Governor honors reserve deputy killed on duty

St. Paul, Minn. (AP) — Gov. Tim Pawlenty has ordered that flags at the State Capitol complex be flown at half staff Friday in honor of Ramsey County Reserve Deputy Michael Wilken.

Wilken was struck by a car last Saturday night while he was volunteering on traffic detail at Fright Farm in Maplewood. He died the next morning. Wilken had been a reserve deputy for 10 years and had volunteered at hundreds of events. The Fright Farm was a fundraiser for the county's D.A.R.E. program.

His funeral is scheduled for 11 a.m. Friday at St. Andrew's Lutheran Church in Mahtomedi. It will be followed by a law enforcement procession to the cemetery.

In his proclamation, Pawlenty says Wilken "died a hero in the line of duty."