Tomblin praises law enforcement officers
August 29, 2012 ·
Gov. Tomblin met with the family of the state trooper who was killed in the line of duty in Clay County.
Speaking to reporters at the capital this morning Tomblin recounted
the scene at a Charleston hospital.
“It was a very
difficult time as with any situation like this,” Tomblin said. “You know the words are hard to come by on
what you say to families who are grieving or who are scared who are facing a
situation like this. But I was deeply
moved by the amount of police officers, city, county, state police who were at
the hospital last night showing support for the families of the individuals who
were shot last night and showing support for each other.”
Two troopers
pulled over a suspect on Interstate 79 in Wallback. The suspect initiated gunfire and shot the
two troopers. One of them is reported to
be in serious condition. The suspect fled and was found by a deputy sheriff
from nearby RoaneCounty.
They exchanged gunfire and the suspect was killed.
The governor says
more details will be released at a news conference this afternoon.
“You know we
sometimes forget the valuable service that our police offer to the people of
the state of West Virginia. They are in there day in, day out 24 hours a
day doing what they do and that is protecting the rest of us so that we can do
what we do on a daily basis,” Tomblin said.
“The situation last night was very
unfortunate with two state troopers doing routine patrol work and got a call
and of course we all have heard bits and pieces to get us where we are today.”
The governor has ordered state flags at half
staff until further notice.