Michigan State Police Trooper Mark Fletcher, out of the Paw Paw post, has been named the 2020 International Association of Chiefs of Police/Motorola Solutions Trooper of the Year. MSP says Fletcher was selected for the honor due to his actions to help fellow officers during a hostage standoff in Kalamazoo County’s Comstock Township on December 1 of 2019. A state police video features Fletcher remembering the night a homeowner was taken hostage by an intruder. The suspect fired on officers.
“That’s when I was hit in my left leg just below my knee, and the officer in front of me was hit in his right shoulder,” Fletcher said.
Fletcher helped a fellow officer to safety. The suspect was later caught, but not before he killed his hostage.
“My biggest concern is the family because we were just here doing our jobs, and unfortunately she lost her husband.”
Michigan State Police Director Joe Gasper says “Fletcher’s bravery while under fire and his concern for others over himself is admirable and in keeping with the highest standards of our profession.” Governor Gretchen Whitmer has also commended Fletcher “for his courageous actions and selfless commitment to his fellow officers.”
