Granite State Times

Today we honor and remember -

Troopers Leslie Lord & Scott Phillips 

August 19th, 1997

Troopers Leslie Lord and Scott Phillips were shot and killed after Trooper Phillips had stopped a vehicle. 

The suspect immediately exited his vehicle and opened fire on Trooper Phillips with an automatic rifle, wounding him in the hand. Trooper Phillips was able to return fire and emptied his entire magazine but did not wound the suspect, who was wearing a ballistic vest.

Trooper Lord pulled up to the scene without knowing that shots had been fired and was shot before he exited his patrol car. The suspect then returned and shot Trooper Phillips four more times. The suspect then stole Trooper Phillips' patrol car and drove to the office of a local newspaper where he shot and killed a part-time judge, with whom he had a long standing grudge, and a newspaper editor who had tried to intervene.

The suspect then drove into Vermont where he shot and wounded a New Hampshire Fish & Game officer who attempted to stop him. The officer's life was saved when a bullet struck his badge and ricocheted off. The suspect then stopped the patrol car and setup an ambush. Two Vermont state #troopers located the patrol car and approached it with a canine unit. The canine alerted the troopers to the suspect who was in an ambush position on a nearby hill, giving the officers an opportunity to take cover as the suspect opened fire on them from the hill. Two #NHSP troopers and a United State Border Patrol agent were all shot and wounded in the final shootout with the suspect at that location.

Upon searching the suspect's property, officials found massive caches of booby trapped bomb materials and weapons hidden in underground tunnels.

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Trooper Scott Edward Phillips  

New Hampshire State Police, New Hampshire

End of Watch: Tuesday, August 19, 1997

Trooper Phillips, 32, grew up in the Lancaster area and attended local schools graduating from White Mountain Regional High School in 1984. 

Scott had served in the US Army and, prior to his discharge in 1989, was a Military Policeman in Panama.

He was a seven year veteran of the New Hampshire State Police. He was assigned to the Colebrook patrol permanently after his probationary year and made this town his home.

An avid skier, runner and motorcyclist, he was well suited to this area. The local people grew close to Scott because of his pleasant personality and his constant smile. They truly trusted and cared for him.

Scott’s family was his life. Every year during the Special Olympics Torch Run, Scott would volunteer for the portion of the run through Lancaster, his home area. He would run the nine mile leg while pushing his son, Keenan, in a runner's stroller so that his family would be able to cheer him on. This is just one example of the quality time Scott spent with his children, Keenan and Clancy. To Scott, his family was everything.

As much as he loved to ski, he put this on hold so he could spend time with the family because the children were too young.

Scott was a good husband, a good father and a first rate Trooper.

Trooper Phillips is survived by his wife, Christine, and Keenan and Clancy.

Trooper Phillips served in the U.S. Army as a military policeman in Panama from 1985-1989. He joined the New Hampshire State Police in 1990.

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Trooper Leslie George Lord  

New Hampshire State Police, New Hampshire

End of Watch: Tuesday, August 19, 1997

Trooper Lord, 45, was a native of the Pittsburg area and was a true public servant to this town. Upon graduating from Pittsburg High School, he held a number of positions within the town. He worked for the Water Department, the Fire Department, the ambulance crew and, subsequently, became Police Chief, a position he held for a long term.

He lived on Main Street, next door to Young’s Garage and it was not uncommon for him to be at the garage helping someone who had broken down and needed assistance. Helping people is something that he was known for and, of course, he was known for his smile and infectious laugh.

He had tremendous love for snowmobiling and was extensively involved in the Pittsburg area serving as Trail Master for the Northern Corridor.

He left his job as Chief of Police and took a position as a Highway Enforcement Officer in 1987 and then became a State Trooper.

Trooper Lord spent a great deal of time with sons, Shawn and Corey, hunting, fishing and playing sports. He was a great family man and enjoyed his time with his family.

He was an excellent police officer because he truly liked people and liked helping people. This was the reason the people in his area developed a great respect for him. A little known fact is that Leslie Lord was a volunteer dispatcher at Troop F when he was a teenager.

Trooper Lord is sorely missed by his colleagues and his many friends in the North Country.

Trooper Lord was the Chief of police in Pittsburg, New Hampshire, from 1975 to 1987. In 1987, he joined the Bureau of Highway Enforcement, and became a trooper in 1996 when that agency merged with the New Hampshire State Police. He had also been the Fire Chief of his local volunteer fire department.

He is survived by his wife, Beverly, and his sons, Shawn and Corey.

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This year marks the 25th anniversary. Today a flag raising ceremony and graveside memorials will be held. 

#NeverForget #NHSP #Hero #Trooper

Original source can be found here.