Recent News

Butch & Brenda Collins made an early morning trip to the Lima Retirees breakfast, providing updates on STO accomplishments and other matters impacting the Patrol. From the left: Butch & Brenda Collins, Russ & Judy Bennett, Kelli Jackson, Ottawa PD Retiree Rodney Sutter, and Jim & Debra Smelser. We will be at the Wooster Breakfast on Tuesday, the East Side Pickerington Breakfast on Thursday and the Mansfield Breakfast on Saturday (2/10). Thanks to these retirees and the many others supporting our efforts: State Troopers of Ohio Inc.

STO Board Members Rob Hartsell with Butch & Brenda Collins visited our District 3 Patrons at the Green Leaf Restaurant in Wooster on Tuesday, February 6th. From the left seated: Ed Bowman, Joe Arthur, Judy Smith, Larry Davis, Bill Healy, Butch Collins. Standing: Brenda Collins, Jim Chapman, Larry Meredith, Jim Roth, Ray Smith, J.P. Allen, Harv Callahan, Jim Debevec, Rob Hartsell, Lee Dehoff, and Dale Larue. Left before the photo: Matt Witmer and Eric Sheppard. Thanks to these retirees and the many others supporting our efforts: State Troopers of Ohio Inc.

STO Board Members Rob Hartsell, Butch Collins, and Paul Pride visited our "East Side" Patrons at the Scramblers Restaurant in Pickerington on Thursday, February 8th. From the left: Art Wilson, Don Goodman, Jeff May, Roger Landis, Bob Myers, and Rob Hartsell. Seated in front:Butch Collins and Paul Pride.

Thanks to these retirees and the many others supporting our efforts: State Troopers of Ohio Inc.

STO Board Memebers Butch & Brenda Collins made the trip to the Wildcat Cafe in Vanlue for the monthly Findlay Retiree's Breakfast. Joining us on February 15th: Tim Stockman, Bob Foust, Brian Cupp, Larry Hetrick, Will Sturgill, Ken Walerius, and Tom Romaker. We will be providing a schedule for our visits in March. Thanks to all of our retired and active Patrons who are supporting the State Troopers of Ohio Inc.

We had a great visit with a our District 5 Retirees at the Lincoln Square V Restaurant in Troy, discussing the many issues facing our active and retired ranks. Thanks to our District 5 Friends Chuck Wright, Dan Dickerson, Bob Syckes, Jerry Miller, Kyle Albright, Bruce Ruese, John Procuniar, and active Communication Manager Dane Mowen for hosting us. We hope to see many more of our members at the Retirees Cookout on June 21st!

Retirees' Association First VP Dale LaRue dropped in at the Wayside Family Restaurant for the Warren Retirees Breakfast on July 28th. Dale shared this photo of most of the attendees.

Thanks for sharing Dale!

Enjoyed the morning (August 8th) checking in on the Bucyrus Coffee Club at the Pelican Coffee House in beautiful downtown Bucyrus! A nice discussion on the topics of the day. From the left; Butch and Brenda Collins with Retirees Rich Logsdon, Steve Stierhoff, Mark Sigler, Jim Bryan and Bucyrus Post Commander, Lieutenant Ty Skaggs. The 'BCC' meets on the second Thursday of the month, 8:00 AM.

A few of the many instructors and friends celebrating the career of retired Captain Robert "Bob" Welsh at the classroom dedication ceremony on Friday, August 9th. Captain Welsh is acknowledged as the originator of the Division’s Officer Safety Program because of his unwavering dedication to the training of law enforcement officers in personal safety and self-defense. Joining Captain Welsh in this photo, former Academy Instructors Toby Smith, PeytonWatts, Bob Welsh, Rob Hartsell, Bill Healy, and Brenda Collins.

At the 2024 Sunbird Reunion - Annual Dinner we were blessed to have 11 graduates of the Hartman Farm join us for our day of fellowship. From the left, including academy class number - Jack Holland #64, Bob Carson #47, Delmer Dunlap #58, Bill Snyder #66, Ernie Wigglesworth #42, Tom Rice #55, Delmer Everett #52, Ray Smith #59, Ed Suffecool #59, Jim 'Skip' Spurrier #60, and Tom Romaker #60.

Thank You Dale LaRue for sharing this photo of the Lisbon Post get-together at Pondi's Restaurant on November 20th.

L-R. Dick Klaes, Trooper. Larry Jenkins, Trooper Harvy Callahan, Captain Don Kubis, Trooper Gary Dolak, Sergeant Mike Smith, PUCO Dave Leffel, dispatcher and MVI Dale LaRue, Sergeant WCT(Chris) Butts, Lieutenant Bob Cooper, Trooper and Union Staff Rep

Thanks to all who attended the monthly Wooster Breakfast on August 5th, including Wooster Post Commander Christian Perrin, AP 1 Susan Ballow, and (soon-to-be-retired) Master Trooper Cary Wenger. Retirement System updates were provided by OSHPRS Board Members Darryl Anderson and J.P. Allen, along with legislative updates by State Troopers of Ohio Inc. (STO) Board Members Butch and Brenda Collins. A great day at the Green Leaf!

(See more photos on our Facebook Page)

Thanks to our New Philadelphia Retirees for inviting us to their monthly breakfast at Buehlers in New Philly! Retired Sergeant Charlie Demuth was kind enough to wear his "vintage" 1990's Highway Patrol recruitment tee shirt featuring 116th Academy Class classmates George Williams and Brenda Collins, along with former Trooper Louis Velez! Thanks Charlie! A great discussion about our STO lobbying efforts, COLAS, and other concerns facing the OSHP!

(See more photos on our Facebook Page)

Feb. 14th, 2026 - All the regulars at the monthly Mansfield Retirees breakfast on Valentines Day! Thanks to Bucyrus District Staff Lieutenants Lance Shearer and Brad Bishop for joining us and extending an invitation to the Bucyrus District Awards Banquet next month!

The Ohio State Highway Patrol Retirees' Association will receive several emails or calls every year, through our website or the Trooper-to-Trooper Facebook page, requesting help from members or friends, trying to resolve some type of issue: a question about benefits; trying to find a former trooper or friend; letting us know about the illness or passing of a former OSP employee that we may not be aware of.

We were recently contacted by Shelley Liddle, daughter of the late Lieutenant Walt Liddle (EOW 3-28-2013), on behalf of her mother, Carol Liddle. Carol had dropped and broken Walt's favorite coffee mug, which she had been using every morning since his passing. She was devastated. Shelley reached out to us regarding a possible replacement and was kind enough to prepare and share the story about the events that followed. Thank you Shelley! Your dad was a great friend, who managed the Delaware Retiree get-togethers for years and was part of our original editorial board for TroopertoTrooper.com. Her story, in her words... (click open PDF below)

As always, you will see several retirees working at several different places at the 2026 Memorial Tournament in Dublin. Retirees Steve Rosta and Brandon Cruz from Direct Approach Security, handling security inside the ropes of the tournament, along with our Provost Shriners, taking care of the 6th Tee Parking area. Pictured here, Retirees Butch & Brenda Collins, Tom Rice, Don Goodman, and Fred Goldstein.

Happy 87th Birthday Colonel Thomas W. Rice! A celebration enjoyed with his Shriner Friends and daughter Gigi Rice at the 6th Tee Parking Area on the final day of the 2026 Memorial Tournament! As usual, Colonel Tom did all 7 Days of parking duty, still going strong! Enjoy your day and get some rest!