New York State Troopers PBA

06/05/2026

NYSTPBA President Charles W. Murphy sent the following message to members this afternoon:

Dear Members,

You no doubt saw the news that former Trooper Christopher Baldner received a sentence this week of 2.5 to 7.5 years in prison in connection with a high-speed chase on the Thruway in 2020 that resulted in the tragic death of 11-year-old Monica Goods.

We are deeply disappointed and angered by not only the sentence imposed, but the process that brought former Trooper Baldner to this point. As you will recall, he was tried not once, but twice, after being acquitted last year on two of the three charges he faced.

The state attorney general moved to retry former Trooper Baldner on the remaining manslaughter charge, on which the jury had deadlocked, after taking almost no time to process the fact that the judge declared a mistrial.

The attorney general also did so even though it was abundantly clear that the reckless and illegal actions by Monica Goods’ father, Tristin Goods, played a central role in the circumstances leading to her death.

As NYSTPBA representatives in the courtroom reported, the judge himself noted this fact during this week’s sentencing hearing. Yet inexplicably, Mr. Goods was never charged.

When the official sentencing transcript is released, it will make clear the judge’s disbelief that the man whose illegal and irresponsible actions contributed to his daughter's death – including speeding away from a legal traffic stop and failing to ensure she was wearing a seatbelt – did not result in charges against him.

Serious questions remain about why Mr. Goods was not charged and who made that decision. We intend to aggressively pursue answers to these questions.

We strongly believe that the verdict against former Trooper Baldner will have a chilling effect on law enforcement officers who must make split-second decisions while performing an incredibly difficult job. Troopers must have the support and training necessary to ensure they can fulfill their responsibility to protect and serve New Yorkers as safely as possible.

As we have said publicly on several occasions, we will continue to support former Trooper Baldner as he considers his legal options. And we will continue to keep you informed as this situation develops.

05/23/2026

ICYMI This was a hard fought and significant victory for the NYSTPBA that hopefully will create a blueprint for law enforcement agencies across NYS and the nation to ensure those who experience the trauma of a critical incident have the time off they need to process, recover, and prioritize their mental health.

05/18/2026

Remembering those who bravely rushed into danger on 9/11 when others were headed in the opposite direction and paid the ultimate price as a result. These names were read aloud last week on the National Mall. We were proud and humbled to participate in this important event. https://odmp.org

05/11/2026

It's National Police Week, recognizing & remembering those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty and support all law enforcement officers. We're sending a delegation to D.C. for the 38th Annual Candlelight Vigil in honor of the fallen.
https://nleomf.org/memorial/programs/national-police-week-2026/

03/31/2026

Our NYST PBA chaplain, Rabbi Abe Friedman, addressed all our state delegates and leadership this week at the union's Albany headquarters ahead of the Passover holiday, which starts at sundown TOMORROW night.

Strong partnerships with faith leaders are essential to building safer communities.

Troopers across the state will be providing additional patrols and outreach throughout the holiday period to help ensure a safe and peaceful Passover for all.

Chag Sameach to those who celebrate!

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03/02/2026

Congratulations to State Trooper Surgeons Director of Medical Operations Virginia Kolner, who was honored last week with the Heart Hero award from Westchester Medical Center Health Network, in recognition of her significant contributions to cardiovascular care and the health and safety of our members.

Members of law enforcement are at significantly higher risk of heart attack than the general public because of the stressful nature of our work. Virginia’s efforts to create a partnership between Westchester Medical Center and the Trooper Surgeons to offer cardiac screenings for our members is just one example of her tireless dedication to expanding access to high-quality health care for our Troopers and their immediate family members through the Trooper Surgeons program.

Learn more about the Trooper Surgeons program here: https://pbadoc.org/

Please join us in congratulating Virginia for this honor and thank her for her dedication to serving our members and their families 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

01/20/2026

This nation-leading initiative will undoubtedly save lives. It should serve as a blueprint for law enforcement agencies around NYS and the nation. Thank you to those who stood with us and pushed for Troopers to be able to access the support they require to return to work safely and protect and serve.

01/16/2026

ICYMI: The union is running billboards in Albany leading to the state Capitol and in the governor's hometown of Buffalo. They remind the governor to keep her promise and protect the mental health of the Troopers who protect all New Yorkers by establishing a first-in-the-nation critical incident leave policy. We were encouraged that this issue was included in the State of the State book and we look forward to seeing it in the executive budget proposal next week.

12/29/2025

On this day, Trooper James Gohery died in the line of duty.

The Officer Down Memorial Page (ODMP) is dedicated to remembering all law enforcement officers who have fallen in the line of duty.

12/24/2025

On this day, Trooper Michael O'Donnell died in the line of duty.

Trooper Michael R. O'Donnell, 72, died on December 24, 2020, as a result of cancer stemming from his assignment to the World Trade Center site following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.