Trooper Gabriel Lenox Rich

Son of slain Trooper made an honorary member of the Alaska State Troopers

Posted on May 15, 2020 KTVF NEWS

FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTVF) Lenox Rich is a 7-year-old kid from Fairbanks. His father, Gabe Rich and his partner Scott Johnson where killed in the line of duty as they attempted to take a suspect into custody in 2014.

Lenox Rich, 7, was made an honorary Alaska State Trooper today. His father, Gabe Rich was killed in the line of duty in 2014. (John Dougherty/KTVF)

“I want to be a Trooper…Because my dad was one,” Lenox said.

Troopers held a special ceremony on Police Memorial Day this year to help Lenox get a taste of his dream. Captain Ronald Wall, the commander of AST “D” Detachment said that his mom contacted them with the idea of making him an honorary trooper.

"It was just natural, everybody was on board and we thought it was a great idea," said Wall.

Wall contacted the AST Commissioner and Colonel about the plan and they sent a signed certificate making Lenox an honorary member of the Alaska State Troopers for a day.

"I like them because, like, you get a lot of action and all that. It's really fun," Lenox said.

After making him an honorary Trooper, they let him ride with a K9 unit.

"The dog is named after his father, so naturally when it came time to put him with a trooper it was kind of a no brainer for me. We wanted to put him with a K9 named after his father."

The dog is named Lenox, which was Gabe’s middle name. Lenox said that when he is a trooper, he also wants to work with dogs.

"Because then I got like a pet with me, kind of," said Lenox.

Another special touch to the special day was giving Lenox his dad’s call sign on the radio to use for the day while they went and picked up sandwiches for police officers around Fairbanks.

Lenox said that the day was awesome and the Troopers can’t wait until he can join them in the line of duty.

Retired Police Officer
NYPD

May 16, 2020