Nearly 89 years after a Michigan State Police trooper made the choice to be honest that led to his death, troopers across the state are being honored in his memory.

The Michigan State Police's newest award is named in honor of Cpl. Sam Mapes, "an early pioneer" in criminal patrol and investigation killed in the line of duty during the prohibition era, the state police said.

On May 1, 1927, Mapes, 33, was patrolling alone on east of Sturgis, when he stopped two suspicious westbound vehicles at the same time.

After speaking with one of the drivers, Mapes determined the vehicles were "rum running."

"It was obvious to the driver his load was going to be seized and he was going to be arrested, so he offered Corporal Mapes a bribe of $300 to let him go," Michigan State Police said in a news release.

Mapes refused and asked a passing motorist for assistance, police said.

"While asking the motorist to go to Sturgis and summon assistance to help bring in the vehicles, one of the suspects pulled a gun, walked up behind Corporal Mapes, fatally shot him, took his service weapon, and fled," police said.

Charles Coffey, a bootlegger, was sentenced to life in Southern Michigan Prison for shooting and killing Michigan State Police Corporal Sam Mapes during a traffic stop near Sturgis. MLive has a photo of the mugshot found in a scrapbook.

Police in Chicago arrested suspect Charles Coffey after an intense investigation, police chase, and rolling gun battle. He was returned to Michigan, tried, convicted, and sentenced to life in prison without parole, police said.

Award for proactive police

The MSP award recognizes members who excel in looking "past the traffic stop" to identify more serious crimes and for investigations closed with felony arrests.

The award, new for 2016, is not given for any single investigation, the state police said, but instead awarded to the top five percent of troopers in each district for their outstanding performance of duty and personal commitment to excellence in proactive criminal patrol and criminal investigations.

The 2016 Col. Sam Mapes award recipients and their MSP posts are:

First District

Trooper Don Pasternak, Brighton

Trooper Ray Matthews, Brighton

Trooper Tony Weldy, Jackson

Trooper Thomas Kill, Brighton

Trooper Dan Clise, Brighton

Trooper Ty Purdy, Brighton

Trooper Dan Verlin, Brighton

Trooper Jeffrey Duttlinger, Jackson

Trooper Lance Tedora, Monroe

Trooper David Williams, Lansing

Trooper Jeffery Schrieber, District Hometown Security Team



Second District

Trooper Matt Kiser, Metro

Trooper Chris Kurish, Metro

Trooper Travis Hop, Metro

Trooper Benjamin Sonstrom, Metro

Trooper Mandy Coy, Metro

Trooper Armin Harba, Metro

Trooper David Skeans, Metro

Trooper Tim Madison, Metro



Third District

Trooper Dan Richter, Flint

Trooper John Faucette II, Flint

Trooper Thomas Pinkerton, Flint

Trooper Nicholas Medina, Flint

Trooper Jason P. Coon, Flint

Trooper Bryant Greenert, Tri-City Post

Trooper Justin Kemerer, Tri-City Post

Trooper Jason E. Raymond, West Branch

Trooper Paige Kinneberg, Caro

Trooper Daniel Stickel, District Hometown Security Team

Trooper Aaron Locke, Lapeer



Fifth District

Trooper Todd Workman, Wayland

Trooper Keegan Riley, Marshall

Trooper Cameron K. Sweet, Niles

Trooper Ernest Felkers, Wayland

Trooper Matthew Berry, Marshall

Trooper James A. Janes, Niles

Trooper Benjamin A. Mahaffie, Niles

Trooper John C. Moore, District Hometown Security Team

Trooper Lena Wileczek, Paw Paw

Trooper Blaine Bachman, Wayland



Sixth District

Trooper Chris Boven, Rockford

Trooper Jordan Lohman, Rockford

Trooper Andrew Wilson, Mt. Pleasant

Trooper Brock Benavides, Mt. Pleasant

Trooper Blake Bitner, Mt. Pleasant

Trooper Ben Stadler, Lakeview

Trooper Ryan Akers, Rockford

Trooper Ryan Maki, Lakeview

Trooper Jeff Hammond, Hart

Seventh District

Trooper Marc R. Moore, Cadillac

Trooper Rick E. Pearson, Cadillac

Trooper Jeffrey Mercer, Gaylord

Trooper Anthony Utt, Alpena

Trooper Michael A. Wilt, Houghton Lake



Eighth District

Trooper Jeremy Cleary, Calumet

Trooper John Janicki, St. Ignace

Trooper William Crisp, Negaunee

Trooper Kevin Ryan, Negaunee

Trooper Thomas Nolan, Negaunee

Trooper Paul Ferraro, St. Ignace

Trooper Scott A. Ritsema, Iron Mountain

Trooper Joshua Filz, Wakefield

Trooper James Maki, Gladstone

Trooper Joseph LeBlanc, Sault Ste. Marie

The state police looked at data of each trooper's activity while at work to determine the awards, Michigan State Police Special Lt. David Kaiser said, calling them "the best of the best."

Awarded troopers attended an awards ceremony at the Michigan State Police Training Academy Thursday, Jan. 28.

"You have to lead the post," Kaiser said, calling those awarded "very steady."

Speaking about the possibility of being killed on the job, Kaiser said being a police officer is one of the only professions he knows where its ranks come to work not knowing if they will save a life, take a life or give their life.

The honesty Mapes displayed was important for his fellow troopers and the department, the state police said.

"During prohibition, public corruption was rampant and there was low public regard for police officers," the state police said. "Corporal Mapes' refusal to accept a bribe, at the cost of his own life, significantly improved our department's image."

Mapes was the seventh Michigan trooper to die in the line of duty, and was awarded a Citation of Valor for his actions and integrity.