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Police Officer

Merlin Ray

Detroit Police Department — Detroit, MI
Felonious
United States flag Michigan flag
End of Watch July 17, 1927
Age 26
The Vigil Panel 53 ›
Gender Male
Incident Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 249

Incident

Officer Ray, a student police officer, was shot and killed near his home when he attempted to take action during a robbery attempt while off duty. He and several friends were walking home when a suspect attempted to rob them at the intersection of Oakland and Chandler Streets. Officer Ray was shot when he attempted to draw his service weapon. He was transported to Receiving Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Officer Ray was to be made a regular patrolman the next day. He was survived by his brother, a Detroit police officer, who was assigned to the Bethune Station. The suspect was never apprehended.

Survivors

He was survived by his brother, a Detroit police officer, who was assigned to the Bethune Station.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
NW-HVY4-TNR5-9 earlier record number BO-US-MI-6FB617BF
Stewardship
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Added to badge.nw
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 Ray 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 Ray.

— 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 July 17, 1927
Age 26
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Merlin is one of 15,741 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.2% of the 27,543 remembered there.

33,910 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1927, 220 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 6th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Merlin was 26. Of the 14,215 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

July holds 9.3% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Sundays: 15.2%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.2% of all 27,543 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, Merlin among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Police Officer Merlin Ray

Detroit Police Department · End of Watch July 17, 1927

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 44-E

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