Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

I was just a kid in elementary school when this terrible day came to be. As a son and grandson of a cop, and aspiring lawman who was not yet even out of grade school, I watched with disbelief and horror that someone would execute 2 highway patrolmen. I thought NC troopers were invincible. Seeing them on the road inspired me to be a trooper.

This still causes pain in Western NC almost 30 years later. One of the patrolmen who found the 2 patrolmen's bodies, left the patrol on disability from the grief. He was one of Sgt. Arledge's best friends. As a result of this terrible night, the breath-test room was moved into the secured booking area of th jail, gun lockboxes were installed and video cameras were mounted.

The drunken bum who did this was arrested a block away the next morning by the jail, by an ongoing jailer. He still had the trooperr's .357 on him with 2 spent shells in the cylinder. He was sent to prison for life, watching TV, lifting weights and getting his teeth fixed at taxpayer's expense. alot better deal than these two Patrolmen got.

How sad. Such fine men, their lives cut short. TPR Canipe would have over 30 if he had survived. SGT Arledge was so highly thought of by the old folks in Buncombe County. Both were gentlemen.

Now, three decades later, please pray for their families, friends and colleagues. The pain is still there.

They now patrol the highways of Heaven with St. Michael. Be safe and God Bless.

Chief JA Millan
NC Public Schools, Avery Dist SP

A good man. May God Bless You In The Heavens.

Lt. Thomas
North Carolina Highway Patrol