"Tonight, Trooper Sean O’Connell lost his life in a tragic accident while protecting the traveling public in Skagit County. He was helping on a detour route around the collapsed I-5 bridge. His life was taken while protecting his fellow Washingtonians. As with fallen officers before him, Trooper O’Connell put personal risk aside to follow the noble calling of public service.
"We call the men and women who wear a law enforcement badge 'our finest' because they represent our finest attributes and values: compassion, justice and self-sacrifice. I’ve heard tonight that Trooper O’Connell embodied all of these attributes. His fellow troopers say he also had a wonderful sense of humor that was admired by all who met him.
"We must remember that our troopers are also husbands and wives, fathers and mothers, sons and daughters, sisters and brothers. Tonight, Trooper O’Connell’s wife, his son and daughter, his friends and fellow officers are grieving. Trudi and I grieve with them, and honor his family’s sacrifice during this extremely difficult time."