Michigan State Police, Michigan
End of Watch Monday, September 9, 2013
Add to My HeroesPaul Kenyon Butterfield, II
Trooper Paul Butterfield was shot and killed while making a traffic stop on Custer Road, near Townline Road, in Mason County, at approximately 6:20 pm.
A few minutes after radioing in the stop, a citizen called 911 to report a trooper had been shot. Responding units located Trooper Butterfield on the ground suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. He was flown to Munson Medical Center where he succumbed to his wounds while in surgery.
Using a vehicle description provided by Trooper Butterfield as he stopped the vehicle, investigators were able to identify a suspect and located him, along with a female accomplice, at a convenience store in a neighboring county approximately two hours later. Officers exchanged gunfire with him as they made contact, wounding the male subject before taking them both into custody.
The subject who shot Trooper Butterfield was convicted of first degree murder in February 2014 and faces a sentence of life without parole. After sentencing he was transferred to the Michigan Department of Corrections where he attempted suicide by hanging himself with his bed sheets. He was found unresponsive in his cell and transferred to a local hospital where he was declared brain dead and died three days later. The female accomplice was convicted of accessory after the fact and sentenced to two to five years.
Trooper Butterfield was a U.S. Army veteran and had served with the Michigan State Police for 14 years. He is survived by his fiancee, father, and stepmother.
Bio
- Age 43
- Tour 14 years
- Badge 1190
- Military Veteran
Incident Details
- Cause Gunfire
- Weapon Gun; Unknown type
- Offender Committed suicide
Most Recent Reflection
View all 370 ReflectionsSo I was walking around a store in Wixom, MI today, and as I was browsing around, I noticed a gentleman with a Thin Blue Line and the numbers “1190” on the front. On the back it displayed Michigan State Police badge 1190 along with “TROOPER BUTTERFIELD” and “EOW: 9/9/13”. As a future law enforcement officer, current Fire Explorer, and JROTC Cadet, I started thinking about a lot of things. Now don’t get me wrong, some of those feelings I felt made me angry, somewhat depressed, and it made me think about the “What if’s”. Then I realized that ALL Thin Line Families have each other’s back’s. We all care about each other and we all are there for each other on even their worst days. After seeing the shirt, I did a quick Google search and I ended up here reading about this horrific incident. This wasn’t an accident. This was an act of pure evil and the fact that the individual that was held responsible for these actions took the “easy way out” says something. It says to me that Americans and the world in general aren’t on the same page. It tells me that people think it is okay to murder another human being based on a profession and the uniform they wear. That is sickening. Anyway, everyone should have each other’s backs but that’s not how it is; until then, WE, the Thin Line Family have to be there to support our brothers and sisters in their absence. My big idea/message here is that even on your darkest days we will be there. Even if people dislike you, hate you for wearing that badge, or treat you like a nobody, don’t do the same to them. It will turn out bad as we’ve already seen in 2020 alone. Stay smart and stay safe and keep our fallen brother, Tpr. Butterfield, in your prayers tonight. Pray for our brothers and sisters protecting our country either on foreign soil or right here in the US. And most importantly, pray for the families that had to suffer and endure the pain caused by this tragic loss. Tpr. Butterfield, you are gone but never forgotten. Rest easy, brother. We’ll take it from here.
Exp. Ethyn Clark
Fenton City Fire Department
November 6, 2020
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