Roll of Honor
Incident
Sergeant Clarence Dietzel was shot and fatally wounded, and Captain Daniel Waters was killed in a gunfight with an ex-convict. The suspect was wanted for shooting at police the previous night when they responded to a local bar where he had caused a disturbance. Sergeant Dietzel and Captain Waters were waiting at the Bancroft Hotel for the suspect and his girlfriend, who had left her son at the hotel. When the pair drove up, they fired at the officers, and a gunfight ensued. Captain Waters died at the scene. The suspects escaped. Minutes later, when police forced the couple to pull over, they found that the suspect was critically wounded. He died in the hospital a short time later. Sergeant Dietzel was transported to Saginaw General Hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds two days later. The suspect was a parolee who had been released a month earlier. It was later discovered that he and his girlfriend had murdered a man in Wayne, Michigan, a month earlier, stolen his vehicle, and had been on a robbery spree throughout the area. Sergeant Dietzel had served with the Saginaw Police Department for 20 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two daughters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MI-7EE4AA13- 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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Tributes
20 years. You could have gone home.
Sergeant Dietzel gave the Saginaw Police Department 20 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Saginaw community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Dietzel.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sergeant Clarence Dietzel Sr. 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 Saginaw Police Department, 6 of 8 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 75% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Clarence Dietzel Sr.'s cause is highlighted.
How Clarence Dietzel Sr. Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Clarence Dietzel Sr. is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Clarence Dietzel Sr. was killed by gun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
7 officers from Saginaw Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
