HomeSTOCommentaryPension News Recent NewsOur Story

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
With Chillicothe Post Commander Aaron Morgan: (left-back to front) Jeff May, Bob Brooks, Fred Summers, Harold Cooper, Brady Turner (right-back to front) Hal Hardiesty, Lt. Morgan, Ed Waltz, Tom Scott. 
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)
Thanks to Retirees' Association Board members Dale LaRue and Ginny Fogt for sharing these photos of recent retiree gatherings in Lisbon (left) and Wilmot (right) in September 2025
Enjoying a great morning of fellowship at the East Side Retirees Breakfast in Pickerington on October 9th. These retirees get together the 2nd Thursday of the month!  Contact Art Wilson do get on the email list!

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)




A_Mug_A_Memory_and_the_Meaning_of_Family.pdf
Wooster Retiree's Breakfast at the Green Leaf
March 2nd, 2026

Did you know there are 17 different "Retirees Gatherings" throughout the State every month! The list has been verified and updated for 2025 on the OHPRS website.  Click to the Retirees Events Page
90th Anniversary History Video
State of the Patrol
Address
March 27, 2026
Retirees Butch & Brenda Collins with Al & Joyce Daugherty
OHPRS Executive Director 
Cark Roark
A Full House at the monthly Mansfield Retirees Breakfast at Paul Reveres Restaurant in Lexington.  Thanks to special guest OSHPRA President Bob Booker, OHPRS Executive Director Carl Roark and OHPRS Operations Manager Tony Bradshaw for joining us, along with our dear friends pictured above, Al and Joyce Daugherty.  The Daugherty Family has been strong supporters of the OSHP for many years, going back to their days of owning and managing Daugherty's Sohio and Diner on SR13 and I-71 in Richland County.  Additional photos can be viewed on our Facebook page.
WSYX 6 / ABC 6 presses Governor on post-release supervision of violent felons after police shooting
WBNS 10 / Video of car-carrier crashing, cars being tossed into oncoming lanes
WSYX 6 / Suspect who shot CPD officer identified, officer being hospitalized
WKEF / Ohio State Highway Patrol will focus on motorcycle safety
WCMH 4 / More witnesses called in the Jason Meade murder trial
Support our advocate at the Ohio Statehouse.  The annual Kevin Miller Golf Outing is scheduled for Friday, June 5th at the Clover Valley Golf Club.  Click open the PDF below for the sign up flyer. 
Miller_Golf_Sign_Up.pdf
WSYX 6 / Jurors hear dueling experts testify on where Casey Goodson Jr. was standing when shot
WANE 15 / Trucker indicted for allegedly not paying $22,000 in tolls on Ohio Turnpike
Cleveland.com / I-80 traffic stop leads to 11-year sentence for drug trafficking
Dispatch / Ohio Public Pension Systems earned $26 Billion in 2025 as investment returns surge
WKBN 27 / Former troopers say Ohio State Highway Patrol doles out unfair discipline
WBNS 10 / OSHP provides update on injured in small plane crash near Lancaster
WKBN 27 / OSHP report: Over 19,000 motorcycle crashes in the lasr 5 years
WBNS 10 / 2 in critical condition after small plane crash in Fairfield County
WBNS 10 / Columbus prosecutor killed in wrong-way crash involving stolen SUV on SR315
WKBN 27 / Former troopers say Ohio State Patrol doles out unfair discipline
WFMJ 21 / OSHP responds to injury school bus crash in Green Township 
WSYX 6 / Defendant who killed Morrow County Deputy Daniel Sheerer pleads guilty to avoid the death penalty
Boston 10 / Mass. Trooper dies using cruiser to stop wrong-way driver on Route 1, suspect driver identified
WKBN 27 / Former OSP Troopers allege ticket prioritization over positive public interaction
WCMH 4 / Jury begins deliberation in murder trial of former deputy