Iowa flags ordered to fly at half staff Tuesday

DES MOINES -- Gov. Terry Branstad has ordered flags across Iowa to fly at half-staff on Tuesday to honor Jamie Buenting, a Rockwell City police officer who was killed in the line of duty last Friday morning.

Branstad, who issued the edit while on a trade mission in Chennai, India, asked Iowans to honor the fallen police officer by lowering flags from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Flags will be at half-staff on the state Capitol building and on flag displays in the Capitol complex, and upon all public buildings, grounds, and facilities throughout the state. Individuals, businesses, schools, municipalities, counties and other government subdivisions are encouraged to fly the flag at half-staff for the same length of time as a sign of respect.

The governor, speaking with Iowa reporters during a teleconference from India on Monday, said he expressed his condolences by telephone to Buenting's family and indicated that Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds will represent his administration at Tuesday's funeral services.

Corey Trott, 32, is facing a first-degree murder in connection with the death of the 8-year veteran of the Rockwell City police department.