MSP trooper with Fraser roots honored with Medal of Valor

FRASER — Trooper Maxwell Prince was no stranger to risk as part of his duties on the Michigan State Police Emergency Response Team, but nothing could have prepared him for getting shot seven times while defending his fellow troopers.

Prince and his team were serving a warrant in the city of Detroit on March 10, 2023, when the suspect responded with hostility.

“We came under heavy gunfire from the suspect,” said Prince. “Myself and one of my partners were hit. I stepped out of cover, drawing fire, which led to my being shot several times.”

“It was his day off, on a Friday; they were serving three warrants,” added his mother, Rosalie Prince. “On the last one, it was a felon in possession of firearms. That one went south on him. They had interacted with the suspect before, they knew him, but he put himself in the bathroom. They told him to come out. My son tased him, and he went into the bathroom. My son thought he was down because of the Taser, but he was up and had a gun. He got hit seven times, and his partner got hit twice in the leg.”

Prince survived his wounds and was recently honored with the Medal of Valor, the highest Michigan State Police honor for one of its members.

“I am still recovering from what happened,” said Prince. “I had multiple surgeries. I will return to service sooner rather than later, hopefully, but I have no exact timeline. I am done with my surgeries, thankfully.”

Prince grew up in Fraser, and his parents still reside there. He recently moved to St. Clair Shores. While he is making a successful recovery following the incident, the injuries were no small matter and the news was difficult for his family.

“He was hit at least seven times — three or four went in,” said Rosalie Prince. “He had a through-and-through on the upper arm, one hit a finger, another came out of his wrist, and the last one went through his hand. The others hit him in the vest or gun belt.”

Prince comes from a family rooted in law enforcement. Rosalie Prince said that, while that educated her about the risks her son took, nothing can prepare a parent for the news that their child has been wounded in the line of duty.

“My husband was a Michigan State Police trooper for 31 years, and my son joined seven years ago. I have been working for the department for 28 years,” she said. “This was a lot different. I went 31 years without this happening to my husband, and he was on the same team. It happened to my son after only seven years. It was a very different and difficult experience. It’s a horrible thing, and you never want to get that phone call. When it happens, you’re sort of numb all over. It happens so fast, and then it starts a long process.”

The Emergency Support Team conducts highly dangerous and critical duties for the state police. This includes duties such as executive protection, serving high risk warrants, confronting barricaded armed suspects, hostage rescue and any other dangerous or critical tasks.

The Medal of Valor was presented to Prince on Feb. 7.

“The valor award is given out for exceptional circumstances when a trooper risks their life in performing a hazardous duty so extraordinary that the exposure to peril is above and beyond the call of duty. It is the highest award given by the state police,” Prince said. “My three fellow troopers also were honored for their bravery for the same incident. They were also given the valor award.”

Prince said he was proud to receive the award and hopes that he can serve as an example of what law enforcement officers are supposed to be. He hopes to return to active service later this year.

“It is humbling to say the least. I was just doing my job,” he said. “Obviously, there’s a chance that something could happen. We do it so often that you have to train to be ready. I grew up in that culture. I understood what it meant and what was expected of me since before I became a trooper. I knew what it meant to be a part of that team at that level.”