by Jackie Bartz
Sunday, March 7, 2010
ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- A group of law enforcement officers from across the country want to climb Denali in honor of a fallen highway patrol trooper.
The group Cops on Top tackles a different climbing expedition every year. This year the organization plans to scale Denali, in honor of Montana Highway Patrol trooper Mike Haynes. Haynes was struck and killed by a drunk driver last March.
Two of the officers making the climb worked closely with Haynes, but they didn't know he was the honoree until after they signed up for the climb.
"It was kind of overwhelming," said the group's Caleb Pleasants. "It's really an honor that it just lined up that way, especially knowing Mike and being from here -- it was just kind of perfect how it lined up."
