IACP and Motorola Solutions Name Master Trooper Toni Schuck as Trooper of the Year
“We would like to extend our deepest appreciation and commendation to the state troopers and provincial police who have shown immense bravery and selflessness in the face of danger to protect and serve their community”, said John Zidar, senior vice president, North America Government, Motorola Solutions. “It is with great honor that Motorola Solutions has partnered with the International Association of Chiefs of Police to recognize these finalists for their extraordinary acts of heroism. We honor these troopers for their bravery and celebrate their unwavering dedication to public service. Motorola Solutions is forever grateful for their service and the invaluable contributions they make toward ensuring a safer and more secure society for all."
On the morning of March 6, 2022, Master Trooper Toni Schuck of the Florida Highway Patrol, was assigned to provide traffic control and security for the Armed Forces Family Skyway 10K. Master Trooper Schuck and a team of troopers were responsible for protecting approximately 8,000 runners who would be crossing the northbound span of the iconic Sunshine Skyway Bridge.
To keep runners safe, troopers shut down Interstate 275. Master Trooper Schuck positioned herself at one of the nearby rest stops. Just before 9:00 AM, officers stationed south of Master Trooper Schuck had reported a vehicle had driven through barricades and traffic cones at an estimated speed of 100 miles per hour. All previous efforts to overtake and stop the erratic driver were unsuccessful. The driver continued northbound on I-275, at a high rate of speed and refused to stop as she neared the starting line of the race where thousands of runners were located. Realizing that nothing stood between the dangerous driver and the unsuspecting runners, Master Trooper Schuck maneuvered her Florida Highway Patrol Chevrolet Tahoe directly into the driver’s pathway. With less than a half mile between Master Trooper Schuck and the runners, the vehicle collided head-on with Master Trooper Schuck, ending the threat to the runners, and leading to the DUI arrest of the driver who was determined to be heavily impaired.
Acting with bravery and selflessness, Master Trooper Schuck was able to stop a reckless driver from colliding with thousands of civilians, avoiding the potential for multiple injuries.
The IACP/Motorola Solutions Trooper of the Year finalists were Lieutenant Jeremy Vaughan, New Mexico State Police, Trooper Jonnie Schooley, Pennsylvania State Police, Trooper Adam Shipley, Missouri State Highway Patrol, and Master Trooper Toni Schuck, Florida Highway Patrol. Their stories can be found on the IACP website.