Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer Carter Wells was shot and killed with his own service weapon while making a traffic stop at E. Jefferson Ave. and Walker Street. During the traffic stop, he was leaning into the patrol car when the suspect grabbed his service weapon and shot him. The subject fled the scene but was apprehended following a pursuit. The man was convicted of Officer Wells' murder and sentenced to life in prison but was paroled after serving only 13 years. Officer Wells served with the Detroit Police Department for 13 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two daughters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MI-189D50D3- Stewardship
- 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. Army. One record, 2 gates. Carter is one person.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Wells gave the Detroit Police Department 13 years.
Thank you for your service to the Detroit community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Wells.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Carter Lee Wells served in the U.S. Army (1953â1955) before joining law enforcement.
Police Officer Carter Lee Wells is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.
In MI, 426 of 719 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 59.2% of this state's fallen. That is 59.2 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Detroit Police Department, 177 of 250 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 70.8% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Carter Lee Wells's cause is highlighted.
How Carter Lee Wells Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Carter Lee Wells is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Carter Lee Wells was killed by officer's handgun.
Incident Location
Military Service
Carter Lee Wells served in the U.S. Army (1953–1955) before joining law enforcement.
Visit Carter Lee Wells’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Others Who Wore This Badge
249 officers from Detroit Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
