Ofc. Hunter Penney, Alpena Police

To my fellow LEO’s,

I want to share my experience with Marc Curtis and the Defender of the Blue team, because if you ever find yourself in the situation I was in, you need to know who has your back.

In December 2025, my partner and I were working a stolen vehicle stop with MSP troopers when the passenger ultimately fought with us, produced a knife, and stabbed me and a trooper, resulting in me shooting and killing the suspect. In the seconds that followed, my world changed completely.

My union notified Marc Curtis immediately. He called me the next day, and before he said a single word about the case, he asked how I was doing. That meant everything to me.

Marc drove four hours to sit down with me in person. He walked me through every step of the process, kept it simple, and never once left me wondering what came next. Most importantly, he looked me in the eye and told me my actions were justified, and he was right. The prosecutor agreed and said my actions were justified.

I have no doubt that if charges had been filed, Marc and the Defender of the Blue team would have made the prosecution regret it. He knows this job, he knows the law, and he fights for LEO’s.

Stay safe out there.

Hunter Penney