Washington State Patrol and Adna community honor Trooper Justin Schaffer

The Washington State Patrol honored Trooper Justin Schaffer on the fifth anniversary of his death on Monday.

Schaffer, 28, was killed in the line of duty on March 24, 2020. He was deploying spike strips on Interstate 5 near Chehalis when he was struck by a car driven by a fleeing robbery suspect.

At the time of his death, Schaffer had served between six and seven years with the Washington State Patrol.

State patrol troopers gathered at the Chehalis Detachment Office, where Schaffer was stationed from Dec. 12, 2018, until his death, to place a memorial wreath in the presence of an honor guard flag detail.

The group then traveled to state Route 6 in Adna to drive the Schaffer Memorial Highway, a 6-mile stretch on state Route 6 renamed in Schaffer’s honor last year, before dispersing.

Schaffer graduated from Adna High School and Centralia College, where he earned an associate’s degree in criminal justice. He was commissioned as an officer with the Washington State Patrol in 2014. Special assignments included work as an instructor, a drug recognition expert and a canine handler.

As it has done on the anniversary of Schaffer’s death for several years, Skull & Crossbones Coffee Co. in Adna, run by former Centralia police officer Angie Krause, offered drink specials Monday to honor Schaffer and raise funds for the Justin Schaffer Adna Scholarship Fund.