From July 18, 1977, I was out writing tickets trying to impress upon the public the need to slow down and be safe in their driving so they can get home safely. – Martin Luther Turner III
MURRAY — He served on the Utah Highway Patrol for more than 34 years, now trooper Martin Luther Turner III, the longest-serving trooper in the state, is retiring.
A special retirement party was held for Turner Thursday, but summing up more than three decades of experience is no easy task. Plenty of his colleagues tried, while Turner just smiled.
“It’s extremely humbling to hear the comments that were made about our relationship over all these years,” he said.
To understand how long he’s been on the force, you just need to look at his badge number. Badge No. 1 is the governor, badges 2 through 10 are the lieutenant governor and commissioners. Turner is badge number 11.
Some co-workers talked about how strict he was with new troopers and how he used a red pen to fix their police reports. Turner said he couldn’t stand laziness.
“People cut corners, trying to get something accomplished or do something in a wrong manner,” he said. “It’s so much easier just to do it right.”
Computers and technology changed the job during his career, but the basics, he said, are still the same.
"From July 18, 1977, I was out writing tickets trying to impress upon the public the need to slow down and be safe in their driving so they can get home safely," he said.
On his last patrol, he pulled over seven drivers, even caught a DUI this past weekend. His colleagues say his work ethic will be missed.
"He's absolutely one of the people that's made up what this organization is all about,” Maj. Michael Rapich said. “He's seen change the rest of us can just read about."
Turner served the past year in southern Utah, where he now lives, but his first 33½ years were all in Salt Lake County.
He also served several tours in Vietnam, where he was shot down in a helicopter more than once and earned medals like the Purple Heart and the Medal of Valor.
But through it all, he was just happy to be a Utah trooper.
Turner now has a house in the St. George area and plans on doing as much as he can there now with his family.
"I wore out a pair of hiking boots already down there,” he said, “so I'm just going to enjoy the sites down there, and I don't have anything huge planned at this time."
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