DETROIT – Governor Gretchen Whitmer has ordered U.S. and Michigan flags to be lowered to half-staff within the State Capitol Complex and all public buildings and grounds across the state on Tuesday to honor a Detroit firefighter who died in the line of duty.
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Patrick Trout, a 12-year veteran of the Detroit Fire Department, died on Jan. 5, 2026. He was 47.
Trout was a retired U.S. Army Sergeant who also served in the National Guard and Army Reserves. He was a member of Alpha Company, 1st Battalion 125th and the 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment.
“Firefighter Patrick Trout dedicated his life to serving others, and he represented the very best of the Detroit Fire Department,” Detroit Executive Fire Commissioner Chuck Simms said in a statement. “Patrick served with courage, humility, and an unwavering commitment to the people of Detroit. We are deeply grateful to Governor Whitmer for honoring Patrick’s life and service by lowering the flags to half-staff. It is a fitting tribute to a firefighter whose legacy will continue to inspire those who wear this uniform for years to come.”
“Patrick Trout was a proud family man and dedicated public servant,” Whitmer said in a statement on Aug. 17. “He was an example of the selflessness and dedication firefighters across Michigan demonstrate each and every day. Let’s honor this fallen hero and keep his family and the entire Detroit Fire Department in our thoughts.”
U.S. and Michigan flags within the State Capitol Complex and upon all public buildings and grounds across the state will be lowered to half-staff on Tuesday, Aug. 18.
To lower flags to half-staff, hoist them to the peak for an instant, then lower them to the half-staff position. The process is reversed before the flag is lowered for the day.
Flags should be returned to full-staff on Wednesday, Aug. 19.