Cops on Top is proud to announce that the honoree of the 2010 Denali Memorial Expedition will be Trooper Michael Haynes of the Montana Highway Patrol. Trooper Haynes was serving the citizens of Montana on March 23, 2009 when he was severely injured in a tragic automobile accident involving a
drink driver. Five days later, on March 27th, Trooper Haynes succumbed to his injuries and became the 7th Montana Trooper to be killed in the line of duty. He leaves behind a wife and two children. Cops on Top is honored to climb Denali in his memory.
At 20,320 feet, Denali is not only the tallest mountain in the United States but is also one of the worlds "Seven Summits" as it is the tallest mountain on the North American Continent. Known by its Athabascan name meaning "The Great One", Denali represents a significant undertaking for the Cops on Top team and constitutes an excellent opportunity to honor the memory and sacrifice of Trooper Haynes and his dedication to the protection of the State of Montana.
The expedition team will establish several camps as they climb Denali's West Buttress Route towards the summit. Along the way, the team will carry with them a memorial plaque honoring Trooper Haynes. They will post audio blogs on the Cops on Top website, sharing current mountain conditions, team progress, and leaving messages honoring Trooper Haynes. The team is also privileged to be on Denali's snowy slopes during National Police Week and will celebrate National Peace Officers Memorial Day on May 15th!
The expedition team is deeply honored to climb Denali on behalf of Trooper Haynes and would like to thank the Haynes family and his collective family at the Montana Highway Patrol for their support.
Please check back soon for more updates and trip information.
Cops on Top is also accepting sponsorship proposals to assist with the expenses associated with carrying out the expedition and honoring the nominated officer(s). Interested sponsors may also contact the
Cops on Top Board of Directors. Cops on Top is a registered 501 (c) 3 Organization and all donations are tax deductible.
A complete itinerary of the expedition can be found by clicking (
here).
WE WILL NEVER FORGET!
The Expedition Team:
Listed below are the 2010 Cops on Top Denali Memorial Expedition team members.
Click (here) for team member bio's!
| Troy Bacon |
Lieutenant, Frankfort Police Dept. |
Expedition Leader |
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Frankfort, Indiana |
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| Steve Janke |
Firefighter, US Forest Service |
Expedition Manager |
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Ashley N.F., Utah |
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| Josh Wiseman |
Officer, Portland Maine Police Dept |
Expedition Climber |
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Portland, Maine |
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| Nelson Grant |
Deputy, Flathead County S.O. |
Expedition Climber |
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Kalispell, Montana |
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| Caleb Pleasants |
Deputy, Flathead County S.O. |
Expedition Climber |
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Kalispell, Montana |
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| Timothy Wenthe |
Officer, Montana State University P.D. |
Expedition Climber |
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Bozman, Montana |
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The Expedition SPONSORS:
The ten most-recent updates are shown below. Click on each headline to access the audio reports. All of the 2009 expedition teams' updates can be found at this link and photos from teams providing them can be found here.
What Cops on Top is All About
C
ops on Top has a strong commitment to provide tangible aid for the grieving and healing process of those who have lost a beloved officer, to support organizations dedicated to this cause, and to project a positive image of law enforcement officers. We honor, and raise awareness, for police officers who have been killed while protecting and serving their communities.
Cops on Top plans annual climbing expeditions to the world's most respected mountains. The purpose is to bring to the public's attention the dangers, stress and life-altering effects on the average police officer. A fallen officer's memory serves as our banner and a memorial is placed on each summit attempted.
The Cops on Top team is comprised of volunteer climbers, largely self-funded law enforcement officers. Volunteers are welcome to contact
Cops on Top. The fallen officers on whose behalf the climbs are undertaken are nominated by family, friends, and law enforcement organizations.
The Origin of Cops on Top
Cops on Top was founded by Captain Keith McPheeters of the Farmington New Mexico Police Department. In 1998, Captain McPheeters was a member of that agencies Special Response Team searching for the killers of Cortez Colorado Police Officer Dale Claxton. The manhunt was the largest of its kind in American history and conducted in the remote Southwestern United States Four-Corners region of Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona. During those months, McPheeters reflected on of the nature of his occupation, the public's perception of a police officer's work, and the effect such a loss has on an officer's survivors. From these thoughts, the concept of Cops on Top took form.
Your Support is Appreciated
Cops on Top maintains the highest integrity with respects to all fiscal and financial matters of the team. All sponsorships, donations, receipts, and disbursements are recorded and reported. All donations under the Cops on Top name should be made directly to the organization. If you have
any questions about making donations or if you question the purpose of any person who has solicited your donation and wish to confirm its validity,
please contact us.
Cops on Top graciously accepts sponsorships and donations for equipment and provisions for the climbing team, as well as for the aid of officers fallen in the line of duty. If you would like to support this noble cause, contact the team directly and indicate if you wish to aid the team or the team'scause. Also, Cops on Top highly recommends supporting
Concerns of Police Survivors, Inc. (COPS).