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Stanley Rapaski
Agency patch
Police Officer

Stanley Rapaski

Detroit Police Department — Detroit, MI
Felonious
United States flag Michigan flag
End of Watch January 10, 1969
Age 35
Badge 1074
The Vigil Panel 105 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 249

Incident

Officer Rapaski was shot and killed during a robbery at the Cherry Hill Bar at 4820 E. Davison Street while he was off duty with his wife. During the robbery the two suspects made him and the bar owner lay face down on the floor. As Officer Rapaski went for his gun the suspects shot him in the back seven times and then shot and killed the bar owner. The next day one of the suspects, 21, accidentally shot and killed himself as he went for his gun when cornered by police officers. The second suspect, 22, turned himself in the next day. He was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison on August 16, 1969. As of October 4, 2022, he was still in prison. Officer Rapaski served 7 years with the Detroit Police Department.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and five children.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Rapaski served with the Detroit Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Detroit community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Rapaski.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Detroit Police Department
Type Police Department
Location Detroit, Wayne County, MI
Platform Identity detpd.wayne.mi.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 10, 1969
Age 35
Badge Number 1074
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Stanley is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1969, 124 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 40th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Stanley was 35. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

January holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 14.3%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Detroit Police Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, Stanley among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Police Officer Stanley Rapaski

Detroit Police Department · End of Watch January 10, 1969

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 31-E

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