HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 8
(By Mr. Speaker, Mr. Kiss, and Delegates Martin,
Proudfoot, Campbell and Willis)
Expressing sorrow at the death of West Virginia State Trooper
Douglas Wayne Bland, and extending condolences to his
family.
whereas, On Monday, January 18, 1999, at 7:28 p.m., West
Virginia State Trooper Douglas Wayne Bland was dispatched to a
vehicle accident; and
whereas, Senior Trooper Douglas Wayne Bland did not arrive at
the dispatched call, his blue and gold cruiser having been found
approximately six miles from Marlinton, upside down in Knapps
Creek; and
whereas, Senior Trooper Douglas Wayne Bland was dedicated to
the citizens of the State of West Virginia, to the West Virginia
State Police and to his family, bravely and willingly serving and
protecting those citizens and his family, often at great personal
risk to himself; and
whereas, In the performance of his duties, Senior Trooper
Douglas Wayne Bland made the supreme sacrifice, he gave his life in the service of the State of West Virginia, and in the
protection of its citizens; and
whereas, Senior Trooper Douglas Wayne Bland, merely twenty-
six years of age, was a three-year veteran of the West Virginia
State Police, assigned to the Marlinton detachment; and
whereas, Senior Trooper Douglas Wayne Bland, known as "Wayne"
to his family and friends, graduated from the West Virginia State
Police Academy in March, 1996, as a member of the 44th Cadet- Trooper Class and was married to Colette Bland; and
whereas, Wayne Bland's life was tragically cut short while he
was serving the citizens of this State, when he was en route to
render aid and assistance to a motor vehicle accident; therefore,
be it
Resolved by the House of Delegates of West Virginia:
That the House of Delegates express its grief and sorrow
over the loss of Douglas Wayne Bland as one of the citizens of
the State of West Virginia, the loss of Senior Trooper Douglas
Wayne Bland to the ranks of the West Virginia State Police, and
the loss of Wayne Bland to his family and friends; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the House of Delegates recognize the
courageous and dedicated service of Senior Trooper Douglas Wayne
Bland to the citizens of this State, and that he unselfishly gave
his young life in the performance of his duties and in service to the State of West Virginia; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the House of Delegates hereby extends
sympathy and heartfelt condolences to Colette Bland, the family
of Senior Trooper Douglas Wayne Bland and to the friends of
Douglas Wayne Bland; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the House of Delegates, the West
Virginia State Police and the citizens of West Virginia all share
in the loss of the family and friends of Douglas Wayne Bland;
and, be it
Further Resolved, That Senior Trooper Douglas Wayne Bland
will be sadly missed by the citizens of the State of West
Virginia and that his meritorious and unselfish service to the
people of this State is a shining example to us all; and, be it:
Further Resolved, the citizens of the State of West Virginia
are proud of Douglas Wayne Bland, of his courage, of his
unselfish service to this State and of the fine example he set;
and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates
prepare a certified copy of this resolution for the family of
Douglas Wayne Bland.