Incident
Trooper Martz was accidentally shot and killed by a fellow officer while guarding bank robbers at the Berrien County Jail. The other officer began to inspect his own revolver when it discharged and struck Trooper Martz. He succumbed to his injuries two days later.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtpk9eszt1ak63n6kzdmq- 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 William. Claim this record.
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.
Trooper Martz served with the Michigan State Police.
Thank you for your service to the people of Michigan. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Trooper Martz.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
MI State Police has lost 57 officers; 29 of them lost to accidents.
William is one of 224 officers lost to accidents in MI, 31.9% of the 703 remembered there.
William is one of 8,274 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,543 remembered there.
William is one of 10,099 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.8% of the 33,910 remembered here.
33,910 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1925, 1 officer at MI State Police was lost to accidents, the 6th heaviest of 24 years on record. The heaviest was 1923, with 2.
In 1925, 5 officers in MI were lost to accidents, the 4th heaviest of 98 years on record. The heaviest was 1928, with 8.
In 1925, 88 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 16th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1925, 96 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 26th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
William was 24. Of the 29 lost to accidents at MI State Police whose age is recorded, half were between 25 and 36; the middle age was 29.
William was 24. Of the 212 lost to accidents in MI whose age is recorded, half were between 28 and 43; the middle age was 34.
William was 24. Of the 7,715 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36.
William was 24. Of the 9,448 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36.
When
March holds 13.8% of these deaths at MI State Police, more than any other month. Thursdays: 10.3%.
March holds 6.3% of these deaths in MI; August holds the most, 14.3%. Thursdays: 14.7%.
March holds 7.4% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Thursdays: 14%.
March holds 7.4% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Thursdays: 14.2%.
How
Accident deaths account for 50.9% of all 57 deaths at MI State Police, the most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 31.9% of all 703 deaths in MI, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,543 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.8% of all 33,910 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
MI State Police has 57 officers remembered here, William among them.
-
Harold Anderson
Mar 12, 1921
-
Milan Pratt
Apr 15, 1922
-
John P. Clinton
Jan 8, 1923
-
Harvey Edgar Bolen
May 4, 1923
-
William Martz
Mar 12, 1925
-
Howard H. Funk
Jul 8, 1926
-
Sam Mapes
May 1, 1927
-
Delos A. Williams
Jun 30, 1929
-
John S. Burke
Oct 13, 1930
-
Richards F. Hammond
Jan 20, 1937
-
Irvine F. Wurm
Jan 26, 1941
-
John W. Cain
Nov 26, 1941
-
Charles T. Wood
Apr 14, 1942
-
Ralph Broullire
Mar 16, 1943
-
John D. Ryan
Mar 3, 1950
-
George Branny
Apr 12, 1950
-
Perry Critchell
Mar 20, 1954
-
Calvin Rutledge Jones
Feb 10, 1956
-
George Eino Lappi
Nov 19, 1956
-
Bert Anthony Pozza
Nov 19, 1956
-
Dugald A. Pellot
Sep 30, 1957
-
Albert W. Souden
Sep 3, 1959
-
Robert Raymond Gonser
Aug 8, 1968
-
Carl P. Lindberg
May 26, 1969
-
Rodger M. Adams
May 14, 1971
-
Gary T. Rampy
Dec 31, 1971
-
Charles B. Stark
Dec 31, 1971
-
Steven B. DeVries
Oct 12, 1972
-
Darryl M. Rantanen
May 27, 1974
-
Larry Lee Forreider
Dec 5, 1974
-
Norman R. Killough
Oct 7, 1978
-
Harry A. Sorenson
Dec 5, 1978
-
David William Hubbard
Sep 16, 1980
-
Allan Peterson
Aug 29, 1981
-
Craig A. Scott
Feb 9, 1982
-
Vicki Moreau DeVries
Jul 22, 1982
-
Tony L. Thames
Jun 12, 1983
-
Robert J. Mihalik
Sep 9, 1984
-
Paul L. Hutchins
Aug 30, 1985
-
James E. Boland
Jul 26, 1987
-
Kermit Fitzpatrick
Jul 7, 1991
-
James R. DeLoach
Feb 1, 1992
-
Steven J. Niewiek
Feb 2, 1992
-
Byron J. Erickson
Jul 31, 1993
-
Bryon S. Egelski
Jul 11, 1994
-
Manuel H. Fields
Aug 27, 1994
-
Frederick Anthony Hardy
Nov 6, 1999
-
Rick Lee Johnson
May 6, 2000
-
Kevin Michael Marshall
Jul 7, 2003
-
Jeffrey James Werda
Apr 6, 2011
-
Paul Kenyon Butterfield, II
Sep 9, 2013
-
Chad H. Wolf
Aug 28, 2015
-
Timothy James O'Neill
Sep 20, 2017
-
Caleb Howard Starr
Jul 31, 2020
-
Todd Lawrence Leveille
Dec 9, 2021
-
Joel Popp
Jan 24, 2024
-
Daniel Kerstetter
Sep 15, 2024
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 20-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
56 officers from MI State Police are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.















