Jonathan Lindsey serves in the Mich. Senate. Courtesy | Michigan Senate Republicans
A bill to rename a road in Hillsdale County after Deputy Sheriff William Butler Jr. is headed to the Michigan House of Representatives after a unanimous vote in the state Senate Sept. 25.
Michigan Sen. Joseph Bellino, R-Monroe, and Sen. Jonathan Lindsey, R-Coldwater, co-sponsored a bill that would rename a portion of Highway M-34 in Hillsdale County between Pioneer Road and South Pittsford Road as the “Deputy Sheriff William Butler, Jr. Memorial Highway.”
The bill is part of the Michigan Memorial Highway Act, which honors fallen law enforcement officers and military personnel.
Butler was shot and later died of his injuries on June 27 while assisting another officer in a traffic stop about a mile from Osseo. His funeral was in the college’s Christ Chapel on July 3.
“It’s important to recognize the sacrifice he made for our community,” Bellino said. “And now every time you drive down the street, you’ll see a couple signs this bill names after him, and we’ll remember the sacrifice he made for us.”
Bellino introduced Senate Bill 977 to the Veterans and Emergency Services Committee in August, where co-sponsor Lindsey argued for its passage.
“This man, it should be noted, was a military veteran, a veteran who served in the Iraq War, and then came back and continued serving in his community,” Lindsey said.
Butler served in the United States Army National Guard, during which time he participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom. After returning home, he joined the Hillsdale County Sheriff’s Office, where he served for 12 years.
“Senator Bellino and I have joined together with the community that has lifted up Deputy Butler, his family, the Sheriff’s department, and all of the people who have been impacted,” Lindsey said. “We appreciate the opportunity to take a further step to recognize his service to the community.”
Bellino said he expects the bill to be adopted once campaign season is over.
“Bills like this are usually pretty non-partisan,” Bellino said. “After things settle down, we have a great chance of passing it in the House after the election.”
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