From left to right: IACP Division of State & Provincial Police General Chair, Colonel Matthew Birmingham; Trooper John Winebrenner, Virginia State Police; Superintendent Jeffrey Katz, Virginia State Police; IACP President, Director David Rausch; Public Safety Specialist Lieutenant Colonel Alan Melvin (Ret.), Motorola Solutions

Each year the IACP and Motorola Solutions recognize state troopers and provincial police who have demonstrated bravery, courage, leadership, and professionalism. At the annual Division Midyear meeting, the IACP and Motorola Solutions honor four regional finalists and announce the IACP/Motorola Solutions Trooper of the Year. 

Motorola Solutions is proud to partner with the International Association of Chiefs of Police to honor the selfless work being done in police agencies every day around the world. Men and women in state and provincial police agencies know the situations they face can change in an instant, yet they continue to put their lives on the line to help keep their communities safe. Motorola Solutions humbly recognizes the brave efforts of our four finalists and the sacrifices made by all law enforcement.

On December 29, 2025, Trooper John Winebrenner received a BOLO from Virginia State Police (VSP) Dispatch for a vehicle that had previously fled from local law enforcement. During the earlier pursuit, a local officer crashed and lost sight of the suspect’s vehicle. The suspect, a convicted felon known to local law enforcement, was wanted for multiple firearms violations.

When Trooper Winebrenner located the suspect’s vehicle, he attempted a traffic stop. The suspect refused to stop, initiating a five‑minute pursuit that ended when Trooper Winebrenner performed a pursuit intervention technique (PIT), forcing the vehicle off the roadway. With his vehicle pinned between a fence and Trooper Winebrenner’s patrol vehicle, the suspect immediately opened fire from the driver’s seat.

Under heavy gunfire, Trooper Winebrenner exited his patrol vehicle and engaged the suspect with his service pistol. During the exchange, Trooper Winebrenner sustained a gunshot wound to his left arm and shrapnel injuries to his head and face. Despite these injuries, he continued to fight and employed the necessary force to stop the attack. The suspect succumbed to his injuries at the scene.

After the threat was stopped, Trooper Winebrenner applied a tourniquet to his arm and calmly notified VSP Dispatch, requesting emergency medical services. A few minutes later, local law enforcement officers arrived and transported him to a nearby hospital. 

The IACP/Motorola Solutions 2025 Trooper of the Year finalists were Trooper Kyle Knievel, South Dakota Highway Patrol; Trooper John Winebrenner, Virginia State Police; Trooper Adam Ellis, Kansas Highway Patrol; and Trooper Paul Thomas, Kentucky State Police. Their stories can be found on the IACP website.