The tight-knit family that is the West Virginia State Police is thinking about its members that continue to hurt following the shooting deaths of two troopers nearly three months ago.
Corporal Marshall Bailey, 42, of Poca and Trooper Eric Workman, 26, of Clay County, were shot following a traffic stop in Roane County on August 28th. Bailey died at the scene, Workman died a few days later in the hospital.
State Police spokesman 1st Sgt. Mike Baylous says troopers continue to check on both the Bailey and Workman families to see how they can help them.
“Many of the troopers were already close to their families before this incident happened,” Baylous said.
The deaths of the two men, who were both “firm believers in Christ” according to Baylous, continue to have an impact on the State Police.
“In their deaths they have reached so many people and we may never be able to figure out how many people they’ve reached,” Baylous said. “They may have reached more people in their deaths than most people reach in a lifetime.”
Baylous says the public support has been overwhelming. He says cards continue to come in to the State Police showing support.
“The response from this was just overwhelming. Not only from law enforcement but from the general public,” Baylous said. “So many people have donated from to funds we had set up for them.”