Sen. Joseph Bellino (R-Monroe) is working to rename a portion of M-34 in honor of the late Hillsdale County Sheriff’s Deputy William H. Butler Jr.
Bellino introduced Senate Bill 70 in February. The legislation passed committee June 11 and is recommended for further discussion in the Michigan Senate.
If passed, a portion of M-34 from Pioneer Road to South Pittsford Road would be designated the “Deputy Sheriff William Butler Jr. Memorial Highway.”‘
Bellino introduced a similar bill in honor of fallen Monroe County Sheriff’s Deputy Darrian Young.
“This is about honoring the lives of Deputy Young and Deputy Butler — who both made the ultimate sacrifice while serving our communities,” Bellino said. “Animal Control Officer Darrian Young was an enthusiastic public servant who loved animals, and Deputy Butler was a devoted husband, a loving father and a well-respected officer. It’s time we recognize their dedication and the loss of these two outstanding deputies.”
Butler was shot and killed in June 2024 while assisting other deputies during a traffic stop in Jefferson Township.
Eric Michael Fiddler, a passenger in the vehicle, allegedly shot Butler with a concealed pistol during the stop. Fiddler fled and was found hours later, according to police. When he refused to comply with orders from the Michigan State Police Emergency Response Team and allegedly opened fire again, he was shot and killed by troopers.
Thousands attended Butler’s funeral services, including law enforcement officers from Tennessee, Florida, Texas and Canada.
— Contact reporter Corey Murray at cmurray@hillsdale.net or follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @cmurrayhdn.
This article originally appeared on Hillsdale Daily News: Bill to rename portion of M-34 after Hillsdale deputy killed in line of duty advances
Reporting by Corey J. Murray, Hillsdale Daily News / Hillsdale Daily News
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