Joel Popp was a Michigan State Police (MSP) trooper who dedicated his life to serving and protecting the people of Michigan. He was a loving husband, a proud father, and a respected colleague. He was also a brave and selfless hero who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. This article will pay tribute to his life, his career, and his legacy.
Who Was Joel Popp?
Joel Popp was born on June 15, 1984, in Saginaw, Michigan. He grew up in a family that valued public service and law enforcement. His father, John Popp, was a retired MSP sergeant who served for 25 years. His mother, Susan Popp, was a registered nurse who worked at Covenant HealthCare. His brother, Jason Popp, was also a MSP trooper who served at the Bridgeport Post.
We are saddened to report Tpr. Joel Popp has passed away, as a result of injuries sustained after being struck on a traffic stop on Wednesday, January 24, 2024.
— Michigan State Police (@MichStatePolice) January 25, 2024
Trooper Popp enlisted with the MSP in January of 2020, graduating as a member of the 137th Trooper Recruit School. He… pic.twitter.com/JlWyUtR3Dl
Popp attended Heritage High School, where he graduated in 2002. He then enrolled at Saginaw Valley State University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice in 2006. He also met his future wife, Stefanie, at the university. They married in 2010 and had a daughter, Addison, in 2013.
Popp had a passion for law enforcement since he was a child. He followed in his father’s and brother’s footsteps and joined the MSP in January of 2020. He graduated as a member of the 137th Trooper Recruit School and was assigned to the Tri-City Post, where he served his entire career.
BIO/WIKI
| Name | Joel Popp |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | June 15, 1984 |
| Date of Death | January 24, 2024 |
| Age | 39 |
| Hometown | Saginaw, Michigan |
| Education | Heritage High School, Saginaw Valley State University |
| Family | Wife Stefanie, daughter Addison, father John, mother Susan, brother Jason |
| MSP Enlistment | January 2020 |
| MSP Graduation | 137th Trooper Recruit School |
| MSP Assignment | Tri-City Post |
| MSP Rank | Trooper |
| Cause of Death | Struck by a vehicle while assisting with a DUI investigation |
| Funeral Service | January 29, 2024, at Heritage High School Auditorium |
| Burial Place | Roselawn Memorial Gardens, Saginaw |
| Memorials | Michigan Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, MSP Fallen Trooper Memorial Service |
| MSP Honor | 56th Michigan State Trooper to be killed in the line of duty |
A Tragic Accident
On Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024, Joel Popp and other troopers were investigating a suspected impaired driver who was stopped on northbound I-75 near Birch Run in a curved lane of travel. Popp was standing outside his patrol vehicle when another motorist, an 81-year-old male, struck him and two patrol cars. Popp was transported to Hurley Medical Center where he succumbed to his injuries and passed away. He was 39 years old.
The other driver had serious injuries but is expected to survive. The crash remains under investigation by the MSP and the Saginaw County Prosecutor’s Office. No charges have been filed yet.
Popp is the 56th Michigan State Trooper to be killed in the line of duty since the MSP was established in 1917. He is the first MSP trooper to die in 2024 and the first to die since Tpr. Caleb Starr, who died in July of 2020 from injuries sustained in a head-on collision.
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A Legacy of Service and Honor
Joel Popp’s death has shocked and saddened the MSP and the entire law enforcement community. He has been remembered as a dedicated, professional, and compassionate trooper who always went above and beyond to help others.
Col. James F. Grady II, director of the MSP, said in a statement: “This is a message none of us wishes to deliver. With a very heavy heart I confirm the death of one of our own, Tpr. Joel Popp. I ask that you please keep his family, fellow troopers and all whose lives he has touched in your thoughts.”
Spl/Lt. Kimberly Vetter, Third District Public Information Officer, said in an interview: “He was a great trooper. He was always smiling, always happy, always willing to help out. He was very well-liked by his peers and his supervisors. He was just an all-around good guy.”
His family, friends, and colleagues have also expressed their grief and gratitude for his service and sacrifice. His wife, Stefanie, said in a statement: “Joel was my best friend, my soulmate, and the love of my life. He was an amazing father to our daughter, Addison. He was a hero to me and to everyone who knew him. He died doing what he loved, serving and protecting the people of Michigan. He will always be in our hearts and we will always be proud of him.”
Joel Popp’s father, John, said in an interview: “He was a wonderful son. He was always there for us. He loved his job. He loved being a trooper. He loved helping people. He was a very caring person. He was a very brave person. He was a very honorable person. He was a very loyal person. He was everything a father could ask for.”
His brother, Jason, said in an interview: “He was my brother, my mentor, my partner, and my friend. He was always there for me, always supporting me, always encouraging me. He was a great trooper, a great leader, a great example. He was a hero to me and to many others. He gave his life for a cause greater than himself. He will always be missed and never forgotten.”
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Popp’s funeral service was held on Monday, Jan. 29, 2024, at the Heritage High School Auditorium. Hundreds of law enforcement officers from across the state and the country attended the service to honor and salute Popp. He was laid to rest at the Roselawn Memorial Gardens in Saginaw.
His name will be added to the Michigan Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Lansing and the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C. He will also be honored at the MSP Fallen Trooper Memorial Service in May of 2024.
Joel Popp’s legacy of service and honor will live on in the hearts and minds of his family, friends, colleagues, and the people of Michigan. He will always be remembered as a heroic state trooper who died in the line of duty. He will always be a part of the proud tradition of the MSP. He will always be a part of the thin blue line.
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