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Senate presents citation honoring Trooper Eric Ellsworth, who died after line‑of‑duty injury
Summary
The Utah Senate honored Trooper Eric Ellsworth with an official legislative citation recognizing his service and alerting the family in the chamber; senators highlighted his organ‑donor decision and expressed condolences to his wife Janica and their three sons.
The Utah Senate on the floor paused to present an official legislative citation honoring Trooper Eric Ellsworth of the Utah Highway Patrol, who was fatally injured while on duty in November 2016.
Senator Peter Knudsen read the citation to assembled family members in the chamber and recounted Ellsworth’s biography — born January 1985 in Ogden, educated at Clearfield High School, a missionary in Winnipeg, and married to Janica Rowan. Knudsen noted Trooper Ellsworth’s in‑line injury while stopping vehicles near a low‑hanging power line on State Road 13 near Garland, and said that despite extensive medical efforts he passed away in November; Ellsworth’s decision to be an organ donor, Knudsen added, allowed others to live.
Why it matters: senators across the aisle described the loss as one to the entire law‑enforcement community, expressing thanks for Ellsworth’s service and condolences to his immediate and extended family. The citation was presented as an official recognition from the Utah State Legislature and carries the signatures shown on the citation.
Several senators who identify as honorary colonels of the highway patrol framed the loss as personal to first‑responder ranks. President Niederhauser and other senators observed a moment of respect for the family as they left the chamber.
The Senate returned to its regular business after the presentation.
