FHP trooper honored for life of service

Master Sgt. William Trampas Bishop's funeral held in his hometown

LAKE CITY, Fla. – A 30-year veteran of the Florida Highway Patrol is being honored Friday morning as a dedicated public servant, husband, father, brother and community member.

Master Sgt. William Trampas Bishop was killed Saturday when he was struck by a car while investigating a crash on Interstate 75. He was 52 years old.

Gov. Rick Scott and Attorney General Pam Bondi were among about 1,000 to attend the funeral that began at 11 a.m. at Christ Central Ministries. Dozens of law enforcement agencies from across the state sent representatives to honor Bishop.

"Looking around today, I see so many individuals whose lives were impacted by Sgt. Bishop in his service as a protector and a hero," Scott said. "As we grieve his loss, I hope knowing his impact on this community and the many great memories you have of him will bring each of you comfort."

Scott said the entire state of Florida is praying for Bishop's family.

UNCUT: Watch entire service for Master Sgt. William Bishop

"He was a true hero, just like all of these great men and women from all over the country here today in uniform," Bondi said. "And to the citizens in the community watching: When you see a police officer, you thank them for what they do and do it in the memory of Sgt. Master Trampas Bishop."

After the funeral, an almost 10-mile funeral procession to Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens Cemetery took nearly an hour because of hundreds of law enforcement vehicles were participating.

"Today I say goodbye and Godspeed to my friend, Trampas, William Trampass Bishop," said a member of Bishop's 1987 FHP recruiting class.

Outside the Friday's service, and FHP lieutenant said the crash that took Bishop's life may have involved distracted driving. The investigating is continuing and charges against the driver are pending.

"I thought about the hundreds of times I did the same thing -- got to a major crash on the interstate, ran in to stop the traffic," said a fellow member of Bishop's 1987 FHP recruiting class.

Bishop served in in the US Army before joining the Florida Highway Patrol in 1987. Friends talked about his love for his family – both blood and FHP – along football and the Dallas Cowboys.

Scott ordered that the U.S. flag and the Florida state flag be flown at half-staff from sunrise to sunset Friday at the following locations: the Columbia County Courthouse in Lake City, the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles headquarters in Tallahassee, the FLHSMV Troop B Station in Lake City and City Hall in Lake City.