Fallen soldier honored with US-127 trajectory

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 Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signing the bill renaming the highway into law last week.

The Michigan State Police hosted a ceremony Friday to mark the opening of the highway and make the name official.

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

State Representatives Kara Hope and Julie Brixie authored the bill to rename the stretch of highway. Hope attended the ceremony to honor Starr and show his support for law enforcement.

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

This event comes two days after an Eaton County police cruiser was struck by a suspected drunk driver. The police cruiser was en route to a truck that had overturned and was not in the vehicle at the time. No one was injured.

“We see this over and over again with our officers and all kinds of officers and agents getting hit,” said Lt. Rene Gonzalez of the Michigan State Police. “Our guys and girls are out there doing their job, and now they’re still looking over their shoulder at other vehicles.”

Starr is originally from Mason and graduated from the 135th Trooper Recruit School after joining the MSP in September 2018.

He is survived by his wife, Rachel, and two daughters. Rachel hopes that motorists will see the memorial signs and seek out Trooper Starr’s story, continuing his legacy just outside his hometown.