Trooper Scott Phillips was born in Hyannis, Massachusetts on January 4, 1965 and was raised in Lancaster, New Hampshire. He attended White Mountain Regional High School where he graduated in 1984. Trooper Phillips went on to serve as a Military Police Officer in Panama from 1985 to 1989 with the United States Army.

After serving in the Army, Trooper Phillips returned to New Hampshire and was hired by the New Hampshire State Police on March 23, 1990. After completing his probationary year, Trooper Phillips was assigned to the Colebrook patrol in Troop F. He settled in town, where he and his wife raised their two children. Trooper Phillips was an avid skier, motorcyclist, and runner. Each year he would take part in the Special Olympics Torch Run, where he would run the nine mile stretch pushing his son in a runner's stroller. Trooper Phillips also volunteered his time by serving on Colebrook's 21st Century Committee.

On August 19, 1997, Trooper Phillips attempted to stop a vehicle in Colebrook for having too much rust. As Trooper Phillips pulled in behind the vehicle in the parking lot of LaPerle's IGA, the driver exited his truck and opened fire on Trooper Phillips with an automatic rifle. Although Trooper Phillips was wounded in the hand he returned fire, but was unable to wound the suspect, who was wearing a bullet proof vest. Trooper Leslie Lord responded to assist Trooper Phillips with the stop, not knowing about the shootout that was ongoing. As Trooper Lord pulled into the parking lot, the suspect opened fire on Trooper Lord, killing him instantly. The suspect returned to Trooper Phillips and shot him four times, execution style, killing him. The suspect stole Trooper Phillips' cruiser and drove into town where he killed Vickie Bunnell, a former town selectman and part-time judge, whom the suspect held a grudge against. The suspect also shot and killed newspaper editor Dennis Joos who was attempting to disarm him. The suspect drove to Vermont where he shot a Conservation Officer of the New Hampshire Department of Fish and Game. The bullet ricocheted off of the officer's badge, saving his life. The suspect staged an ambush where he injured three more police officers, before he was finally mortally wounded.

At the time of his death, Trooper Phillips was a seven year veteran of the New Hampshire State Police and was only 32 years old. He was survived by his wife, a daughter, and a son.

May we all carry their memory in our hearts and minds as we carry out our duties, and hope we never have to add another name to this list of heroes. May they rest in peace.