Andrew J Sperr Informative Speech
Hundreds of people gathered in Big Flats Tuesday to remember a fallen New York State Police Officer. Trooper Andrew J. Sperr died in the line of duty ten years ago.
"This 10 year anniversary gives us all another opportunity to reflect on his life and what he meant to us and what he meant to all of the other troopers that are here today," said Mary Sperr, AJ's sister-in-law. Trooper Sperr died on March 1st, 2006 when he pulled over two men who robbed a nearby bank. Trooper Sperr did not know the men were on the run. As he approached them, they opened fire on him. Trooper Sperr fired back and hit and injured both suspects, and they were later arrested. Trooper Sperr unfortunately died at the scene. The tragic incident inspired Sperr's friends and co-workers to make the scene of the crime a park in his memory. …show more content…
"Five days after this occurrence, I did a crude map of this park and what I had a vision of.
Seven days later I revised that plan and what you see here today behind you is what happened six months later," said Paul Campbell, co-worker and friend of Sperr. The empty field is now Sperr Memorial Park. A place for people to share Sperr's love for the outdoors, and an uplifting place to remember him.
"Of all of the things I've forgotten or never remembered, until I was reminded, I try to get the positive aspects of what has happened since then. This park is the most obvious part of it," said Andy Sperr, AJ Sperr's father. Sperr was a New York State Trooper for 10 years. The events of his death changed a couple of state police policies.
"When the trooper makes a vehicle and traffic stop, he'll call out his location, he'll call out the vehicle number of the plate that he's stopping. Which lets the dispatcher in the call center know exactly that he's out on a V&T stop," said Major Craig Hanesworth, New York State Police Troop E
Leader.
"At the time Andy was working and got killed, we were carrying a 9 millimeter glock. Shortly there after, we went to the 45 glock, which is a bigger round and has more stopping power," said Campbell.
Sperr's memory also lives in on in the Rochester area where he grew up. Scholarship funds at his high school and college were created for people pursuing a career in law enforcement.
"This 10 year anniversary gives us all another opportunity to reflect on his life and what he meant to us and what he meant to all of the other troopers that are here today," said Mary Sperr, AJ's sister-in-law. Trooper Sperr died on March 1st, 2006 when he pulled over two men who robbed a nearby bank. Trooper Sperr did not know the men were on the run. As he approached them, they opened fire on him. Trooper Sperr fired back and hit and injured both suspects, and they were later arrested. Trooper Sperr unfortunately died at the scene. The tragic incident inspired Sperr's friends and co-workers to make the scene of the crime a park in his memory. …show more content…
"Five days after this occurrence, I did a crude map of this park and what I had a vision of.
Seven days later I revised that plan and what you see here today behind you is what happened six months later," said Paul Campbell, co-worker and friend of Sperr. The empty field is now Sperr Memorial Park. A place for people to share Sperr's love for the outdoors, and an uplifting place to remember him.
"Of all of the things I've forgotten or never remembered, until I was reminded, I try to get the positive aspects of what has happened since then. This park is the most obvious part of it," said Andy Sperr, AJ Sperr's father. Sperr was a New York State Trooper for 10 years. The events of his death changed a couple of state police policies.
"When the trooper makes a vehicle and traffic stop, he'll call out his location, he'll call out the vehicle number of the plate that he's stopping. Which lets the dispatcher in the call center know exactly that he's out on a V&T stop," said Major Craig Hanesworth, New York State Police Troop E
Leader.
"At the time Andy was working and got killed, we were carrying a 9 millimeter glock. Shortly there after, we went to the 45 glock, which is a bigger round and has more stopping power," said Campbell.
Sperr's memory also lives in on in the Rochester area where he grew up. Scholarship funds at his high school and college were created for people pursuing a career in law enforcement.