Could it be that recent budget cuts have forced these highly trained Mississippi State Troopers to pull double duties?  It would appear that Captain Rusty Miley of Troop D is helping clean up the grounds at the state capitol by rolling out that large garbage can as Trooper Creede Mansell observes.  No, it’s not that the state’s budget has gotten that bad - it is simply Captain Miley being a nice guy and moving the garbage can so that it doesn’t appear in a recent photo shoot.  Miley does in fact pull double duty with the Highway Patrol… he oversees the troopers in Troop D on a daily basis as their captain, and he is in charge of the distinguished Highway Patrol’s Honor Guard as a 14 year veteran of that group.  Be sure to look for your upcoming Winter/Spring 2009 issue of the Mississippi Trooper magazine for the feature section that focuses on the Honor Guard.

Recently, MBI Agent Lt. Jim Miller was driving home when he noticed something rather large on the road. Calling upon all of his investigative skills, he stepped out of his vehicle to get a closer view of this “suspect” now blocking his path on the dark and winding road. Like any highly trained Mississippi Trooper, he was heavily armed when he exited his vehicle (probably sensing the danger that lay ahead). A note to all readers, he was using his personal weapons! Okay, back to the investigative part… Miller quickly noted that the rattle he heard was not coming from his Jeep, but it was coming from the “suspect!” He called out into the dark for the “suspect” to identify themselves. When there was no reply, he quickly did what any Trooper would do in his situation; he grabbed his flashlight and a golf club. What!? A golf club? Now, here’s where the story gets a little squirrelly. Some will tell you that after shining the light on the “suspect” he quickly identified it as a poisonous rattlesnake, and took that golf club and pummeled it. Others will tell you that he took his PERSONAL gun out and shot it once… or twice… or maybe even more than that to make sure it wasn’t gonna move again. Whether you believe Lt. Miller used his golf club or a gun, really makes no difference. The end result is he got his “suspect,” this very large and poisonous rattlesnake! Another case solved for this MBI agent! The inset picture is the snake measured against the size of the golf club that he did nor did not use to kill it. So what do you do with a rattlesnake that size? Rumor has it that his wife, Lana, can cook up some real tasty Brunswick Stew; ummm, I might bring McDonald’s the next time I’m invited to have dinner at their house… Congratulations, Agent Miller! We’re proud of you.

What can the Mississippi State Troopers Association (MSTA) do for YOU? We’ve got the answer, and it’s a long list of things. You know the saying, membership has its privileges… well here they are. Membership in the organization is formed by Mississippi Troopers for Mississippi Troopers. The $5 monthly dues are split up so that $3 goes to our general fund and $2 goes to our legal defense fund. Over 95% of Mississippi Troopers already belong to the MSTA. We give an average of nine, $1,000 educational scholarships each year. Read More . . .

Trooper Russ Gordon stopped a vehicle for speeding in Leflore County. The driver said he was going fast ’cause he was late for his second job! However, when Gordon smelled marijuana coming from the car - he asked the driver if he had any dope. He confessed to a $5 bag which was promptly given up. Gordon was given consent to search and found out what that second job was all about - the driver was a dope dealin salesman, obviously late for his “distribution” meeting! Gordon recovered a pound of marijuana, a 9mm pistol, and found out his “salesman” had a previous felony. This salesman was given plenty of good, old fashioned Highway Patrol “receipts” for felony possession, child endangerment, speeding, suspended license, and possession of a firearm by a felon. Way to go Gordon!