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Michael T. Scanlon
Agency patch
Police Officer

Michael T. Scanlon

Detroit Police Department — Detroit, MI
Felonious
United States flag Michigan flag
End of Watch February 12, 2002
Age 35
Tour of Duty 7 yrs
The Vigil Panel 149 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 249

Incident

Officer Michael Scanlon was stabbed to death after making a traffic stop along Six Mile near Beech Daly in Redford Township at about 9:50 p.m.

Officer Scanlon was working a traffic detail in the 8th Precinct when he observed the driver of a vehicle make an illegal turn onto Six Mile. He followed the vehicle into Redford Township where he initiated a traffic stop on Beech Daly Road. After the vehicle stopped, he removed the driver from the vehicle and began to frisk him.

While searching the suspect, the suspect attempted to flee and was tackled by Officer Scanlon. During the ensuing struggle, the suspect stabbed Officer Scanlon in the neck and back nine times. While trying to defend himself, Officer Scanlon shot the suspect in the chest, seriously wounding him. The round also struck Officer Scanlon in the arm. The suspect then stole Officer Scanlon's patrol car and service weapon and drove himself to the hospital, where he was taken into custody. Another person in the suspect's vehicle also fled the scene.

The suspect was convicted of murder in September of 2002 and sentenced to life in prison.

Officer Scanlon had been employed with the Detroit Police Department for seven years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife, two young children, brother, and sister.

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 Scanlon gave the Detroit Police Department 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the Detroit community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Scanlon.

— 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 February 12, 2002
Tour of Duty 7 yrs
Age 35
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Stabbed
Weapon Edged weapon; Knife

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Michael 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.

  3. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 2002, 73 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 96th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Michael 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. Michael had served 7 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

February holds 7.4% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Tuesdays: 13.4%.

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 edged weapon; knife, in 0.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

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

Across the years
VI

Where

Police Officer Michael T. Scanlon

Detroit Police Department · End of Watch February 12, 2002

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 22-W

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