If you kept up with college football this past season and heard the name Clayton Moore, quarterback with the University of Akron, and you thought the name sounded familiar. You’d be correct. This quarterback is the son of Trooper Clay Moore and his wife Caroline. You’ll also remember that young Clayton Moore as a junior was the 2007 3A offensive player of the year when he played for Louisville High and they won the state championship. That season he threw for 3,036 yards and 30 touchdowns. He then went to Gulf Coast CC where he completed 155 of 257 passes for 2,395 yards and 23 touchdowns in 2010. Then Clayton Moore transferred to the University of Akron where he got the nod for starting quarterback! The team had a tough year, but with new head coach Terry Bowden, former head coach at Auburn, they should look for better days. For those of us that know his dad, Trooper Clay Moore, we’re sure that Clayton will use his tenacity and skills to have an incredible year. Determination and setting goals to achieve great things runs in the family. Congrats to Trooper Moore and Caroline for raising a great young man like Clayton. We wish him all of the best in the upcoming season!

One of our State Troopers suggested this article, “On Sheep, Wolves, and Sheepdogs,” for all LEO’s to read. This article talks of walking in the heart of darkness to fight crime, yet you walk out as a hero because you were brave to go there to protect the “sheep,” those he calls the rest of society that don’t have the capacity to do what LEO’s and the military do. Please take a moment to read it in it’s entirety. Here’s an excerpt: “But if you want to be a sheepdog and walk the warrior’s path, then you must make a conscious and moral decision every day to dedicate, equip and prepare yourself to thrive in that toxic, corrosive moment when the wolf comes knocking at the door.” Lt. Col. Dave Grossman is a former West Point psychology professor and Army Ranger! He speaks and writes about the root causes of aggression and the roots of violence and violent crime. Read the article.

Congratulations to our new Lt. Col. Mike Holmes! He’s a graduate of Cadet Class 44 and served on the MHP for 25 years. “I’m a road man, and that’s what I’ll be when I die,” said Holmes this morning in our interview. Holmes is known to be fair but firm when he needs to be. This photo is from the tornado damaged area in Yazoo County when he found this elderly woman who’s home was completely destroyed, and her nephew died in the tornado. Holmes immediately moved to comfort the elderly woman and gave her his water supply and boxed lunch. Congratulations to Lt. Col. Mike Holmes and best of luck!

Governor Phil Bryant has tapped current DPS Commissioner Albert Santa Cruz to stay on as commissioner under his administration.  A native of D’Iberville, he served as special events and planning director which means he helped put together major events. He started his career with the patrol in 1974 in George County and became master sergeant in South Mississippi in 1986. He became captain of Troop K about ten years later. He was then director of the Southern Region for MBI.  Santa Cruz and his wife, Doris, have four grown children, Mike, Sherry, Steven, and Glenn.  Mike is a Mississippi State Trooper.  Congratulations on your appointment!

UPDATE on Buddy from a retiree: “The last report I have is that Buddy’s surgery was a success. The surgeons removed all the tumor, and did a brain scan which was also good. They were to get him on his feet for a walk this morning. He will still have to undergo chemo and radiation treatment. If all goes good today, he should home early week.” prayers up for Buddy and his family. Many of you know Buddy Blackwell as a SWAT team member, TAC officer, as one of the finest driving instructors on the Highway Patrol, as a recently retired Mississippi Trooper, and as a good friend. He was famous for his nighttime driving classes! He’s pictured here teaching Troopers how to drive in our new Chargers. I’ll never forget my first ride with him – he was calm and cool as we took sharp turns at about 60 mph! At night! It was flawless. Buddy is recovering from surgery to remove a brain tumor. Please keep him and his family in your thoughts and prayers. God Speed to you Buddy for quick and complete recovery!

Parole has been DENIED for the man guilty of felony flee that caused the death of Trooper Steve Hood (M/Sgt). This felon will be up again for parole in October of 2013.

The NEW deadline for scholarship applications is March 15!  For children of Mississippi State Troopers interested in applying for our annual scholarship, you can download the applications under by clicking “Resources” or click the tab marked “Resources” on our website and scroll to the bottom of the page and click the “download pdf” icon.  The TOPIC for this year will be:  “Richard Bach once said, ‘The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other’s life.’  Who makes up your true family? What bonds do you share? How has your true family shaped you as a person?”   Don’t forget March 15 is the deadline and you can download the application under our “Resources” tab, and your application must be completed in its entirety or it WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.  The DEADLINE TO SUBMIT THE COMPLETED APPLICATION AND ESSAY IS MARCH 15.  Good luck to everyone!

Troop F didn’t need to get any of the 51 new Troopers that just graduated from Class 60 because they have the distinction of having two SUPER TROOPERS!   In this photo, secretly obtained through confidential sources, you’ll see quickly that they’re not just Super Troopers, they’re also Super Hero Super Troopers.  Boxx and McGregor (we won’t give away their identities by concealing their first names!) can be seen around their district leaping tall buildings, calf-roping felons, running faster than a speeding bullet, and writing traffic citations with one hand tied behind their back and still make it to district meetings on time!  When they’re not sporting around in our award-winning famous blue and gray uniforms, you might get a rare glimpse of them in their Super Hero Super Trooper uniforms.  So look out folks in Troop F,  Boxx and McGregor (identities unconfirmed because we didn’t tell you their first names…) are pulling double duty protecting you as part of Mississippi’s newest crime-fighting weapons with the Highway Patrol in their dual role as SUPER HERO SUPER TROOPERS!

Born on Friday, December 23, baby Cade Andrew Harcharik weighed in at 6 pounds and 10 ounces.  He was 21 inches long.  His proud parents are Trooper David Harcharik and his wife, LeAnn.  Mom and baby are doing great.  What a great Christmas present for their family!  Check out baby Harcharik’s little outfit in the photo… On behalf of the MSTA Board of Directors and our extended Mississippi Trooper family, we congratulate Trooper Harcharik and LeAnn on the birth of their little boy, Cade Andrew!

Get ready… the 2012 Mississippi Legislative Session starts this week!  The MSTA board has approved the following items to be on our agenda.  1) electronic submission of DUI tickets to follow through like all e-citation tickets.  2) Headlights shall be on in fog, low visibility or other inclement weather conditions.  3) Upgrade the false reporting of a crime to a felony in certain situations. 4) A new substation for Troop G which will now mean all nine districts will be updated.  5) Defensive driving courses for those under the age of 21 shall mirror current law for adults.  6) Support the department in a request for another Trooper School, pay increase for radio operators and DL clerks as well as their overall budget.  7) Review the exceptions in the window tint law as we’ve seen too many people taking advantage of the loophole in the law.  There will be many bills introduced this year, and we’ll work on those that the board voted to support and watch to see what other issues come before us.  Here’s to a successful 2012 session, and we are excited to be working with legislators and members of the executive branch!  We’ll keep you posted here about the status of our legislative requests.