There’s an expression often used to describe working in law enforcement: The job is 99% boredom and 1% sheer terror.

What this means is that while a New York state trooper is engaged in routine daily tasks — making traffic stops, writing tickets, answering non-emergency calls — something can, at any time, suddenly go sideways, turning a previously mundane moment into a potentially deadly one.

The unpredictable nature of the job is both a blessing and a curse. It’s what makes our profession exciting and fulfilling, offering the opportunity to truly help others and serve the community. But it also presents the possibility of significant and life-altering consequences.

Every day, troopers show up to work prepared to protect and serve regardless of the circumstances. A critical incident — o

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