A Florida Highway Patrol trooper was fatally shot Wednesday by a stranded motorist who was then killed by another officer, authorities said.
The shooting that killed Trooper Joseph Bullock, 42, happened around 10:15 a.m. near Palm City, located 45 minutes north of West Palm Beach.
The 19-year veteran had been with the suspect for several minutes alongside Interstate 95 before the shooting, said Col. Gene Spaulding, the highway patrol commander.
“People don’t realize when you approach a car, even a disabled vehicle or a car on a traffic stop, you are worried about not only what is inside that car and what danger is waiting for you, you are also worried about the 80,000-pound tractor-trailers that are barreling down the highway behind you,” said Spaulding.
Authorities said the unnamed suspect was killed by a passing police officer from Riviera Beach, which is about 30 miles from Palm City. Officials declined to say what the officer was doing in the area.
No other information about the shooting was released and the investigation is ongoing.
Spaulding said Bullock is the 49th Florida trooper to die in the line of duty in the agency’s 80-year history. The last was Trooper Tracy Vickers, who was killed in a traffic crash in September near Orlando.
What a damn shame !!! May God Bless him and his family !!!
#1: IbJensen To: Stoner (#0)
Approaching cars at night is a danger to our police.
IbJensen posted on 2020-02-06 12:57:22 Reply Private Reply
#2: Stoner To: IbJensen (#1)
Yes it is, a very big danger. And where as most city cops travel two to a car, virtually all State Troopers patrol alone.
I knew one that approached a car one night simply for a burned out tail light. Unknown to the Trooper, the occupants had just recently committed an armed robbery in the neighboring state. As he was approaching, he spotted one of the occupants in the back seat had rolled down the window and was getting ready to put a shotgun out. The Trooper quickly drew his Mod 19, put three rounds into that perp, and three into the other. Problem solved.
He was a very sharp and observant Trooper !!!
Stoner posted on 2020-02-06 13:59:19 Reply Private Reply
#3: misterwhite To: Stoner (#0)
Yet people are still confused as to why the police are so quick to shoot in similar situations.
misterwhite posted on 2020-02-06 16:10:26 Reply Private Reply
#4: BorisY To: Stoner (#0)
BorisY posted on 2020-02-06 17:32:42 Reply Private Reply
#5: A K A Stone To: misterwhite (#3)
Or the opposite.
A K A Stone posted on 2020-02-06 23:13:54 Reply Private Reply
#6: IbJensen To: Stoner (#2)
IbJensen posted on 2020-02-07 13:54:53 Reply Private Reply
#7: Mudboy Slim To: Stoner (#2)
Sharp, observant, and ALIVE...can't imagine what would induce me to open up on the cops.
Smh...MUD
Mudboy Slim posted on 2020-02-07 16:11:39 Reply Private Reply
#8: Stoner To: Mudboy Slim (#7)
The Trooper I am talking about is / was all of that, and more !!! He was one hell of guy!!!
He retired after many years service, retired about 10 years ago.
He died in an accidental fire about 8 years ago. Just his name puts fear in the hearts of thugs in his home county, still ! I could tell some amazing stories about him !
It was an honor to have known him !!!
Stoner posted on 2020-02-07 17:33:58 Reply Private Reply
#9: Mudboy Slim To: Stoner (#8)
Mudboy Slim posted on 2020-02-08 06:31:37 Reply Private Reply