Flags lowered to honor soldier, sheriff’s captain

Gov. John Hickenlooper has ordered flags to fly at half-staff in honor of a soldier from Windsor and a Pueblo County sheriff’s officer who died in the line of duty in separate incidents.

Flags will be lowered on all public buildings statewide on Friday to honor Staff Sgt. Christopher J. Birdwell and Pueblo Sheriff’s Capt. Leide William DeFusco

Birdwell was killed Aug. 27 in Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 4th Brigade Combat Team, part of the 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson.

DeFusco died in an Aug. 31 plane crash while searching for evidence of a marijuana farm.