(KEYC) – Governor Tim Walz has ordered all U.S. and Minnesota flags to fly at half-staff at all state buildings from sunrise Wednesday, March 18, through sunset Thursday, March 19.
The order honors Deputy Fire Marshal Shawn Johnson of the Minnetonka Fire Department, who died March 5, 2026, after a two-year battle with cancer.
“Deputy Fire Marshal Shawn Johnson dedicated his life to protecting others and strengthening the fire service across Minnesota,” Walz said. “Through two decades of service, he mentored firefighters, safeguarded communities, and built lasting relationships grounded in trust and professionalism. I extend my deepest condolences to his family, the Minnetonka Fire Department, and the many colleagues and friends whose lives he touched.”
WHO WAS SHAWN JOHNSON
Johnson joined the Minnetonka Fire Department in March 2006 as a paid-on-call firefighter. He later served as a lieutenant and training captain before being hired full-time in 2016 as a fire inspector in the department’s Fire and Life Safety Division…