BETHLEHEM, Pa— Commonwealth flags will fly at half-staff in Northampton County through Nov. 29 to honor fallen Northampton Fire Department Captain and retired State Police Trooper Michael "Mike" Booke, who died this month from injuries suffered during a training exercise.
Gov. Josh Shapiro ordered the tribute in accordance with U.S. flag code, inviting all Pennsylvania residents to join in honoring Booke’s memory and decades of public service.
Booke, 57, died on Nov. 12 after suffering a cardiovascular event during a water-rescue training course on Oct. 25.
The incident occurred shortly after he completed a 200-yard swim, according to the U.S. Fire Administration.
“Fellow first responders administered lifesaving measures to Captain Booke and then transported him to a local hospital. Captain Booke remained under care at the hospital where he passed away,” the announcement said.
His loss is being felt across law enforcement, the fire service and throughout the Lehigh Valley, and he was described in his obituary as "a pillar in the police and fire community."
Northampton Fire Department remembered him as someone "known for his willingness to assist others, often volunteering for difficult tasks, sharing his expertise and providing support during challenging times."
A career of service
Booke dedicated more than half his life to public safety, according to his obituary: 25 years with the Pennsylvania State Police and 27 years with Northampton Fire Department.
He received a criminal justice degree at Kutztown University before entering the State Police Academy to become a Pennsylvania State Trooper.
As a trooper and later as Fire Marshal of Troop M Bethlehem, Booke’s career included responses to some of the region’s most significant events, the obituary said.
He investigated the deadly explosion at Concept Sciences in Upper Macungie Township in 1999, assisted New Jersey communities devastated by Hurricane Sandy, supported the security detail for the Pope’s visit to Philadelphia, and aided in the search for fugitive Eric Frein.
Even before his law enforcement career began, Booke had found his second calling. He joined the East Brunswick (New Jersey) Fire District No. 1, Old Bridge Volunteer Fire Department in 1987, beginning a lifelong commitment to firefighting, the obituary said.
After becoming a state trooper, Booke continued serving as a firefighter. He joined Northampton Fire Department in 1998 and worked his way to the rank of captain.
He was known for mentoring younger firefighters, particularly through the department’s Junior Cadet Summer Camp, and was active in training with the department's dive team.
A family man rooted in community
Booke’s public-safety career also brought him love. He met his future wife, Donna, in 1995 on the scene of an accident, the obituary said — he as the responding trooper, she as an EMT. They were married in 1997.
Away from work, Booke was known for his humor, loyalty and deep affection for his family.
“His legacy will live on through those who help others,” his family wrote in his obituary. They included a quote from KISS bassist Gene Simmons: “Each of us on our own could only go so far. Together, we would go all the way.”
"Each of us on our own could only go so far. Together, we would go all the way.”Quote from KISS bassist Gene Simmons
A celebration of life will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 29 in the Northampton Fire House, 4 Lerchenmiller Drive.
The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Northampton Fire Department or the American Heart Association, honoring Booke’s lifelong commitment to community service.
