Fallen trooper honored with stretch of US-127

LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) — US-127 between the Cedar St. Exit and the I-96 interchange will now be known as the Trooper Starr Memorial Highway, with Governor Gretchen Whitmer signing the bill to rename it into law last week.

The Michigan State Police hosted a highway dedication ceremony on Friday to make the name official.

Trooper Caleb H. Starr was on duty July 10, 2020, driving on Grand River Ave. in Ionia County, where a drunk driver crossed the center line and struck his patrol car head-on. He died three weeks later, at the age of 33.

State representatives Kara Hope and Julie Brixie wrote the bill to rename the stretch of highway, and Hope was at the ceremony to honor Starr and show support for law enforcement.

“They’re there when we need them,” said Hope. “And it’s important to memorialize and recognize the service and, in this case, sadly, the loss.”

This event comes two days after an Eaton County deputy’s cruiser was hit by a suspected drunk driver. The deputy was responding to a semi-truck that had overturned and was not in the car at the time. No one was injured.

“We’re seeing this time and time again with our troopers and all kinds of officers and deputies are getting struck,’ said Lt. Rene Gonzalez of the Michigan State Police. “Our guys and gals are out there trying to do a job but now they’re still looking over their shoulders for other vehicles.”

Starr was a native of Mason and graduated from the 135th Trooper Recruit School after joining the MSP in Sept. 2018.

He is survived by his wife, Rachael, and his two daughters. Rachael hopes drivers will see the memorial signs and look up Trooper Starr’s story, to continue his legacy just outside his hometown.

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