On January 30, 2014, Cory Wride was shot and killed in Eagle Mountain on SR-73 while doing a routine check on a vehicle that had stopped on the side of the road. This traffic stop leads to his murder, a multi-agency manhunt, a carjacking, another officer being shot, and witnesses and bystanders re-evaluating what is important. The events following the tragedy of that cold snowy January day in 2014 have sent ripples through the community that can still be felt 10 years later.
At 1:00 PM on January 30, 2024, a small group of family and law enforcement officers stood alongside SR-73 to honor the life and service of Cory Wride in a small ceremony. They shared stories, cried, laughed, and remembered the day that forever changed their lives and the lives of so many others in Cedar Valley and the communities around it. To commemorate the 10th anniversary of the tragic murder of Sergeant Cory Wride a new memorial was unveiled along the side of SR-73, which is now known as the Cory B. Wride Memorial Highway. A lot of people wonder why roads are named after fallen police officers and others. I listen to the police scanner often, and I think that part of the reason is so that the officers are reminded of their fallen friends. A day does not go by that you do not hear over the police radio the mention of Cory Wride in some form as a traffic stop or other situation is radioed in on SR-73 or Cory Wride Highway.
The ripple effects that this event had on the community are great and have influenced the lives of a lot of people. I have been working on a book about the incident and during my research have found some lives and people that will never see the world the same after this incident.
Not only was the family of Wride devastated by the loss of their Father, Husband, and Grandfather. But the collateral damage of the events following his murder ripple and continues to ripple to this day.
There are the officers and emergency personnel that responded to the murder scene that had to secure, and still protect the public while dealing with the gut punch of losing a friend and comrade. Some of them after clearing the scene returned to duty and tried to continue doing their job as if nothing occurred.
The officers responding from duties in Salt Lake County, one of whom had lost his brother in the line of duty in Lehi had to relive that pain as they rushed to aid without knowing all the details, just knowing that a friend of theirs had been killed and the suspect is on the run.
A second officer while trying to stop the suspect and protect the public was also shot in the head and received critical injuries. Deputy Sherwood then had to endure the medical recovery as well as deal with the psychological impact. Questioning if he was going to continue working as an officer or if he would even be able to return to duty if he wanted to.
The young mother driving with her child to a school-teacher conference when she was forced from her vehicle while pregnant at gunpoint. Having her car hijacked while hearing police sirens, and commands from officers who also had their guns drawn.
The truck driver who had several of the tires in his vehicle shot out by the fleeing suspect who then questioned his decision to be a truck driver. After the incident, he sells his trucks and changes careers so he can spend more time with his family.
The travelers on the freeway were pulled into the scene by just being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Including a family pulling a camping trailer that had its tires spiked and had to try to control their vehicle and camper trailer on a snowy freeway.
The driver of a vehicle that was hit by the suspect then fled as gunfire erupted and the suspect tried to hijack his vehicle after the previous hijacked vehicle was disabled and the suspect still was trying to elude police and harm the public.
The officer while looking in the scope of his rifle had to decide to use deadly force to stop a threat that had already killed one officer, critically injured a second, hijacked a vehicle, and was attempting to hijack a second.
Cory Wride has been missed and remembered over the last 10 years. May his sacrifice and the sacrifice of his family and friends be remembered for years to come.
Mike Kieffer is an IT geek by hobby and trade, with a BS in Information Systems & Technology. He is a proud father of 10, a grandpa, an author, a journalist, and internet publisher. His motto is to “Elevate, Inspire and Inform”, and he is politically conservative and a Christian. Mike has a passion for technology, writing, and helping others. With a wealth of experience, he is committed to sharing his knowledge with others to help them reach their full potential. He is known for his jackassery or his form of self-expression that encourages boldness, creativity, and risk-taking. It can be a way to push the boundaries and challenge traditional norms, leading to creative solutions and positive change.