The state House Transportation Committee heard testimony Thursday on a bill renaming a segment of state Route 6 in Lewis County for Justin Schaffer, a Washington State Patrol trooper struck and killed by a fleeing robbery suspect near Chehalis in 2020.
“In six and a half years, this man left his mark on the Washington State Patrol. In my view, there has never been a better human being to wear the French blue of the Washington State Patrol than this young man,” Washington State Patrol Chief John Batiste said of Schaffer in his testimony on Thursday. “It’s tragic and unfortunate that his life was taken from him too soon, because he had a bright future ahead of him.”
Schaffer, 28, was one of several state troopers who attempted to stop a high-speed chase March 24, 2020, by laying out spike strips on Interstate 5. Police were on the tail of robbery suspect William David Thompson, who reached speeds of more than 100 mph in his Ford pickup. He swerved around the strips and veered directly toward Schaffer, striking him and killing him.
Moments later, Thompson targeted a second patrolman and hit his car instead. Eventually, Thompson lost control of his truck and crashed. He was arrested after an hour-and-a-half standoff with police. Thompson, 41, was sentenced in 2022 to 45 years in prison for murder and attempted murder.
The idea of a highway dedication to honor Schaffer was presented to Schaffer’s family a little over a year ago, Schaffer’s father, Glenn, said in testimony Thursday.
“Justin’s family and friends were and still are extremely grateful for the sentiment,” he said. “It is a great honor for a young man who did so much for the citizens of this state.”
Glenn Schaffer is a former police chief of Chehalis.
The bill, sponsored by Sen. Jeff Wilson, R-Longview, offers “six miles of remembrance” for Schaffer by renaming a stretch of highway passing through the community of Adna, where Schafer grew up and lived with his wife Sandra. The segment would become known as the Justin R. Schaffer Memorial Highway.
“His job was to serve us,” Wilson said in a news release. “Our job is to never stop remembering Trooper Justin Schaffer.”
The proposal, Senate Joint Memorial 8008, passed the state Senate 48-0 on Feb. 1.
The bill was still in the House Transportation Committee as of Friday, Feb. 16.
