Vermont Dedicates Section of I-91 to Fallen Border Patrol Agent David Maland

The David Chris Maland Memorial Highway honors the U.S. Border Patrol agent killed in the line of duty in January 2025.

A section of Interstate 91 in northern Vermont has been officially named the David Chris Maland Memorial Highway, creating a permanent tribute to the fallen officer near the community where he served. The Vermont Transportation Board approved the designation on September 28, 2026, for the stretch between Orleans and Derby. Earlier petitions and public hearings identified the route as the area between Exits 26 and 28, near Newport and Coventry. New signs will mark the memorial highway for travelers.

This decision honors Maland’s Service and Sacrifice. Maland was fatally shot during a traffic stop on I-91 in Coventry on January 20, 2025. The encounter involved Theresa Youngblut and German national Felix Bauckholt, who had been under federal surveillance after a hotel employee reported seeing them with tactical equipment and a firearm. Bauckholt also died in the incident, while Youngblut remains in federal custody. Court documents have linked the pair to a group known as the “Zizians.”

The United Federation of Police Officers played a sustained advocacy role in the naming effort. Acting President Sean R. McArdle submitted a written endorsement in late December 2025, urging state decision-makers to approve the memorial designation. The letter emphasized UFPO’s longstanding commitment to commemorating fallen officers—including its role as a founding member of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial—and argued that naming the highway for Maland would honor his courage, recognize his family’s sacrifice, and give the public a permanent reminder of his service.

UFPO’s involvement continued at the Vermont Transportation Board’s June 16, 2026, public hearing in Newport. McArdle and Executive Vice-President Christopher R. Hoar attended in support of the petition, joining more than 20 community members. Their appearance reinforced the organization’s written endorsement as the board considered the amended request to name the northbound and southbound lanes of I-91 between Exits 26 and 28. The UFPO effort complemented support from American Legion Newport Post #21, the Vermont Police Association, U.S. Border Patrol representatives, local officials, and members of Maland’s family.

The designation places a lasting memorial along the highway where Maland lost his life. For residents and visitors, the new signs will serve as a visible reminder of his public service and of the risks faced by law-enforcement officers working near the northern border.