Des Moines, Iowa — Two requests to fly the flag at half-staff have recently been issued by Iowa Governor Terry Branstad. One is to honor all officers who have died in the line of duty, and one is to honor a specific officer, Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Deputy Mark Burbridge.
Flags across the state are requested to fly at half-staff today (Friday, May 5th) from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in observance of the Iowa Peace Officer Memorial Ceremony at the Oran Pape State Office Building of the Iowa Department of Public Safety, on the Capitol Complex.
Flags at the Iowa Peace Officer Memorial, located at the Oran Pape State Office Building, will be flown at half-staff the week of May 15-19, 2017, in honor of National Peace Officer Week.
The governor’s directive applies to all U.S. and state flags on the State Capitol Building and on flag displays on the Capitol Complex. Individuals, businesses, schools, municipalities, counties and other government subdivisions are encouraged to fly the flag at half-staff for the same length of time as a sign of respect.
Governor Branstad has also ordered all flags in Iowa be flown at half-staff from sunrise to sunset on Monday, May 8, 2017, to honor Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Deputy Mark Burbridge, who was killed in the line of duty on May 1. Deputy Burbridge will be laid to rest on Monday, May 8.
Burbridge was killed during a prisoner escape attempt on Monday, May 1st. The prisoner is in custody in Omaha.
