Often the police put themselves in harms way in some obvious situations such as robberies, high speed pursuits, and drug busts. However, it’s when they go beyond the obvious calls of duty become heroes of the neighborhoods they patrol or live in. One can picture the friendly neighborhood Officer on shows from the 50’s like “Leave It To Beaver”, where the Officers were known by all and always willing to help parents teach their kids a good moral lesson. These Officers seem to show a little more care, strength and some have paid the a deadly price for it.
1)-Officer Clarence Cummings was not at his 6 month mark to end his probationary status on the Detroit Police force when on March 25, 1904, his good deed would not go unpunished. Officer Cummings was walking his beat when approached by a lady and her female friend. They were returning from the police station where they were told the police couldn’t assist in a civil issue without a court order which she did not have when her husband threatened her life and locked her out of the house. The ladies asked Officer Cummings if he could assist the wife to get back in her house which he agreed. While walking the lady of the house thru the back door, the husband shot at her missing and shooting Officer Cummings, killing him. At 25 and already a veteran of the Spanish-American war, Officer Cummings desire to assist others showed for care of his new citizen on his new patrol when in distress cost him his life.
2)-A Police Officer is often a police officer in his home neighborhood as well as work and Lieutenant Peter McGuigan’s was one of those officers. His life was lost because of his dedication to the peace, at home or work. Getting ready for work at about 8pm on October 23, 1920, some neighborhood boys came to tell him of a suspicious man in the alley. Lieutenant McGuigan went outside to talk with the man. While talking, the man brandished a gun and shot the Lieutenant and ran. The Lieutenant gave chase after getting shot for a couple blocks before collapsing and dying from his gunshot wounds. Without hesitation, he left the safety of his home to assist the neighborhood with what turned out to be a dangerous man. A true neighborhood policeman to the end.
3)- Often the police are there for us when things aren’t going so well. If you’ve ever been in an car that broke down or had an accident and needed an ambulance or a tow truck, you understand how the police can help you out. Officer Lee Cole of the Royal Oak police department was offering his services to a couple in need when their car broke down in Royal Oak. They needed to get to their home in Detroit. On November 9, 1944 while taking the couple home Officer Cole died when his police vehicle was hit by another car that ran a red light. A veteran of World War I and a 17 year veteran of the police force, one just knows, this was something he probably did a lot….helping anybody any way he can.
Detroit Police Fallen Hero stories 