Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Dennis Lyons was shot and killed while chasing a man who had just been involved in a fight at a local tavern. Officer Lyons showed up at the fight scene on West Maumee Street near College Avenue and one of the men fled. As Officer Lyons chased him and ordered him to stop the man produced a handgun and shot Officer Lyons in the head, killing him instantly. The suspect was eventually apprehended and sentenced to eight years for manslaughter.
Officer Lyons had been with the agency for two years and was survived by his wife. He is buried in Oakwood Cemetery, Adrian, Michigan.
Officer Lyons had been with the agency for two years and was survived by his wife. He is buried in Oakwood Cemetery, Adrian, Michigan.
Survivors
Officer Lyons had been with the agency for two years and was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MI-9D41B318- 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
146 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Officer Lyons gave the Adrian Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Adrian community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Officer Dennis R. Lyons 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 Adrian Police Department, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Dennis R. Lyons's cause is highlighted.
How Dennis R. Lyons Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Dennis R. Lyons is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Dennis R. Lyons was killed by handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Adrian Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
