Bill would rename U.S. 127 to honor fallen trooper

LANSING - A section of U.S. 127 near Leslie would be named for a long-fallen Michigan State Police trooper under a bill introduced today in the state Legislature.

Trooper Craig Scott, 28, was shot and killed during a traffic stop in southern Ingham County on Feb. 9, 1982. Tuesday is the 34th anniversary of his death.

"It's long past time that we honored Trooper Scott and his family for his sacrifice," said state Sen. Curtis Hertel Jr., D-Meridian Twp., the bill's sponsor.

Senate Bill 775 would designate U.S. 127 between Bellevue Road and the Jackson County line as the "Trooper Craig Scott Memorial Highway," Hertel said.

It was along that stretch where Scott had arrested a driver and was placing him in the patrol car when a passenger came up behind him and shot him three times with a .38-caliber revolver, according to the Michigan State Police Troopers Association. Despite his injuries, Scott returned fire as the suspects fled in the stolen Chevrolet Camaro.

The suspects drove into Leslie, robbed someone of an Oldsmobile Cutlass and were later arrested by the Ingham County Sheriff's Department, MSPTA said. Both had extensive criminal records and were sentenced to life in prison in Scott's death.

Hertel said he was a young child at the time of the incident and doesn't know Scott's family. He said he became aware of the upcoming anniversary last year and wrote the bill for introduction on that day.

"I've always had a tremendous amount of respect for those who serve on the front lines and give their lives in the line of duty," he said.

The bill will go to the Senate Transportation Committee.