Trevor Casper Explained

Trevor Casper
Honorific Suffix:Wisconsin State Trooper
Currentstatus:Deceased
Department:Wisconsin State Patrol
Birth Date:May 21, 1993
Death Date:March 24, 2015 (age 21)
Badgenumber:2605
Birth Place:Sheboygan, Wisconsin, United States
Death Place:Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
Serviceyears:3 months
Rank:Trooper
Url:Archived link to memorial website

Trevor Casper (May 21, 1993 – March 24, 2015) was a state trooper for the Wisconsin State Patrol. On his first solo assignment,[1] Casper was shot and killed[2] in Fond du Lac attempting to apprehend a bank robbery and murder suspect on March 24, 2015.[3] He was the youngest police officer killed in the line of duty in Wisconsin.[4]

Early life and career

Casper was born in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, and later moved to Kiel with his family, where he was a 2011 graduate of Kiel High School and was on the school's soccer and wrestling teams. He studied at Lakeshore Technical College in Cleveland, Wisconsin, where he graduated in May 2014 with a degree in criminal justice.[5] In college, he was the student government president and active in the color guard.[6] Casper began his training to become a Wisconsin State Trooper at the Wisconsin State Patrol Academy at Fort McCoy on July 13, 2014. In December that year, Casper was sworn in as a trooper.[7]

Death

The suspect, Steven Snyder, was believed to have robbed a bank in Wausaukee, Wisconsin earlier on March 24, 2015. Approximately one hour after the bank robbery, Snyder abandoned the vehicle he was driving, shot dead 59-year-old Thomas C. Christ,[8] and stole a second vehicle. Casper located the second vehicle as it was being driven southbound on Interstate 41 in Fond du Lac and began following it. He was directing Trooper Clarissa Justmann, Sgt. Andrew Hyer, and Capt. Anthony Burrell (the latter become Superintendent of the Wisconsin State Patrol from 2019 to 2022) to their location when Snyder pulled into a Pick 'n Save supermarket parking lot and stopped. Snyder discharged nine 5.7mm shots from an FN Five-seven pistol at Casper, who was hit by three rounds in the neck, chest and left hand.[9] Casper, though mortally wounded, discharged 12 .40-caliber rounds from his Glock duty weapon, and struck Snyder once in the chest, fatally wounding him. Casper was pronounced dead en route to the hospital.

It was announced on July 12, 2016, that Casper would be inducted into the State of Wisconsin Fire & Police Hall of Fame.

The suspect

Police confirmed 38-year-old Steven Timothy Snyder[10] from Michigan shot and killed Casper in the shootout. Snyder was also killed in the exchange of gunfire.[11]

Response and reactions

Before the shooting involving Casper, the Fond du Lac Police Department had been investigating a bank robbery just blocks away. The day following the shooting, Governor Scott Walker issued a statement saying, "Trooper Trevor Casper was killed while bravely serving his community and doing his duty to keep our citizens safe. Tonette and I are praying for Trooper Casper's family and our thoughts are with them and the broader law enforcement community at this difficult time."[12]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Trooper Casper killed on his first solo assignment. March 26, 2015. FOX 11 News. March 25, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150330004119/http://fox11online.com/2015/03/25/state-patrol-leaders-reveal-more-on-fallen-trooper/. March 30, 2015.
  2. Web site: Trooper Trevor Casper. The Officer Down Memorial Page. March 26, 2015.
  3. News: Wisconsin Trooper Killed in Shootout Was New Academy Grad. March 26, 2015. ABC News. March 25, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150331051648/https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/trooper-bank-robbery-suspect-motorist-killed-wisconsin-29889667. March 31, 2015.
  4. News: Wisconsin State Patrol: Tuesday was Trooper Casper’s first day solo on the job. March 26, 2015. WITI-FOX 6. March 25, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20221018103907/https://www.fox6now.com/news/wisconsin-state-patrol-tuesday-was-trooper-caspers-first-day-solo-on-the-job. October 18, 2022.
    - Web site: Wisconsin State Patrol memoriam. Wisconsin DOT. June 25, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20230320134502/https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/about-wisdot/who-we-are/dsp/memo.aspx. March 20, 2023.
  5. News: Stunned town mourns trooper who was 'born ready to do this job'. March 26, 2015. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. March 25, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20221018103757/https://archive.jsonline.com/news/crime/young-slain-trooper-a-born-leader-committed-public-servant-b99469357z1-297574351.html/. October 18, 2022.
  6. News: Family: Fallen Wisconsin Trooper 'Would do anything for anyone'. March 27, 2015. WISN 12. March 25, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20180116135209/http://www.wisn.com/article/family-fallen-wisconsin-trooper-would-do-anything-for-anyone/6325993. January 16, 2018.
  7. Web site: Wisconsin State Patrol welcomes 47 new officers to its ranks. Wisconsin DOT. March 26, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150130152603/http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/news/releases/320-nr.htm. January 30, 2015.
  8. News: Identified: 59-year-old man found dead in Wausaukee; shot and killed by bank robbery suspect. 26 March 2015. WITI-FOX 6 News. March 25, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20221018103844/https://www.fox6now.com/news/identified-59-year-old-man-found-dead-in-wausaukee-shot-and-killed-by-bank-robbery-suspect. October 18, 2022.
  9. Web site: Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation Case Report. https://web.archive.org/web/20230306113412/https://www.doj.state.wi.us/sites/default/files/oid-reports/state-patrol-report-20150723.pdf. March 6, 2023.
  10. News: Shooter who killed WI State Trooper had criminal history in Fond du Lac. March 27, 2015. NBC26. March 26, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150402224227/http://www.scrippsmedia.com/nbc26/news/Shooter-who-killed-WI-State-Trooper-had-criminal-history-in-Fond-du-Lac-297718631.html. April 2, 2015.
  11. News: Shooter linked to 1996 hate crime in Fond du Lac. March 27, 2015. The Fond du Lac Reporter. March 26, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20221018103724/https://eu.fdlreporter.com/story/news/local/2015/03/26/shooter-linked-hate-crime-fond-du-lac/70513796/. October 18, 2022.
  12. Web site: Governor Scott Walker Releases Statement on the Passing of Trooper Trevor Casper. Governor Scott Walker. March 27, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20160215160612/http://walker.wi.gov/newsroom/press-release/governor-scott-walker-releases-statement-passing-trooper-trevor-casper. February 15, 2016.

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