COPS ON TOP RETURNS TO DENALI

Sergeant Keith McPheeters, of the Farmington New Mexico Police Department, lead this expedition to Denali, the native name for Mount McKinley in Alaska.  Denali is North America's Highest Peak at 20,320 feet (6,194m).  This is the third in an annual series of expeditions with the purpose to honor police officers killed in the line of duty and promote support for their survivors.

This Memorial Climbing Expedition is in honor of Washington State Patrol Trooper James E. Saunders.  On the evening of 7 October 1999, Trooper Saunders was shot and killed after making a traffic stop on a pickup truck. He had radioed into dispatchers with a description of the truck and the license plate. Within one minute of that call, a citizen called dispatchers using Saunders' radio saying the trooper had been shot. Trooper Saunders was pronounced dead at the scene. He is the first officer with his agency to be shot and killed in the line of duty since 1972. He was 31 years old, had been with the agency for seven years and was survived by his expectant wife and infant daughter.

The suspect, Nicolas Solorio Vasquez,  was arrested the day following the incident and charged with aggravated first-degree homicide.  Vasquez was previously convicted of multiple drug-related charges and was to stand trial for another at the time of the shooting.

 

A strong expedition team was assembled for the successful return to Denali in June 2001 to honor the memory of Trooper Saunders.  The team carried with them them this memorial plaque and other personal items on behalf of the Saunders Family.

About the Expedition:

The team reached the summit!!  Click on Expedition Progress Updates to follow the events of the team on the mountain.  Also, a Expedition Photo Gallery is now available.

Cops on Top 2001 took an approach similar to their expedition in 1999.  For a full description of that expedition as well, please follow the link to the 1999 Denali Expedition.

For both the 2001 and 1999 expeditions, there is a diary of transmissions from the mountain, a photo gallery, published news accounts, and team member biographies.  Also, you'll find a complete reference of the climbing itinerary, equipment list, meal menu and facts about Denali.

 

The Expedition Team: 

         Click the names below for team member biographies

The Expedition SPONSORS: 

         Visit our Sponsors & Contributors page for a complete list

	Quest Outdoors 128 Breckenridge Lane Louisville, Kentucky  40207 (502)895-9469	GU Sports www.gusports.com
St Matthews  Fraternal Order  of Police	Osprey Packs
	Blue Jet, Inc. 700 East Murray Drive Farmington, NM  87401	Washington State Patrol  Memorial Foundation www.worldaccessnet.com/~wspmf/