Joel E. Popp

State Trooper Joel E. Popp of Michigan was struck and killed by a vehicle on January 24, 2024 while he was assisting with an OWI investigation on the highway. He was outside his vehicle when an 81 year-old driver struck him and two patrol cars at the scene. He had served with the Michigan State Police for four years, assigned to the Tri-City Post. He was 39 years old.

Born in Saginaw, Michigan, Popp grew up in Bridgeport with his parents, Kay and Joe, and two brothers, Josh and James. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, baseball, golf, snowmobiling, and camping. Popp and his future wife, Stefanie, were boyfriend and girlfriend when he was in the seventh grade and she was in the eighth grade. They reconnected in high school and spent the next 23 years together, married for the last 15 of those years. They fostered children in their home for seven years, providing care for a total of five children over that time. They have one daughter, Emalyn. Since Popp’s passing, Stefanie has opened a Foster Families Navigation & Resource Center in their home county of Saginaw. She and Popp secured the location for the center less than a week before he was killed. She is eager to move forward and continue their mission in honor of Popp and she has also continued to foster (an additional four children) since his passing. Stefanie has also started the Trooper Joel Popp Memorial Fund to financially assist other first responder families and foster families in Popp’s honor.

Popp wanted to help make a difference, specifically for the children in his community. He left his original career after 17 years because he wanted to serve. He joined the Michigan State Police at the age of 35 in January of 2020. He worked in Saginaw’s highest crime areas, usually choosing the night shift, in an effort to lower the crime rates. He regularly encountered violent offenders and narcotic traffickers which resulted in the recovery of firearms and lethal drugs. He was a proud member of the Secured City Partnership Directed Patrols. Popp was presented with the Physical Fitness Award and Distinguished Expert Pistol Award. Following Popp’s death, a Special Tribute in memory of Popp was presented by The One Hundred and Second Legislature in Lansing, Michigan on March 6, 2024. On May 6, 2024, a Diamond Award was presented by Michigan State Police. Popp was honored as the Saginaw Exchange Club Officer of the Year on May 14, 2024. He served with dignity and purpose, and was considered a hero by his peers. On December 10, 2024, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed a bill in honor of Trooper Popp’s service and sacrifice, naming a portion of highway I-75 in Saginaw County as “Trooper Joel E. Popp Memorial Highway.” It was dedicated by the Michigan State Police on April 2, 2025. Popp will be remembered as a very loyal, humble, hardworking man who had a positive impact on so many people, especially in the community he served.

Michigan State Trooper Joel E. Popp is survived by his wife, Stefanie, daughter, Emalyn, Mother, Kay, brothers, Josh and James, and many other cherished family members. Popp’s Father, Joe, passed away December 19, 2024.

The Tunnel to Towers Foundation has paid off the mortgage of the Popp family home through the Fallen First Responder Home Program.