Body Of Fallen FHP Trooper Escorted To Sarasota

SARASOTA, FL — A procession of law enforcement vehicles escorted the body of fallen Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Joseph Bullock Friday from the St. Lucie County Medical Examiner’s Office in Fort Pierce to Sarasota.

The 19-year veteran of the Florida Highway Patrol was shot and killed Wednesday after he stopped to assist a disabled vehicle along the northbound lanes of Interstate 95 in Martin County, about 40 miles north of West Palm Beach.

The funeral for Trooper Bullock is scheduled to take place at 11 a.m. Feb. 13 at the Bayside Community Church, according to Robert Toale and Sons Funeral Home at Palms Memorial Park in Sarasota. The church is located at 15800 State Road 64 in Bradenton.

A passing Riviera Beach police officer who witnessed the shooting shot and killed the gunman, according to Col. Gene Spaulding, director of the agency.

The 42-year-old trooper had trained and mentored a number of new troopers as a field training officer. He graduated from the FHP recruit class of August 2001 and was a U.S. Air Force veteran.

The funeral home said a committal service is planned from 2:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Feb. 13 at Sarasota National Cemetery.

Bullock is survived by his parents and two sisters.