him to honor Tpr. Joy Yonkin of the RISP in a time of 19:35.5. Well Done!
his word and be on the card. He's always come
through in the past so I know he will not let me down. Top Law Enforcement team was the MSP with team mem-
I'll fill in the blanks on this card as we get a little clos- bers Collin Knaub, Robert Smith, and Brian Gavioli helping
er, God willing, we do have another 4 months. to win the team title. After the race there was a cookout with
plenty of food and cold liquid beverages. A great time was
FISTIC FLASHBACK
In a Convicts vs. Troopers match held in 1979 at
had by all who attended and thanks to all who did attend and
the Warwick Prison Camp (it's closed now), we made helped put on this fun MSP outing. Hope to see you next
the long hike up north and swapped leather with 3 year. Thanks, Paul Powell.
pretty tough guys. The prison camp had a boxing ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
gym that would make Muhammad Ali jealous. One
of the inmates was an artist and had painted a beau- • (Top) They are off and running.
tiful picture of Sugar Ray Leonard fighting upon the • (Above, left-inset) Team Captain Lt. Bill Coulter gives the
wall behind the boxing ring.
To the Fights.
MSP team some last minute coaching
Tpr. Mike Lee of SP Brookfield fought a tall, • (Above, left) Tpr. Kevin Collins (H-3) puts in another out-
rangy guy who was a stick and move artist in the standing effort. Well Done!
!""Boxing Update - • (Left) Tpr. Brendan Dole of the RISP crosses the finish line
Continued on pg. 15 as this years Top Cop.

O
n December 1, 2009 in

BULLDOG
Chelmsford, Tpr. Wayne J.
Gerhardt was on a paid
detail on Route 3, Standing Tall.
Around 10:30 A.M. a motor vehicle
nearly struck Tpr. Gerhardt and then
knocked over several cones while

OF THE M O N T H
swerving into the breakdown lane.
The vehicle then struck two workers
standing at the rear of a truck,
killing one of the workers instantly.
The second worker suffered a trau-
matic amputation of one of his legs. TPR. WAYNE J. GERHARDT
Tpr. Gerhardt administered first
aid to the injured worker, includ- Hospital in Boston, where accord- the victim. the victim in the hospital. For his
ing applying a tourniquet to the ing to attending physicians, the The victim requested a meeting heroic actions, Tpr. Gerhardt is
severed limb. The victim was actions of Tpr. Gerhardt con- with Tpr. Gerhardt to thank him for the recipient of this month’s
then air-lifted to Beth Israel tributed to the overall survival of his actions. Tpr. Gerhardt visited Bulldog of the Month Award.

S.P.A.M. Web Site & Internet Service donated by

!""Boxing Update - pg. 11

When your business is on the line