Our honary captains for each team
are represented by the injured officers themselves.

Our first honorary team captain:
Detention Officer Joseph Augusty

On 12/16/2023 Detention Officer Joseph Augusty was on duty and had confiscated several items from an inmate’s cell which was used to make alcohol. Approximately one hour later, Officer Augusty was conducting other duties when this inmate approached him aggressively, grabbed him by the throat and threw him to the ground. Officer Augusty was then punched and kicked multiple times and choked out prior to additional officers arriving to save his life.

Officer Augusty sustained  a broken nose, both orbital bones were fractured, he had several broken teeth, swelling on his throat from him being chocked out, and injuries to his spine. Officer Augusty spent four days at the hospital and then spent weeks healing at his residence with his wife and adult children. To add to this story, Mrs. Augusty is battling stage 4 cancer and currently cannot work due to the medical complications. However, the couple are resilient and fighters and Officer Augusty will return to work at the end on March.

Our second honorary team captain:
Trooper Ratliff

On May 25, 2023, at 1200 hours, DPS began receiving 9-1-1 calls reporting a vehicle that had lost control and crashed on a freeway transition ramp in the Phoenix area. Witnesses detailed subjects removing items from the vehicle and attempting to wave down passing cars for assistance. Subsequently, the suspects fled the scene, prompting a rapid and coordinated response from the DPS.

Trooper Ratliff, having just started his shift, responded promptly to the incident. Armed with the description provided by witnesses, he initiated a search for the suspects. At 1240 hours, Trooper Ratliff informed DPS dispatch of his intention to make contact with a subject matching the provided description in the vicinity of 19th Avenue and Mohawk. Meanwhile, Troopers David Lucero and Blaine Schmidt were processing the abandoned vehicle, confirming it was stolen in a burglary twelve days prior.

As Trooper Ratliff closed in on the male suspect, the situation took a perilous turn. Security cameras captured the intense foot pursuit, with Trooper Ratliff closing the gap before disappearing from view. Just as he was about to deploy his taser, the suspect produced a pistol and opened fire, striking Trooper Ratliff in the left leg. The wound to Trooper Ratliff’s leg caused him to fall to the ground, and he immediately forced himself to sit-up and stay in the fight.  Undeterred, Trooper Ratliff valiantly returned fire, hitting the suspect in the right arm. Despite sustaining two additional gunshot wounds, he maintained his composure and provided critical updates to dispatch.

Unable to stand due to his injuries, Trooper Ratliff observed a female accomplice in a white sedan pick up the fleeing suspect and provided the license plate to dispatch. Applying a tourniquet to one of his legs, he continued relaying information until additional troopers arrived. Trooper Blaine Schmidt assisted him to a rendezvous point, where Trooper/Paramedic Eric Tarr swiftly arrived in his patrol vehicle which was designed for and capable of medical transport. Recognizing the urgency, Troopers Tarr, Schmidt, and Lucero expedited Trooper Ratliff’s transport to the closest trauma hospital, reaching it within seven minutes of the shooting.

The Phoenix Police Department took charge of the criminal investigation, leveraging Trooper Ratliff’s detailed descriptions and the license plate information to apprehend the suspects by 1945 hours on the same day. Throughout the initial hours after being shot, Trooper Ratliff’s commitment to providing crucial details aided investigators. His unwavering bravery and professionalism were instrumental in the swift capture of dangerous individuals, preventing potential harm to the public.

Over six months post-incident, Trooper Ratliff continues to undergo surgeries and physical therapy. His absence is keenly felt, as he remains an indispensable asset to his assigned district and a shining example of an exemplary trooper within the Highway Patrol Division. Trooper Ratliff’s actions on that fateful day underscore his dedication to public safety and serve as a testament to the resilience and fortitude exhibited by law enforcement.