St. Joseph Police Department remembers fallen officer

October 14, 2011|By Clifton French (cfrench@wsbt.com), Click here to follow Clifton on Twitter | By Clifton French (cfrench@wsbt.com), Click here to follow Clifton on Twitter

ST. JOSEPH, Mich. – A Grand Rapids-area police officer who died in the line of duty yesterday started his career in St. Joseph. Today, that department is honoring him with black bands over their badges.

Officer Trevor Slot was killed when two suspected bank robbers ran over him while he was trying to put down stop sticks.

Slot was a court officer for the town of Walker, Michigan, but had worked for the St. Joseph Police Department in the mid-90s. Even though it has been 15 years since Slot was an officer there, many in the department feel as if they lost one of their own.

"We were blessed to have Trevor for about two years about the beginning of his career," Officer Deniece Fisher said.

Fisher has been with the St. Joseph Police Department since 1988. She's seen officers come and go, but she still remembers a young Trevor Slot just starting his career.

"Trevor was just one of those really nice, laid back guys, he always had fun in life, he was always just fun to have around, we're just really going to miss Trevor," Fisher said, "You always get asked about those officers that care about people and give them a ride home and make sure that they're safe, we lost one of those."

It's a characteristic Slot carried with him throughout his career. In the Walker Police Department, where a memorial of pictures and flowers continues to grow, one man brought in flowers just to say thank you.

"I didn't know Trevor Slot that much, but a couple of months ago I was going through some rough times,” said Zach Denny. “I came here to tell them everything I did, he said, 'Sounds like you changed, so I can't really do anything about it,' he then hooked me up with a youth group. I never got back to Trevor and thanking him for getting me hooked up with the youth group. I just wanted to bring flowers here."

Slot leaves behind a wife and two daughters.

The two men who are suspected of killing Slot were later shot to death in a stand-off with officers.

The suspects have been identified as 36-year-old Kristopher Cheyne and 32-year-old Derryl Lafave of Wyoming.

A Michigan State Trooper said during a news conference he believes they hit Slot on purpose.

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