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END OF WATCH
J.J. was forty-three, and an eleven year veteran of the Michigan State Police when he died that Wednesday morning on April 6, 2011. At approximately 1:30 a.m. Saginaw County Sheriff Department initiated a traffic stop in a rural area of their County for an equipment violation and the driver fled. A lengthy pursuit followed and J.J. responded from the Village of Birch Run to assist them.
In route on a rural stretch of Birch Run Rd. a half mile west of Morrish Rd. J.J. lost control of his cruiser leaving the roadway and rolling it several times. The subsequent investigation determined that he wasn’t belted and had been traveling in excess of 110 mph when he attempted to avoid something in the roadway. The cruiser thereafter rolled twice before colliding with a fire hydrant that struck J.J. in the head resulting in his death.
The Saginaw County Sheriff Department did apprehend the driver of the car that had fled prior to being made aware of the accident. The driver fled because he was in possession of a small amount of Marijuana and had a suspended license. The driver has been charged with first-degree fleeing from a police officer resulting in (Jeff’s) death. Upon conviction he’ll face up too fifteen years imprisonment.
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JEFF'S OBITUARY
WERDA, Trooper Jeffrey J., "Werda" - age 43, of Gladwin, Michigan, passed away suddenly on Wednesday, April 6, 2011. He was born on February 1, 1968 in Alpena, Michigan to James and Sharon (Keen) Werda. He was a Veteran of the United States Army, serving in Desert Storm, and was employed as a Michigan State Trooper at the Bridgeport Post. He married Tammy Darrow on September 25, 1999 in Davison, Michigan. Jeff was a member of the Alpena V.F.W. Post #3890, F.O.E. Davison Aerie 3589 as well as the Michigan State Police Troopers Association. He is survived by his wife, Tammy Werda of Gladwin; daughter, McKenzie Werda of Gladwin; sons, Jacob Werda of Davison and Zach Morrison of Gladwin; parents, John and Sharon Rogers of Davison; in-laws, Pat Sr. and Suzanne Darrow of Mackinaw City; brothers: Todd Werda of Davison, James Werda of Burton, Ricky (Amy) Erickson of Davison, David (Andrea) Rogers of Bay Port, Woody Clark of Hale; sister, Melissa Rogers of Davison; brother: Jack Rogers of Davison; sister, Tammy Rogers also of Davison; brothers-in-law: Trooper Mike (Leslie) Darrow of Bay City and Trooper Pat Jr. (Stacy) Darrow of Saginaw; sister-in-law, Dawn Pardee of Otisville; and several nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins. Funeral services will be conducted on Saturday, April 9, 2011, 11:00 a.m. with visitation beginning at 9:00 a.m. at the Gladwin High School, Gladwin, Michigan. Visitation will be held on Friday, April 8, 2011 from 12:00 noon until 9:00 p.m. at Hall-Kokotovich Funeral Home, Gladwin, Michigan. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the family.
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