Incident
Trooper Albert Souden was shot and killed after being abducted by a robbery suspect in Argentine, Michigan. Trooper Souden had driven to the city to investigate a vehicle seen leaving the area of the robbery. When he knocked on the door, the suspect surprised him and gained control of his service weapon. He forced Trooper Souden to drive to a secluded wooded area, where he shot him and buried him in a shallow grave. The suspect, an ex-convict sent to prison in 1933 and again in 1940 for armed robbery, was apprehended the next day. The man pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 25 years. He was paroled on February 11, 1972. Seven months later, he was arrested near Harrison, Michigan, after he broke into a home and shot the owner. Trooper Souden was a United States Air Force veteran and served with the Michigan State Police for five years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and 7-month-old son.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Air Force. One record, 2 gates. Albert is one person.
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Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Trooper Souden gave the Michigan State Police 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Michigan, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Albert W. Souden served in the U.S. Air Force before joining law enforcement.
The Sacrifice · Felonious
MI State Police has lost 57 officers; 27 of them killed feloniously.
Albert is one of 415 officers killed feloniously in MI, 59% of the 703 remembered there.
Albert is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Albert is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1959, 1 officer at MI State Police was killed feloniously, the 5th heaviest of 23 years on record. The heaviest was 1941, with 2.
In 1959, 1 officer in MI was killed feloniously, the 81st heaviest of 124 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 14.
In 1959, 61 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 123rd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1959, 62 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 129th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Albert was 29. Of the 27 killed feloniously at MI State Police whose age is recorded, half were between 26 and 33; the middle age was 29. Albert had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 7 years.
Albert was 29. Of the 400 killed feloniously in MI whose age is recorded, half were between 28 and 42; the middle age was 35. Albert had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 7 years.
Albert was 29. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Albert had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Albert was 29. Of the 15,853 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Albert had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
September holds 14.8% of these deaths at MI State Police; July holds the most, 14.8%. Thursdays: 14.8%.
September holds 8.2% of these deaths in MI; December holds the most, 12.3%. Thursdays: 15.2%.
September holds 9.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.
September holds 8.8% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Thursdays: 14.1%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 47.4% of all 57 deaths at MI State Police, the 2nd most common cause. The weapon recorded was officer's handgun, in 11.1% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 59% of all 703 deaths in MI, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was officer's handgun, in 5.5% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was officer's handgun, in 5.8% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was officer's handgun, in 5.2% of these deaths.
His people
MI State Police has 57 officers remembered here, Albert among them.
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Harold Anderson
Mar 12, 1921
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Milan Pratt
Apr 15, 1922
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John P. Clinton
Jan 8, 1923
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Harvey Edgar Bolen
May 4, 1923
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William Martz
Mar 12, 1925
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Howard H. Funk
Jul 8, 1926
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Sam Mapes
May 1, 1927
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Delos A. Williams
Jun 30, 1929
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John S. Burke
Oct 13, 1930
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Richards F. Hammond
Jan 20, 1937
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Irvine F. Wurm
Jan 26, 1941
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John W. Cain
Nov 26, 1941
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Charles T. Wood
Apr 14, 1942
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Ralph Broullire
Mar 16, 1943
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John D. Ryan
Mar 3, 1950
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George Branny
Apr 12, 1950
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Perry Critchell
Mar 20, 1954
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Calvin Rutledge Jones
Feb 10, 1956
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George Eino Lappi
Nov 19, 1956
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Bert Anthony Pozza
Nov 19, 1956
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Dugald A. Pellot
Sep 30, 1957
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Albert W. Souden
Sep 3, 1959
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Robert Raymond Gonser
Aug 8, 1968
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Carl P. Lindberg
May 26, 1969
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Rodger M. Adams
May 14, 1971
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Gary T. Rampy
Dec 31, 1971
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Charles B. Stark
Dec 31, 1971
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Steven Bruce DeVries
Oct 12, 1972
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Darryl M. Rantanen
May 27, 1974
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Larry Lee Forreider
Dec 5, 1974
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Norman R. Killough
Oct 7, 1978
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Harry A. Sorenson
Dec 5, 1978
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David William Hubbard
Sep 16, 1980
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Allan Philip Peterson
Aug 29, 1981
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Craig Alan Scott
Feb 9, 1982
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Vicki Moreau DeVries
Jul 22, 1982
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Tony L. Thames
Jun 12, 1983
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Robert James Mihalik
Sep 9, 1984
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Paul L. Hutchins
Aug 30, 1985
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James E. Boland
Jul 26, 1987
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Kermit Fitzpatrick
Jul 7, 1991
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James R. DeLoach
Feb 1, 1992
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Steven J. Niewiek
Feb 2, 1992
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Byron Joseph Erickson
Jul 31, 1993
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Bryon S. Egelski
Jul 11, 1994
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Manuel H. Fields
Aug 27, 1994
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Frederick Anthony Hardy
Nov 6, 1999
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Rick Lee Johnson
May 6, 2000
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Kevin Michael Marshall
Jul 7, 2003
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Jeffrey James Werda
Apr 6, 2011
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Paul Kenyon Butterfield, II
Sep 9, 2013
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Chad H. Wolf
Aug 28, 2015
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Timothy James O'Neill
Sep 20, 2017
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Caleb Howard Starr
Jul 31, 2020
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Todd Lawrence Leveille
Dec 9, 2021
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Joel Popp
Jan 24, 2024
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Daniel Kerstetter
Sep 15, 2024
Where
Military Service
Albert W. Souden served in the U.S. Air Force before joining law enforcement.
Visit Albert W. Souden’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 17-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Also Remembered
Others Who Wore This Badge
56 officers from MI State Police are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.















