PHOTOS FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT
Made a patrol flight with Pilot A.J. Mason (left) and Bo Dunkin, Tactical Flight Officer, of the Texas DPS Aircraft Section. Bo was a long time trooper in Angelina County and is currently stationed in Houston with the Region 2 aircraft crew. Helicopter pictured was stationed in Longview at the time but has since been transferred to the Rio Grande Valley to support DPS border operations.
Houston Helicopter that Bo Dunkin works out of
Rio Grande Valley Trip to DPS Border Headquarters
Accompanied Sheriff Woody Wallace (center) and Sheriff Greg Sanches (right) to the Rio Grande Valley on invitation from the DPS. Toured the Border Operations Command Center and went on a patrol run up the Rio Grande with the DPS Tactical Marine Unit on one of the their gunboats and border flight with Aircraft Section.
Good friend and former DPS Academy classmate Dwayne Pruett dies from Cancer in Lufkin. Pruett was a Trooper on the Highway Patrol and moved to Lufkin while serving as a Sergeant with DPS CID in the old Motor Vehicle Theft Division. Pruett had retired from DPS.
Dwayne Pruett, THP Austin with one of, if not the very first, Texas Highway Patrol Mustang in 1983
Trooper Dwayne Pruett in Texas DPS Academy
Dwayne Pruett drove this 1982 Mustang that Ford provided for a field test to the Texas Highway Patrol as the DPS considered buying the first batch of Mustangs from Ford Motor Company.
Great friend from DPS Academy days – Jim Savage, a fantastic former Highway Patrol Trooper, THP Austin and retired Agent in federal law enforcement with the United States Secret Service. Jim was in Lufkin to attend our DPS Academy classmate and mutual friend Dwayne Pruett’s funeral.
My friend Barry Saucier, who is currently an investigator for the Harris County District Attorney’s Office, made a highway stop that netted $93,000 in cash in March of 2002. Saucier was a Sergeant at the Angelina County Sheriff’s Office and a great narcotics investigator.
Had the distinct honor, in 2002 while serving as President of Crime Stoppers of Lufkin, to present Crime Stopper’s Community Service Award (Officer of the Year) to Barry Saucier of the Angelina County Sheriff’s Department. Saucier was a very successful drug interdiction operator and worked Highway 59 through Angelina County. Saucier is pictured with retired former sheriff Kent Henson and Mark Lowery (right) of Texas State Bank who sponsored the award.
While president of Crime Stoppers of Lufkin, presented outgoing Board Secretary Pat Eubanks in about 1998 with an award recognizing her service to Crime Stoppers of Lufkin. With now retired Lufkin PD Lieutenant Greg Denman who was the coordinator at the time.
Presented Trooper at the time Kevin Malone an award from Crime Stoppers of Lufkin for professionalism in law enforcement around 2003.