At a special ceremony held in Lansing, Michigan State Police (MSP) Director Col. Kriste Kibbey Etue presented Tpr. Jeffery Rodgers, Tpr. Timothy Roberts and Tpr. Troy Szukhent of the Flint Post with the MSP Bravery Award for their diligence and perseverance under uncommon circumstances and for going beyond what is typically expected of most law enforcement officers.
On April 17, 2013, while on directed patrol in the city of Flint, Szukhent was involved in a vehicle pursuit of a car theft suspect. After crashing the stolen vehicle, the suspect exited and opened fire at Szukhent. The trooper notified dispatch of his actions and pursued the suspect on foot into a junk yard. Szukhent made verbal demands for the suspect to lay down, but the subject ignored his commands and instead turned toward Szukhent and again fired at him.
As the subject continued to fire at him, Szukhent took cover behind two salvaged vehicles. Szukhent returned fire, causing the subject to disappear behind a nearby building.
By this time, additional officers, including Tpr. Jeffrey Rodgers and Tpr. Timothy Roberts, entered the yard positioning themselves near a door of the building where the suspect had taken cover.
With gunfire still being heard, Rodgers and a Flint Police Department officer attempted to breach a hole through the fence to enter the junk yard. As they started to free the sheet metal from the fence post, gun fire erupted narrowly missing Rodgers. Still under fire, Roberts immediately left his position, entering into the line of fire to assist Rodgers by pulling him toward the building for cover. After a brief gun fight between the suspect and the officers, the subject was observed to be fatally wounded.
In awarding the department’s Bravery Award, the Board of Awards recognizes the extreme and dangerous circumstances these troopers were under while responding to this incident.
Szukhent enlisted with the department in 1990, graduating as a member of the 107th Trooper Recruit School. Prior to serving at the Flint Post, Szukhent was assigned to the Ionia and Lansing posts.
Rodgers enlisted with the department in 2008, graduating as a member of the 121st Trooper Recruit School. Prior to serving at the Flint Post, Rodgers was assigned to the Metro, Groveland and Caro posts.
Roberts enlisted with the department in 2012, graduating as a member of the 124th Trooper Recruit School. Roberts has served at the Flint Post since graduation.
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