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Three WSP employees die in house fire
- By Review Staff
- Published 08/16/2010
- Front Page
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Three employees of the Washington State Patrol died Monday, Aug. 16 in an early morning house fire near Zillah.
According to officials from the Washington State Patrol’s office, WSP trooper Gary Miller, 55, his wife, Anne Miller-Hewitt, who served as a communications office and trooper Kristopher Sperry, 30, died in the fire at the Miller’s home north of Zillah on Falcon Ridge Drive.
The cause of the fire and additional details are currently under investigation. The fire investigation is being conduced by Yakima County Fire District Five officials along with members of the Yakima County Sheriff’s office and officials from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The WSP Crime Scene Response team is also providing forensic assistance at the scene of the fire, which destroyed the home.
WSP Chief John R. Batiste said it is the first time the agency has lost three employees in a single event.
“Ann and Gary were longtime employees, and were the best of the best, Batiste said. “We were just getting to know Kristopher, but he had excelled at the Academy and has a very promising future with our agency.”
• Gary Miller has worked with the State Patrol since 1989 and was commissioned in 1990, where he has worked through the Sunnyside detachment.
• Anne Miller-Hewitt was hired by the WSP in 1987 and served as the civilian equivalent of lieutenant. She led the Wenatchee’s 911 enter and supervised 15 agency dispatchers. She was promoted to her current rank in 2007.
• Sperry was hired in 2008 and graduated with the 97th Trooper Basic Class in June of 2010. He is originally from Eureka, Mont. He had been living with the Millers while his own home was being built.
“Right now, our priority is supporting the co-workers of Anne, Gary and Kristopher,” Batiste said. “They are understandably devastated by this tragedy and we have no higher priority than helping them get through this difficult time.”
According to officials from the Washington State Patrol’s office, WSP trooper Gary Miller, 55, his wife, Anne Miller-Hewitt, who served as a communications office and trooper Kristopher Sperry, 30, died in the fire at the Miller’s home north of Zillah on Falcon Ridge Drive.
The cause of the fire and additional details are currently under investigation. The fire investigation is being conduced by Yakima County Fire District Five officials along with members of the Yakima County Sheriff’s office and officials from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The WSP Crime Scene Response team is also providing forensic assistance at the scene of the fire, which destroyed the home.
WSP Chief John R. Batiste said it is the first time the agency has lost three employees in a single event.
“Ann and Gary were longtime employees, and were the best of the best, Batiste said. “We were just getting to know Kristopher, but he had excelled at the Academy and has a very promising future with our agency.”
• Gary Miller has worked with the State Patrol since 1989 and was commissioned in 1990, where he has worked through the Sunnyside detachment.
• Anne Miller-Hewitt was hired by the WSP in 1987 and served as the civilian equivalent of lieutenant. She led the Wenatchee’s 911 enter and supervised 15 agency dispatchers. She was promoted to her current rank in 2007.
• Sperry was hired in 2008 and graduated with the 97th Trooper Basic Class in June of 2010. He is originally from Eureka, Mont. He had been living with the Millers while his own home was being built.
“Right now, our priority is supporting the co-workers of Anne, Gary and Kristopher,” Batiste said. “They are understandably devastated by this tragedy and we have no higher priority than helping them get through this difficult time.”