Trooper Douglas Wayne Tripp Tennessee Highway Patrol Tennessee Sunday, May 19, 1991  Leave a Reflection  Return to Memorial  Print This Page  Continue Building Book  Page: 1 of 1

You are not forgotten by the ones you love.

Anonymous

2009-01-11

Papaw,

I hear such wonderful things and kind words about you. I only wish I had more time to get to know you. You were taken away when I was at a very young age. I'm glad other people had that opportunity to have known a person like you. I think about you, mammaw & Gary often. Wish you all were still here. I know you all are watching from above. Love and Miss you!

Dannielle Tripp
Grand daughter
2008-12-04

Muleman,

Doug, I realized the other day that it has been almost 30 years to the day since you and I graduated from Trooper School in 1978. I remember all those late-night bull sessions we had in my room or yours. We used to hold those city boys attention when we would tell them our tales of how we had to handle people in the eastern part of the state as well as to how they were quick to be of assistance if you needed some help at a wreck or if when arresting someone turned into a fight and an officer needed backup.

No matter the topic of the discussion when we started our bull sessions, it always ended up with me doing imitations and/or you talking about your mule or mules in general. I remember you and I taping the picture of your mule over your door so you could see your ass first thing in the mornings and the last thing you would see when you turned off the light to go to sleep.

Doug, I know that you are probably running radar somewhere in heaven. I hope that you will forgive me for not coming to your funeral. I just could not bear to know that the last time that I would see you, you would be in a coffin. I wanted to remember you as you were the last time that you and I were together. I want you to know that I have prayed many a time to the "Chief of cheifs" that he reserve a special place in Hell for cop killers and I have asked that he has special place in Heaven for those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their fellow man.

Doug, please rest eternally in peace knowing that your family and friends will be forever grateful for what you did here on Earth. Just know that if they have only one brain cell that thinks of you, you will still be here with us.

Thank you Trooper, a job well done!

Bill Yardley
THP Recruit School Fall 1978

Former Trooper Bill Yardley
Late of the THP
2008-09-24

Rest in peace, Sir! You will never be forgotten.

Police Officer

2008-05-26

I am dumbfounded as to why this less than human defendant is released. I thought New York took honors for liberal, weeping, cop-hating juries.
Rest in peace my brother.

Tpr
NYSP
2008-05-22

I am terribly sorry for the short time that you spent here on this Earth. I never knew you but I have thought about you a lot. I also wanted to set the record straight, the person convicted of your murder was not released until 2/17/2008, not 2006. I know that 2 more years spent in jail is not much comfort. I'm sorry that you were taken away at such an early age from your young family. May God be with you all!

2008-03-04

I met him many years ago where he visited a friend and there could have been a more nicer individual.

2008-02-16

Something is seriously wrong with our court system to allow this criminal back onto the streets.I can only think of 1 place this criminal should be, in a box! Trooper Tripp, you are not forgotten.

A brother in blue

2008-02-04

"The Badge"

He starts his shift each day
To respond to calls unknown.
He drives a marked patrol car.
A police officer he is known.

He's paid by the citizens' taxes
To make it safe on the streets.
But he usually has a second job
'Cause a waitress has his salary beat.

Now he doesn't know a holiday
'Cause he works all year round.
And when Thanksgiving and Christmas finally arrive
At his home he cannot be found.

He's cursed and assaulted often,
The one whos blood runs blue.
He seldom ever gets a thanks,
To some he's just a fool.

His friends are always other cops
'Cause people just don't understand
That underneath his badge and gun,
He's just another man.

He knows there might not be a tomorrow
In this world of drugs and crime.
And he gets so mad at the court system
'Cause the crooks don't get any time.

And each day when he leaves for work,
He prays to God above.
Please bring me home after my shift
So I can see the ones I love.

But tonight he stops a speeding car,
He's alone down this ole' highway.
It's just a little traffic infraction.
He does it everyday.

Well, he walks up to the driver's window,
And his badge is shining bright.
He asked the guy for a driver's license,
When a shot rang through the night.

Yes, the bullet hit its mark,
Striking the officer in the chest.
But the Department's budget didn't buy
Each officer a bullet-proof vest.

So he lay on the ground bleeding.
His blood wasn't blue - His blood was red.
And briefly he thought of his loved ones
'Cause in a moment the officer was dead.

In the news they told the story
Of how this officer had died.
And some who listened cared less,
But those who loved him cried.

Well, they buried him in uniform
With his badge pinned on his chest.
He even had his revolver,
He died doing his best.

Written By:
David L. Bell
Sergeant
Richland County Sheriff's Department
Columbia, South Carolina
Used with Special Permission of the Author
Copyright © 1999 - All Rights Reserved
and may not be duplicated without permission

Investigator David L Bell
Richland County Sheriff's Dept., Columbia, SC
2008-01-30

What a disgrace.... RELEASING the animal who did this to you?? Nothing less than death for him is deserved.... what a shame. RIP, Trooper.

Trooper
Colorado State Patrol
2007-10-28

i was reading this, and it just turned my stomach to think that a magget could take a life, father,& officer and just spend so little time in prison for this. i would hate to be the person that set his sentence and stand before god.good-bye brother we will remember you always.

rayzorlaw
ccsd
2007-07-08

I don't understand why this killer is going to be released this year let alone be convicted of only 2nd degree murder. Trooper Tripp: you deserve better! No way should this person be breathing.
Rest in peace brother.

patrolman
bethlehem pd
2006-11-05

JUST DROPPING A LINE TO LET EVERYONE KNOW THAT YOU MAY BE GONE BUT YOU WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN. ALSO I HAVE THIS TO ASK....HOW COULD THE JUSTICE SYSTEM LET A MAN OUT OF JAIL FOR SUCH A HEINOUS CRIME? DID THE SUSPECT TRULY PAY HIS DEBT TO SOCIETY BY TAKING A PUBLIC SERVANT AWAY FROM US ALL? IF YOU WERE INVOLVED IN THE SENTENCING OF THE SUSPECT I WOULD LIKE TO ASK,HOW CAN YOU SLEEP AT NIGHT?

L.E.G DETECTIVE
COLUMBUS (OH) POLICE DEPT.
2006-03-23

I never had the honor of meeting you. I started my career a couple of years after you death. I see your picture in the halls of the Fall branch office often and remember you. May God bless your family.

Trooper
Tennessee Highway Patrol
2005-12-24

I grew up in Claiborne County. When I was 16, I was stopped by Trooper Tripp for running a stop sign. He elected not to cite me, but instead chatted with me. Now, I am 42 and have been a police officer for 10 years. Rarely do I cite a juvenile for a traffic offense. Instead, I tell them about the time I was stopped by Trooper Tripp and how he made the ultimate sacrifice. To Deputy Tripp, your father's memory continues to live in middle Tennessee.

Scott
Coopertown P. D.
2005-12-02

I was looking at the most recent horrible act in Tennessee when i saw your memorial. I agree 15 years for shooting you 10 times is a horrible act in itself but that is our justice system, the death penalty would have been to kind to this EVIL coward. Just know you will never be forgotten. The State of Tennessee and a greatful Nation will be forever in your debt.

Cpl Gary Mintz, Director Traffic Enf.
Henderson County Sheriff's Office, North Carolina
2005-07-11

Trooper Tripp,
On today, the 14th anniversary of your murder, I would like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice for the citizens of Tennessee. What really burns me is how a dirtbag who shoots a Law Enforcement Officer TEN times with a rifle because he got a speeding ticket and is only given 15 years in prison boggles my mind. What was the judge and jury thinking in this case.

R.I.P.
Anonymous

2005-05-19

Doug, I worked around you and with you so many years. All I could ever say about you was what a wonderful job you did.When someone was talking about a good Trooper you were the frist to come to mind. Rest easy brother and save a place for the rest of us.Its been almost 15 years now but we all still think about you and miss you. You were a hero to a lot of people and good police officers came from your influence so you will be on the streets for years to come.

2005-04-09

Doug we only met a couple of times, but your unreasonable death has let a hole in a part of my life. Rest easy my fellow officer Till we meet again.

Trooper Larry Gladden
TENN. HIGHWAY PATROL
2005-03-16

My Hero, my father, Lord how I miss you. Even though you left me with alot of your wisdom, stength, and will, your foot prints I will never fill. All I can do is the best I know how from the knowledge you taught.
Someday, what ever my fate shall be, I am not affraid. I know that you, mom and Gary will be there to meet me. But until that day just watch over me, and it is my wish that you can look with a smile of pride to know this daughter's hero was you. Miss you dad, we all do.

Deputy Deborah L. Tripp
Claiborne Co. Sheriff's Dept.
2004-04-27

It's been along time since 1991, you are still missed Brother. Will always remember the times in recruit school. Your laugh and your jokes. Still wish you were here. Rest In Peace, save me a job up there.
God Bless

Lt. Rex Prince
Tennessee Highway Patrol
2003-08-25

vengeance will be mine sayeth the Lord

tpr Tripp thank you for the ultimate sacrifice you paid serving the great state of TN.

Benjamin Adam Harrison
United States Coast Guard