Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Kobinski was shot and killed while he and his partner attempted to stop four young bank robbery suspects at Hubbell and Eaton avenues. The men were fleeing a robbery they had just committed at the People's State Bank in the City of Plymouth. The men opened fire when they encountered the officers and Officer Kobinski was shot in the head. One of the suspects, a 15-year-old youth, was killed in the return gunfire. The other three, ages 16, 18, and 22, were apprehended, convicted of first degree murder, and sentenced to life. All three were released in 1948 when a judge ruled they should have been convicted of second degree murder. A year later the youngest of the three was shot and critically wounded by a 15-year-old store clerk when he attempted to rob a drug store in Detroit. Officer Kobinski had served with the Detroit Police Department for 4 years.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MI-BD071BCA- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Kobinski gave the Detroit Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Detroit community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Kobinski.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Earl J. Kobinski is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 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 5.1 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
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. Earl J. Kobinski's cause is highlighted.
How Earl J. Kobinski Compares
Offender Outcome
pursuit
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Earl J. Kobinski is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Earl J. Kobinski was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
249 officers from Detroit Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
