Governor Snyder Orders Flags Lowered to Honor Slain MSP Trooper

Governor Rick Snyder ordered U.S. flags on all state buildings and within the state Capitol Complex to be lowered to half-staff in honor of Michigan State Police Trooper Paul Butterfield, who died as a result of injuries suffered in the line of duty on September 9. Flags should be returned to full-staff after his funeral service.

In a statement, Snyder said "it is with a heavy heart that we ask flags to be lowered in honor of a brave man who gave his life in service to others. We continue to keep Trooper Butterfield's family, friends and colleagues in our thoughts and prayers."

Butterfield, who was stationed out of the Hart Post, joined the state police in 1999 after graduating from trooper recruit school. He was also a veteran of the U.S. Army.