Douglas Donald Downing
Agency patch
Patrolman

Douglas Donald Downing

Ypsilanti Police Department — Ypsilanti, MI
Veteran → Felonious
End of Watch July 11, 1975
Age 37
Tour of Duty 7 yrs
The Vigil Panel 115 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Douglas Downing was shot and killed after responding to a holdup alarm at a bank on Michigan Avenue and Park Street. As Patrolman Downing entered through a rear door, he encountered a suspect who was fleeing the bank. The two struggled, and Patrolman Downing was shot and killed. Another officer shot and killed one of the three suspects, and three other suspects were apprehended. All three suspects were convicted of felony murder and sentenced to life in prison. Patrolman Downing was a United States Marine Corps veteran and had served with the Ypsilanti Police Department for 7 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-MI-84BF0822
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. Marine Corps. One record, 2 gates. Douglas is one person.

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Tributes

I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Patrolman Downing gave the Ypsilanti Police Department 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the Ypsilanti community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Ypsilanti, Washtenaw County, MI
Platform Identity ypd.washtenaw.mi.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 11, 1975
Tour of Duty 7 yrs
Age 37
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

Military Service

Douglas Donald Downing served in the U.S. Marine Corps before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Patrolman Douglas Donald Downing 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 97,759 officers honored here.

In MI, 426 of 718 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 59.3% of this state's fallen. That is 59.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

Ypsilanti Police Department
1
of 1 officers
100% Felonious
MI — Statewide
426
of 718 officers
59.3% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,759 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Douglas Donald Downing's cause is highlighted.

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

How Douglas Donald Downing Compares

Age at Death
37
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
7
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Douglas Donald Downing is highlighted in Jul.

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. Douglas Donald Downing 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

Military Service

Douglas Donald Downing served in the U.S. Marine Corps before joining law enforcement.

Visit Douglas Donald Downing’s page on salute.nw →

His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.

Others Who Wore This Badge

0 officers from Ypsilanti Police Department are honored on badge.nw.