Saint Paul - Governor Tim Pawlenty today ordered that all U.S. and Minnesota flags be flown at half-staff at the Capitol Complex, including state buildings, monuments and grounds in proximity to and including the Minnesota State Capitol and at all Minnesota Department of Corrections properties, from sunrise until sunset, on Wednesday, May 11, 2005, in honor and remembrance of Sergeant Gerald D. Vick.

Governor Pawlenty will attend funeral services for Sergeant Vick in St. Paul Wednesday afternoon.

The following is the text of the Governor's official proclamation:

WHEREAS: Sergeant Gerald D. Vick was born on August 22, 1963, to Dennis and    Margaret Vick in Saint Paul, Minnesota; and

WHEREAS: Sergeant Gerald D. Vick graduated from North Saint Paul High School and went on to attend Lakewood Community College; and

WHEREAS: Sergeant Gerald D. Vick served as a corrections officer from 1987-1989 at Minnesota's maximum security facility in Oak Park Heights; and

WHEREAS: Sergeant Gerald D. Vick joined the Saint Paul Police Department on September 18, 1989, and was promoted to Sergeant on July 7, 1999.  He held a variety of positions within the department and most recently was assigned to the Vice Unit on December 7, 2002; and

WHEREAS: Sergeant Gerald D. Vick was highly decorated, having received two Medals of Valor, the department's highest honor.  He earned the first Medal of Valor in 1990 after he saved a 1-year old girl from a burning house.  Sergeant Vick earned the second Medal of Valor in 1997 for encountering an armed robber in a stairwell; and

WHEREAS: Sergeant Gerald D. Vick was fatally shot and died a hero on Friday, May 6, 2005, while working in an undercover capacity in Saint Paul; and

WHEREAS: Sergeant Gerald D. Vick is survived and loved very much by wife, Connie; son, Clayton; daughter, Amanda; father, Dennis; mother, Margaret; brother, Ken (Tina); sister, Lynn; sister, Arlene (Brian); and by many other close family members and friends; and

WHEREAS: The funeral service for Sergeant Gerald D. Vick will be held Wednesday, May 11, 2005, at Gustavus Adolphus Lutheran Church in Saint Paul, and the interment will take place with police honors at Saint Mary's Cemetery in North Saint Paul; and

WHEREAS: The State of Minnesota thanks the family of Sergeant Gerald D. Vick for his dedicated service to the people of Saint Paul and our state and wants the family to know that our thoughts and prayers are with them.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, TIM PAWLENTY, Governor of Minnesota, do hereby order all U.S. and Minnesota flags be flown at half-staff at the Capitol Complex, including state buildings, monuments and grounds in proximity to and including the Minnesota State Capitol and at all Minnesota Department of Corrections properties, from sunrise, until sunset, on Wednesday, May 11, 2005, in honor and remembrance of Sergeant Gerald D. Vick.