Why are flags at half-staff in Arizona on Thursday? Here's what to know
Gov. Katie Hobbs ordered flags be flown at half-staff on Thursday to honor a Scottsdale police officer who died in the line of duty.
Scottsdale police Detective Ryan So, a nine-year veteran of the force, died after a firearms accident while he was unloading a police vehicle on June 13, according to a preliminary report from investigators.
Flags at state buildings were ordered to be lowered from sunrise to sunset on Thursday in his honor. Other business, individuals and groups were encouraged to participate.
"I’m heartbroken by the death of Detective Ryan So. My thoughts are with his family and friends, the Scottsdale Police Department and the entire community as they mourn his passing," Hobbs said in a statement.
What is the difference between half-mast and half-staff?
Typically the difference between the two is where the flag is being flown. Half-mast refers to flags flown on ships, while half-staff is used for flags flown on land.
When are flags flown at half-staff?
There are specific holidays and events when flags are flown at half-staff in the United States. The Arizona Governor's website outlines those days as:
Memorial Day when the flag should be displayed at half-staff until noon only, then raised to the top of the staff.
Peace Officers Memorial Day, unless that day is also Armed Forces Day.
Patriot Day.
National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.
National Firefighters Memorial Day.
United States presidents can also declare that flags be flown at half-staff on the death of a notable person, according to the site. In those cases, the flag would be flown at half-staff in these instances:
30 days from the death of the president or a former president.
10 days from the day of death of the vice president, the chief justice or a retired chief justice of the United States, or the speaker of the House of Representatives.
From the day of death until the interment of an associate justice of the Supreme Court, a secretary of an executive or military department, a former vice president or the governor of a state.
The day of death and the following day for a member of Congress.
The governor can also order that the U.S. flag be flown at half-staff on the death of a notable present or former government official or member of the Armed Forces who dies while on active duty.
In Arizona, the governor can also require that the state flag be lowered for all state, institutional and educational buildings. The law also allows the state flag to be lowered on the death of an incumbent elective state officer for seven days beginning on the day following the death of the officer.
What does the Arizona state flag mean? From the colors to the history, here's what to know
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Why are flags at half-staff in Arizona? What to know
