Why Gov. Katie Hobbs is ordering flags across Arizona to be flown at half-staff
Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs ordered flags at state buildings to be lowered to half-staff May 15 in honor of law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty.
The act commemorated National Peace Officers Memorial Day, held annually on May 15, and National Police Week, according to a news release from the Arizona Department of Administration.
"Together, we remember the peace officers in Arizona and across the country who made the ultimate sacrifice. Their courage and service will not be forgotten," Hobbs said in a statement.
Nongovernment entities, businesses and people were encouraged to join the tribute and fly their own flags at half-staff.
"Let's honor them by upholding the ideals they defended," Hobbs added.
Peace officers are defined as people with a badge, arrest powers and a firearm, according to GoLawEnforcement.com. Any sworn-in person with legislative authority to enforce laws and initiate criminal prosecution is a peace officer. The website confirms though that while all police officers are peace officers, the opposite is not true.
Gov. Hobbs ordered flags to be flown at half-staff May 5 to mark Arizona Peace Officers Memorial Day. A ceremony was held at a memorial at the Arizona state Capitol that paid tribute to fallen peace officers.
As of May 2025, no Arizona law enforcement officer had been killed in the line of duty, according to the Officer Down Memorial Page.
Four police officers across Arizona died in 2024 due to accidents and fatal shootings.
The most recent in September was Officer Zane Coolidge of the Phoenix Police Department, who was shot and killed while in pursuit of a burglary suspect, Saul Bal, who was later arrested and charged with Coolidge's death.
In mid-June, Det. Ryan So with the Scottsdale Police Department was killed in a tragic accident when a rifle fell from inside a bag and discharged when it hit the ground, fatally striking So.
Less than two weeks earlier, officer Joshua Briese of the Gila River Indian Community was shot and killed while responding to an unruly party. Briese's father, David, was also a police officer killed in the line of duty.
In March, officer Adam Buckner died after a driver crashed into his patrol vehicle.
Reach reporter Rey Covarrubias Jr. at rcovarrubias@gannett.com. Follow him on X, Threads and Bluesky @ReyCJrAZ.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: State flags at half-staff to mark National Peace Officers Memorial Day
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona bill to ban teaching of antisemitism is First Amendment issue
