Days ahead of the fifth anniversary of a Dallas police officer’s death in the line of duty during a traffic incident, his memory was honored on Wednesday. Officer Mitchell Penton was killed on Feb. 13, 2021, by a now convicted drunk driver who was sentenced to 30 years in May of 2023. In a s pecial presentation during a Feb. 11 Dallas City Council meeting last week, the council announced Quick Trip Corporation donated $509,581 to fund the purchase of four new blocker trucks. Quick Trip Corporation makes six-figure donation allowing Dallas PD to purchase four new blocker trucks. (Photo credit: Dallas Police Department). “The new Ford F550 units will be deployed to block traffic at crashes and incidents on freeways and major thoroughfares where first responders are working in the roadway,” The City of Dallas said in a statement. “Each truck is equipped with an LED arrow board and a crash attenuator, a device attached to the rear of the truck to absorb the impact of a crash, protecting the emergency personnel at the scene. Nationwide, blocker trucks have become a common method of protecting people and equipment at crashes, construction sites, and closures on freeways and busy streets.” Penton’s family tearfully sat in the audience as the announcement was made. His mother has been outspoken about the need for better road safety protections for everyone. She has coped with the pain of her son’s loss while advocating for other families. “Nothing is the same,” his mother, Kathy Penton, told NBC 5 in 2022. “I’m not the same person…You keep waiting and looking at the door, and realize that he’s not coming back.” The City of Dallas implemented blocker trucks in 2023, in direct response to Officer Penton’s death. According to the city, the trucks have been used over 1,200 times throughout the city, five of them being directly hit, preventing injuries or even deaths. The city said the trucks have also reduced response times by 18% in high-risk freeway zones. ...read more read less