Trooper Frederick J. Groves, Jr.

How I met Fred was my son and Fred's son, Michael, played Tee-ball together. I was just starting out in law enforcement with less than a year at WPB PD when Fred was taken from us by four drug-running thugs. He was alone on the turnpike and one snuck up behind him with a gun. I still vividly recall the hospital chaotic ER with all those big Troopers with tears on their cheeks, then later at my first (sadly, of many) police funeral. After the funeral back at his house, you couldn't move sideways because all his Brothers were there to pay their last respects to Fred's wife and children. My wife, my family, all of my and Fred's friends from baseball, and a few older Troopers I knew tried their best to get me to get out of law enforcement. I just retired on July 1, 2022.
My wife, son, and I talk frequently about Fred and miss him to this day. I followed Michael's baseball career through high school where he played for Wellington HS, but I lost contact after that. Fred was one of the kindest, funniest LEOs I ever met. Rest in Peace, Sir. We have the watch.

Ofc John Connacher
Lake Clarke Shores PD (Ret)

October 4, 2022