EAST BAY TOWNSHIP — A portion of US-31 was renamed in honor of a Michigan State Police trooper killed in the line of duty.
The highway will be known as the Trooper James E. Boland Memorial Highway between Three Mile Road and Bunker Hill Road to honor the trooper who died on July 26, 1987.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said in a press release she was proud to sign House Bill 4046 into law on Aug. 15. It passed with unanimous bipartisan support.
Boland was directing traffic during the National Governors’ Conference at the intersection of East Front Street and Barlow Street in Traverse City when he was hit by a speeding 1975 Buick Century that fled the scene.
First aid was administered to Boland, but he was pronounced dead on arrival at Munson Medical Center just before 1 p.m. He was the 40th state trooper to die in the line of duty.
The woman driving the Buick was stopped shortly after the incident and it was discovered that she was intoxicated. She was arrested for manslaughter and pleaded guilty to negligent homicide in July 1988.
“I’m thankful to the Michigan Senate and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer for finalizing this effort to honor Trooper Boland and his ultimate sacrifice,” said State Rep. John Roth, R-Interlochen, in a press release.
“Dedicating this stretch of US-31 in his honor ensures that his courage and commitment to public service will live on in the daily lives of those who travel this road,” he said. “It is a lasting tribute to his legacy and a reminder of the risks our law enforcement officers take to keep us safe.”