Prev Next

Police Officer

Danny Lee Watson

Detroit Police Department — Detroit, MI

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch January 14, 1971

Age 29

Tour of Duty 3 yrs

The Vigil Panel 236 · Column 4 · Line 15 ›

Gender Male

Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Military Memorials 1 Also Remembered Department 249

Incident

Officer Watson and Officer William Wortmann were shot and killed when they approached a man and a woman for reasons that are unknown. The man remained at the scene after being approached by the officers while the woman ran to his brother's home for help. The man said he and his brother shot at the two officers, who were in plain clothes, because he thought they were going to rob him. He said he had just left a store he managed at 6524 W. Fort Ave. around 11:30 p.m. with a large amount of money. Officer Watson died at the scene and Officer Wortmann died from his wounds the following day. Both brothers were freed after an investigation showed no evidence of criminal intent, and that both officers failed to identify themselves as police officers.

Survivors

Officer Watson had served with the agency for three years and was survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: neuraspine_01krbxtnehva6nn63nc960d7x2
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Danny. Claim this record.

Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Air Force. One record, 2 gates. Danny is one person.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Watson gave the Detroit Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Detroit community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Watson.

— 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 14, 1971

Tour of Duty 3 yrs

Age 29

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Military Service

Danny Lee Watson served in the U.S. Air Force (1961â1965) before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Danny is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.

34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

Compare against

Time

In 1971, 168 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 18th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States

Who

Danny 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. Danny had served 3 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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%. Thursdays: 14%.

By month

By day of the week

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.

Every cause

Weapons recorded