Cross: Anniversary of trooper's death a reminder of risks to law enforcement
Little more than 28 years ago, Oregon State Police Trooper Bret R. Clodfelter, 34, on September 30, 1992, stopped a car occupied by three intoxicated men near Klamath Falls. One of them was Francisco Manzo-Hernandez. Trooper Clodfelter arrested the driver of the car for DUII.
OSP Trooper Clodfelter, wanting to prevent Francisco Manzo-Hernandez or the other man from driving drunk, volunteered to drive the men home. The OSP Trooper frisked the two men before placing them in the back of his patrol car.
Tragically, Trooper Clodfelter missed a .38 caliber handgun Francisco Manzo-Hernandez had hidden on his person. Francisco Manzo-Hernandez shot Trooper Clodfelter twice in the back of the head. . .