Fallen trooper mourned
By Jill Gosche, jgosche@advertiser-tribune.comArticle Photos
CAREY - Family, friends and law enforcement colleagues gathered in Basilica of Our Lady of Consolation on Monday to mourn the death of a State Highway Patrol trooper killed in the line of duty.
About 500 officers attended the funeral for Andrew C. Baldridge, 25, of Carey. He died Thursday evening in a single-vehicle crash west of Carey in Wyandot County.
Judy Jenot, a Carey resident and member of the parish, followed Baldridge throughout his career. She said he never bragged and always said "yes, ma'am," or "no, ma'am."
"That kid was born to be a patrolman," she said.
Streets around the shrine were crowded with law enforcement vehicles from departments nearby and others from farther away. Representatives from state police departments in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri and Pennsylvania traveled to Carey.
At the conclusion of the funeral about 12:15 p.m., State Highway Patrol personnel formed 12 rows, six on each side, starting at the top of the national shrine's staircase and stretching on to the sidewalk below. Other law enforcement officers stood on the street in front of the church.
A church bell tolled. The officers stood silently. They saluted as pall bearers carried Baldridge's flag-draped casket to a hearse parked in front of the shrine.
The bells chimed faster as people, some wearing Carey High School letterman jackets or blue ribbons, came from the church and officers went to their cars for the procession.
The procession traveled on Clay Street to Vance Street on its way to St. Mary's Cemetery. Cruisers traveled with their lights flashing. Officers monitoring traffic along the route saluted as the procession passed.
Flags in the village flew at half-staff Monday morning. Friday, Gov. Ted Strickland ordered flags on public buildings and grounds be flown at half-staff through sunset Monday.
According to the program for Baldridge's funeral, Strickland and Col. David W. Dicken, the State Highway Patrol's superintendent, were to deliver tributes.
In a statement on his Web site, Strickland said he had the opportunity to hear Baldridge speak at his cadet graduation, and he was impressed by Baldridge's sincerity and thoughtfulness.
"On behalf of the people of Ohio I would like to offer my sincerest condolences and heartfelt prayers to the Baldridge family, and all those whose lives were touched by Trooper Andrew C. Baldridge of the Ohio State Highway Patrol," he said.
"Every day, throughout the State of Ohio, our dedicated law enforcement officers put themselves at risk to keep their fellow citizens safe. We remember the courageous men and women who have lost their lives protecting us, and we honor all those who wear the badge and keep the peace."
In a release Thursday, Dicken said the crash is a tragedy for the patrol, the Department of Public Safety, Baldridge's family and all who knew and worked with him.
"Our prayers go out to him and his family tonight, as well as to Trooper McLaughlin and his family," he said.
Thursday's crash occurred when Baldridge and a passenger, Trooper Mark McLaughlin, 33, were responding to a mutual aid call from a Wyandot County Sheriff's Office deputy. They were traveling in a Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor southbound on TR 95, and the car went off the right side of the road and rolled, according to a State Highway Patrol release.
A helicopter transported McLaughlin, Baldridge's training officer, to Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center. He was released the next day, a State Highway Patrol spokeswoman said.
Baldridge had worked for the State Highway Patrol since May 13, 2009, and graduated Dec. 16, 2009, in the 149th patrol academy class.
He graduated in 2006 from the University of Findlay with a degree in criminal justice and business administration and served with the Wyandot County Sheriff's Auxiliary.
Baldridge graduated in 2003 from Carey High School. He wore No. 77 and was a starting offensive lineman on the football team. He wore No. 14 on the basketball team and was a thrower for the track team.
Baldridge's father is a coach, and his mother is an elementary school aide for the Carey Exempted Village School District.
Peter Cole, principal at Carey High School, said Baldridge volunteered to help the track team and record statistics for the football team.
Cole, who attended Baldridge's funeral, described Baldridge as a hero and said he was friendly to everyone and always willing to help. Baldridge was a role model, he said.
Nancy Kessler, whose husband assisted Baldridge's father coach, described Baldridge as quiet but friendly. He was respectful and had an ornery sense of humor, she said.
"He was determined, focused," Jenot said.
