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Incident
Detective Alton Fritcher was shot and killed while responding to an armed robbery. He and another officer were visiting a business on Davison Road when a customer of a nearby cocktail lounge ran in and told them the place was being robbed. Detective Fritcher went to the front door, and his partner went to the back door of the lounge. When the two officers entered the lounge, the suspects, two men and a woman, opened fire, striking Detective Fritcher in the back and wounding his partner in the hand. Detective Fritcher was transported to Hurley Hospital, where he died the following day. All three suspects were captured a short time later. Before one of the male suspects, a Southern Michigan Prison escapee, 32, was captured, he ran to a nearby house and tried to break in. He shot and killed the owner of the house in front of his wife and three children. He was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole on September 12, 1969. He died in prison on November 20, 2020. The female suspect, 28, was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison on September 11, 1969. She died in prison on October 16, 2001. The other male suspect, 30, was also sentenced to life. Detective Fritcher was a United States Army World War II veteran and had served with the Flint Police Department for 18 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, three sons, and two stepdaughters.
In Our Keeping
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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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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.
Detective Fritcher gave the Flint Police Department 18 years.
Thank you for your service to the Flint community, 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
Alton Fritcher served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Flint Police Department has lost 13 officers; 4 of them killed feloniously.
Alton is one of 415 officers killed feloniously in MI, 59% of the 703 remembered there.
Alton is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Alton 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 1969, 8 officers in MI were killed feloniously, the 10th heaviest of 124 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 14.
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.
In 1969, 128 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 43rd heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Alton was 42. Of the 400 killed feloniously in MI whose age is recorded, half were between 28 and 42; the middle age was 35. Alton had served 18 years; the middle length of service was 7 years.
Alton was 42. 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. Alton had served 18 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Alton was 42. Of the 15,853 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Alton had served 18 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
January holds 8.7% of these deaths in MI; December holds the most, 12.3%. Sundays: 16.6%.
January holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Sundays: 15.2%.
January holds 7.9% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Sundays: 15.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 30.8% of all 13 deaths at Flint Police Department, the 2nd most common cause. The weapon recorded was rifle, in 25% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 59% of all 703 deaths in MI, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was rifle, in 7.5% 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 rifle, in 5.9% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was rifle, in 5.3% of these deaths.
His people
Flint Police Department has 13 officers remembered here, Alton among them.
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Cleveland Murphy Corless Aug 6, 1916
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Caleb Embree Smith
Oct 27, 1921
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Avery M. Hudson Jun 28, 1923
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Matthew Hauer
Apr 18, 1924
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John Wopinski Aug 8, 1932
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Gerald Leach Sep 21, 1940
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Neil Krantz
Apr 24, 1951
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James McCullough Feb 28, 1952
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Alton Fritcher
Jan 5, 1969
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Leslie Dean Keely
Sep 24, 1999
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Owen David Fisher
Jul 16, 2005
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David Lucious Williams
Feb 24, 2009
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Collin Brevik Birnie
Feb 4, 2022
Military Service
Alton Fritcher served in the United States military before joining law enforcement.
Visit Alton Fritcher’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 57-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Also Remembered
Others Who Wore This Badge
12 officers from Flint Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
