American Flag To Travel US In Honor Of Fallen SMPD Officer

Staff Reports

An American flag will travel to police departments across the nation in honor of San Marcos Police Officer Justin Putnam.

Ruck for the Fallen has launched the flag on the journey to collect signatures, patches or coins before returning home to San Marcos.

According to the San Marcos Police Department, the journey will take up to a year; it’s progress will be able to be tracked at Ruck4thefallen.org.

Officer Putnam was killed on April 18 while responding to a domestic violence call in San Marcos. He had served with SMPD for five and a half years.  

Putnam and two other officers were ambushed by a male suspect with a rifle when entering the apartment. Officers Franco Stewart and Justin Mueller were critically wounded in the incident. Both officers were admitted to Seton Hays and underwent surgery.

On Friday, SMPD reported Mueller had been moved out of surgery and was making an “exceptional recovery.

The department reported officer Stewart was still in ICU; however, his medical team said he was making fantastic progress.

Ruck for the Fallen aims to recognize everyday heroes in communities around the United States.

The flag’s journey will be marked with a pin for each location it visits.