 |
||||||||
 |
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
Man who saved 12 children named Trooper of the Year
By CHAUNDRA PERKINS One day last year, Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Andy Maurer was headed to a routine traffic accident when he spotted a plume of black smoke. It was a burning day care center. He arrived to find the center's caretaker running across the street screaming and clutching some children. More children were running out of the building behind her "like ants on a road," he recalled. He radioed the Fire Department and then rushed into the burning building. He saved 12 children that day. "It happened kind of quick. I didn't even think about it," said the Brandon High School graduate. His actions that day have made him Florida Highway Patrol Trooper of the Year. At 27, he is the youngest trooper to receive the honor. "He's just a wonderful man, I'm so proud of him" said his mom, Nancy Miller of New Port Richey. Maurer's family moved to Brandon from Tennessee in 1987 and has been in the Tampa Bay area ever since. Maurer's father was an agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms in Tampa until his death in 1995. Mike Maurer Sr. inspired both Maurer and his older brother, Mike Jr., to get involved in law enforcement. His brother was an officer with the Tallahassee Police Department until he became an investigator. "Law enforcement is kind of like a family tradition," Maurer said. "I always admired my dad and when he died that made it clear." Maurer went to Hillsborough Community College and then the police academy in Tallahassee. There, he said, someone told him, "You look like a trooper." "I never thought I was going to be a trooper," he said. At the time he thought the job consisted of traveling up and down the road writing tickets. However, Maurer did attend the FHP academy, became a trooper and was assigned to Troop D, Orlando. After four years he can say, "It's much more than traffic." "Here I am and I love it," he said. "I have no regrets. I know that I'm in the right career." "We're all proud of him here," said Sgt. Joseph Saucedo, who works closely with Maurer. "I think I was just doing my job," said Maurer. "Sometimes we are called to do things that are not in the textbook." Lt. Chuck Williams said Maurer is "a very conscientious trooper, one of those that jumps out at you, he's really competent and a joy to work with. "He commands the respect of his peers too. He's one of the informal leaders by the way he carries himself and the way he does his job." The governor will recognize Maurer next month in Tallahassee at an award ceremony. "I'm pretty excited, actually I'm very excited," he said. "I think I was doing my job, but I certainly appreciate recognition."
 © 2006 • All Rights Reserved • Tampa Bay Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111 
|
From today's Pasco Times |
