Charles E. Beasley
Agency patch
Police Officer

Charles E. Beasley

Detroit Police Department — Detroit, MI
Felonious
End of Watch November 22, 1988
Age 38
Tour of Duty 12 yrs
Badge 872
The Vigil Panel 134 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Officer Beasley was shot and killed while working an undercover narcotics operation. He had gone to make a large $25,000 narcotics purchase from a dealer in the White Castle parking lot at Livernois and West Warren. The dealer, however, went with the intent of robbing Officer Beasley; substituting the narcotics with flour. Officer Beasley refused to turn over the money and the suspects, suspicious they were being set up, shot Officer Beasley in the face. He was killed during the transaction. The gunman was shot in the thigh by Officer Beasley's partners and was arrested after trying to flee. Officer Beasley had served with the agency for 12 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and three children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-MI-8DE4BF1D
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 Charles. 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.
Police Officer Beasley gave the Detroit Police Department 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the Detroit community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Beasley.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Detroit, Wayne County, MI
Platform Identity detpd.wayne.mi.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 22, 1988
Tour of Duty 12 yrs
Age 38
Badge Number 872
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

Police Officer Charles E. Beasley 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.

Detroit Police Department
177
of 250 officers
70.8% Felonious
MI — Statewide
426
of 719 officers
59.2% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Charles E. Beasley's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Charles E. Beasley Compares

Age at Death
38
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
12
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Charles E. Beasley is highlighted in Nov.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Charles E. Beasley was killed by gun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Incident Location