Law Enforcement Support

Trooper Christopher Gadd

March 2024 Mission Moment
Trooper Christopher Gadd
Washington State Patrol

At about 3:00am, on March 2, 2024, Trooper Christopher Gadd was killed when his patrol car was struck by another vehicle while he was parked on the shoulder of I-5, near 136th Street NE in Marysville, Washington.

He was conducting DUI enforcement patrols when the crash occurred. The vehicle that struck him was traveling at a high rate of speed when he drove into the back of his patrol car. The driver was arrested and charged with vehicular homicide while awaiting toxicology reports.

Trooper Gadd had served with the Washington State Patrol for 2-1/2 years. He is survived by his wife, 2-year-old daughter, parents, and sister. His father also serves with the Washington State Patrol, and his sister serves with the Texas Highway Patrol.

A Message from Retired Sheriff John Whetsel
Be Your Department’s Leader

During my 50 years in law enforcement, I led by example. With a mission to save lives, I arrested impaired drivers, both as Chief of Police and as Sheriff.

Every impaired driver removed from the road is one less crash that will happen, one less person that will die. As a nation, America sadly accepts over 100 traffic fatalities in preventable crashes every day, of which about a third are a result of an impaired driver.

Throughout the years, impaired driving remains a crime that results in needless victims killed or injured by intentional criminal behavior. However, too often when officers do their job and arrest impaired drivers, charges are later reduced. That must end.

We can stop impaired driving, but it will take a team effort, including bold laws that treat impaired driving as the real crime it is – murder using a 4,000-pound weapon. It is about protecting those we love … those we serve. We know that MADD will continue to be a vital partner in our effort to save lives.

Editor’s note: reprinted from the MADD Impaired Driving Toolkit: A Law Enforcement Leaders’s Guide to Saving Lives. The toolkit can be found by Clicking Here, or at the QR Code.
Officer Thomas Jones

March 2024 Officer of the Month
Officer Thomas Jones
Hopewell Police Department, Virginia

MADD proudly recognizes Officer Thomas Jones as our Officer of the Month for March 2024. Officer Jones is with the Hopewell, Virginia Police Department. He has served with Hopewell for nearly 6 years and in law enforcement for just over 18 years.

Hopewell Police Department Captain Trevor Terry shares that, "Each year, Officer Jones leads the department in DUI arrests and investigations. Officer Jones has received training in SFSTs and advanced crash reconstruction. He is committed to mentoring other officers in these disciplines. He often conducts training for members of his squad and facilitates scenario-based training for newly hired officers as their Field Training Officer."

Officer Jones has won the MADD Law Enforcement Award 17 times since 2004. First while with the Smithfield, Virginia Police Department, and for the last 5 years, with the Hopewell Police Department.

MADD is proud to recognize Officer Thomas Jones as the MADD March 2024 Officer of the Month. We thank him for his dedicated service to the citizens of Hopewell and the State of Virginia. We wish him the best in safety and wellness in the remaining years of his career and service.

MADD extends our deepest condolences to the agencies and families who have lost officers and loved ones in the line of duty

For a complete listing of Officers lost in the line of duty, please visit: www.odmp.org

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