'Hero' CT State Trooper Dies After Courageous Cancer Battle

HARTFORD, CT — Gov. Dannel P. Malloy today announced that he is directing U.S. and state flags in Connecticut to be lowered to half-staff beginning immediately in honor of Connecticut State Police Trooper First Class Walter Greene, who passed away today in the line-of-duty following a courageous battle with a very rare form of cancer as the result of his response and service in support of New York City in the aftermath of the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001.

Trooper First Class Greene was a member of the 101st Training Troop, and most recently was assigned to the Traffic Services Unit.

“Our hearts are with the family of Trooper First Class Walter Greene – a man who dedicated his life’s work to protecting the people of Connecticut and our country,” Malloy said in a news release Thursday night. “He is a hero and passionately served our nation in the Marine Corps before joining the Connecticut State Police. Men like Trooper First Class Greene personify what it means to give back to the community and to dedicate one’s life work in the name of others. His bravery and integrity speaks volumes. On behalf of the entire State of Connecticut, I send my deepest condolences to his family, friends, and State Police colleagues. I ask the people of Connecticut to please keep Trooper First Class Greene and his family in your prayers.”

On June 30, 2016, Greene, was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. He was at the time 1 of 67 in the US with this extremely rare form of cancer, according to a GoFundMe page. There were less than 100 people in the world with Kras 1 Wild Colorectal Cancer, Stage IV.

Image via GoFundMe

Trooper First Class Greene served in the U.S. Marine Corps for four years before joining the Connecticut State Police on June 1, 1990. During the initial part of his career, he was assigned to Troops A and G and then to the Statewide Cooperative Crime Control Task Force.

He served much of the latter part his career in the Traffic Services Unit. Trooper First Class Greene had been a Master Instructor for Motor Services since 2008, as well as a K-9 handler for several years. He was an avid supporter of the Special Olympics and actively participated in the Law Enforcement Torch Run for many years.

“Trooper First Class Greene dedicated his life to the residents of this state and the nation and has our deepest respect and gratitude for his years of service,” Lt. Governor Nancy Wyman said in a news release. “He embodied the very concept of public service, leading in his career and his community with integrity and compassion. My heart goes out to his wife and children, his brothers and sisters at the Connecticut State Police, and his family and friends. This is a great loss for the state.”

Flags will remain at half-staff until further notice. Accordingly, since no flag should fly higher than the U.S. flag, all other flags – including state, municipal, corporate, or otherwise – should also be lowered during this same duration of time.

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