Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that flags on all state government buildings would be flown at half-staff on Saturday, Dec. 20, in honor of Michael Ryan, a Phoenicia Fire District firefighter and commissioner who died in the line of duty Saturday, Dec. 13.
Ryan served in the military and spent 25 years with the Kingston Police Department, where he worked with the KPD Honor Guard and was a member of the Ulster County Law Enforcement Training Group, according to his obituary.
He also served the Town of Ulster Police Department and, after retiring in 2021, continued mentoring and training recruits at the Police Academy. Ryan dedicated himself to local fire service as commissioner of the M.F. Whitney Hose Co…