W.Va. Officer Remembered After Fatal Crash

Feb. 20, 2012
Michael Todd May was not only well-liked and respected by his co-workers at the Monongalia County Sheriff 's Department. He was also a good friend.

Feb. 19--Sgt. Michael Todd May was not only well-liked and respected by his co-workers at the Monongalia County Sheriff 's Department.

He was also a good friend. Deputy T.D. Hunn recalled an ATV ride into Preston County with May and other officers. When Hunn got stuck in a stream, May waded out in blue jeans to help free his friend and co-worker.

"He was a great guy," Hunn said. "We always had fun."

May died early Saturday of injuries from a collision on Interstate 79, just across the Pennsylvania state line. Police say May was struck by hit-and-run suspect Jerod Alan Green, 35, of Morgantown, during a pursuit that began on W.Va. 100 in Monongalia County.

Green is facing 11 charges, including firstdegree murder of a law enforcement officer, second-degree manslaughter of a law enforcement officer and homicide by vehicle while DUI.

"He was a good officer, very pro-DUI [arrests]," Sgt. John Kisner, of the Monongalia County Sheriff's Department, said. "It's very ironic, a DUI being involved in this incident that took his life."

Deputy Aaron Coe said May was "always very proactive" as an officer. He was often the first person in the department to pick up outstanding arrest warrants and track down wanted suspects to serve them.

"Todd could always find them," Hunn said. "He loved doing that."

Coe added: "All the deputies looked up to him and respected him. ... I never had a bad thing to say about him."

Sgt. John Kisner said May was president of the local chapter of the West Virginia Deputy Sheriffs Association. In that role, he helped raise money for the DARE program, Shop with a Cop, Thanksgiving baskets for the needy and criminal justice scholarships for students at Fairmont State University.

" He was genuinely a nice person that would do things that people needed done," Sheriff Al Kisner said.

Outside of work, May lived near his parents, off Smithtown Road. Coe said May was also building a cabin in Elkins, where he often went fishing, and enjoyed riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle.

Sgt. John Kisner said May and other officers went to Daytona Beach Bike Week and other motorcycle events together. Though some officers transported their bikes by trailer, May always rode his bike for the entire trip.

"He was one of those tough guys on the motorcycle," Kisner said.

But he still loved to laugh, Assistant Prosecutor Ami Schon said. May was very funny and had a knack for putting people at ease, but he took his job very seriously.

"Todd was a good, decent person," Schon said. "He was a good law enforcement officer. He will be very missed."

Though she was aware of the risks her friend faced every day, Schon said his death was still shocking.

"Law enforcement is a family. When you lose one of your own, it's devastating," she said. "It's heartbreaking."

Copyright 2012 - The Dominion Post, Morgantown, W.Va.

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