Law enforcement from across the state gathered at the state capitol Monday to honor two state troopers who were killed in the line of duty and four others who put their lives on the line.
State Troopers Cpl. Marshall Bailey and Eric Workman made what they thought would be routine traffic stop on August 28, 2012 on I-79 near the Roane/Clay County line. They were shot and killed by the driver, Luke Baber, who then shot and injured a tow truck driver and Roane County Deputy John Westfall. Baber was killed during an exchange of fire.
The lower rotunda was the site of the Heroic Law Enforcement Ceremony. On hand were the families of the slain troopers, Deputy Westfall and his family, the three other deputies who took part in the shootout, friends and dozens of law enforcement from local, county, state and federal departments.
Tom McComas, Cabell County Sheriff and president of the West Virginia Sheriff’s Association, presented the families of Bailey and Workman with plaques. Clay County Deputies Cpl. Robert Belt, Chris Legg and Chris Davis received Combat Crosses as did Westfall. He also received a second medal.
“We would like to present this Purple Heart to you for your sacrifice and your wounds received in the service of the citizens of Roane County
The deputy told those gathered at the ceremony, “I could see the reflection of nothing but blue lights coming towards the scene [as I was laying on the ground]. You don’t realize what that means knowing that everyone is coming to your aid.”
Also honored was William Massey, the tow truck driver who called in the shootings of Bailey and Workman.
“Thank you for what you did that day for these officers and the other first responders for sending up that alarm. And we’re glad to see that you are recovering nicely from your wounds,” McComas said.
Rudi Raynes-Kidder, the executive director of the WVSA, used the ceremony to push for a bill introduced in the Senate on Monday that would require police agencies to purchase bulletproof vests for every officer.
“One would think if you get a gun, you get a vest. That is not the case in West Virginia
That statement was echoed by Sen. Bill Laird, a former Fayette County Sheriff.
“This legislation recognizes the importance of body armor as essential equipment. No longer is it optional. It’s something that certainly must be funded, must be made available to those men and women who get up every morning, go to work to keep us safe in the communities in which we live,” Laird said.
Westfall said he was lucky to be wearing a top-of-the-line bullet proof vest provided to him by the Spencer Police Department, where he worked part-time.
“I was lucky that I had protection … and it saved my life. Our sheriff’s department didn’t have those vests,” Westfall said.
So far, the community has donated more than $16,000 toward the purchase of bulletproof vests for officers across the state. And during Monday’s ceremony, the West Virginia Beer Wholesalers Association presented a gift of 50 new vests to the WVSA.
Westfall said he is a hopeful another shoulder surgery, scheduled for next month, will allow him to return to the force soon.
