NEWS ALERT

For further information please contact: Capt. J. Tim Hull
(573) 526-6115
Q6083
June 11, 2008

EMPHASIS: Sgt. Benjamin Oliver Booth Honored

Colonel James F. Keathley, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, announces the Officer Of The Year award is being renamed the Benjamin Oliver Booth Officer Of The Year award. Renaming this important award is a way to honor Sgt. Booth, who was the first trooper killed in the line of duty.

June 14, 2008 is the 75th anniversary of Sgt. Booth’s death. He was murdered near Columbia, Missouri, at the intersection of U.S. Highway 63 and U.S. Highway 40 only a few blocks from his residence. The area is now old U.S. 40 and Rangeline Road in the city of Columbia. On June 14, 1933, Sgt. Booth was enjoying his day off, spending time with his wife and children, Wesley and Owanna. He was called to work on his day off to man a roadblock following a bank robbery in Mexico, Missouri. Sgt. Booth and Boone County Sheriff Roger Wilson approached a vehicle matching the description given of the robbery suspects. Sheriff Wilson was shot through the windshield; Sgt. Booth was shot while struggling with the passenger. Both men made the ultimate sacrifice that day.

To mark the 75th anniversary, a special, memorial event will begin at 2 p.m. on Friday, June 13, 2008, at the Boone County Sheriff’s Department, 2121 County Drive, Columbia, Missouri. The event --which will include a gathering, introductions, a narrative of the events from June 14, 1933, a visit to the scene of the shootings, and the placement of a wreath on Sgt. Booth’s grave at Memorial Park Cemetery on West Blvd. in Columbia, Missouri--is being hosted by the Missouri State Troopers Association.

Members of the media are invited to attend.