These troopers from Troop C were all busy posing for the “Award Winning” photograph when one of them clearly was “focused” on something else.  Looks like the trooper out-of-focus (second from the left) is none other than Rocky Cole.  That’s right! Rocky Ready-to-Rumble Cole!  He’s rumored to own the entire collection of Rocky movies which he apparently watches every Friday night.  Hmmm.  The real Rocky might need a hobby - may we suggest horses… just to get you out of the house and off the couch away from Rocky movies! You still laughing about the Rocky movies, well, there is something worth quoting from one of those movies, “The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It is a very mean and nasty place, and it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if yo let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t how hard you hit; it’s about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward. How much you can take, and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done. You gotta be willing to take the hit, and not pointing fingers saying you ain’t where you are because of him, or her, or anybody. Cowards do that and that ain’t you,” Rocky Balboa. Now back to our Trooper Rocky… we also heard that he was talking some serious smack with a trooper from another district. Something about which district looked the best, or won the most awards, which trooper had the coolest name, or who had the prettiest bald head!  In all seriousness, our Trooper Rocky Cole does approach his job with humor and good-natured ribbing, and he also focuses on his job with the utmost of integrity and professionalism. So the next time you see Rocky Cole, start humming the theme from “his” movie…  da da da, da da da, da da da da da - bata ba, bata ba (can’t you hear it now?). Maybe he’ll just take our suggestion and get a bunch of horses and a great big pasture to go with them. The troopers pictured here are from left to right: Troopers Heath Farish, Rocky Cole, Lewis Blackmon, Tadd Pitts, and Todd Cox.

On November 12, Trooper Xavier Carr, of Troop C, was injured on a SOG detail when he and other members of the team were searching for an elderly man who was lost in a wooded area.  He sustained a severe knee injury.  For several weeks, Carr attempted to rehabilitate his knee through painful physical therapy.  His doctor decided that his knee was not healing nor was it improving.  Last Thursday, Trooper Carr underwent extensive knee surgery as a result to the injury he sustained on the SOG detail.   He is resting at home now and recuperating after a lengthy surgery.  Please remember to keep Trooper Xavier “Shooter One” Carr in your thoughts and prayers.  On behalf of the MSTA Board of Directors and troopers from all across the state, we wish you a speedy recovery!

The Stingley family added another member to the Mississippi Highway Patrol family! Trooper Barry Stingley and his wife, Heather, are pleased to announce the birth of their son, Hunter Ryan Stingley.  Baby Hunter was born on November 17 at 4:54 p.m., weighed 7lbs and 8 ozs.  He was 21 1/2 inches long.  Hunter is also being welcomed home by his big sister, Kelcie Stingley. According to mom, Heather, “Hunter is the spitting image of his daddy, red hair and all!  Thanks, Heather for sharing your great news! On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Mississippi State Troopers Association and the entire family of the Mississippi Highway Patrol, we congratulate y’all and welcome Hunter to his bigger family!

Highway Patrol Dressed and Successful!  Mississippi Highway Patrol has been awarded first place for the “Best Dressed Public Safety” award for 2008-09. The announcement was made today by Colonel Mike Berthay, of the Mississippi Highway Patrol. The North-American Association of Uniform Manufacturers and Distributors (NAUMD) selected the Mississippi Highway Patrol for this prestigious award from among the largest number of competitors to date, according to the uniform trade association.  This competition involved agencies at the local, state, and federal levels from the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The Mississippi Highway Patrol shares first place honors with their sister agency, the Washington State Patrol. “We are honored to receive this prestigious recognition,” said Colonel Berthay. “We are proud of our attention to detail, the uniform mirrors the same diligent attention our men and women bring to their jobs.” Read More . . .