Roll of Honor
George Ziemba
Incident
Location: Michigan Incident Date: Thursday, May 16, 1918 Weapon: Gun; Unknown type Offender: Released in 1941
Railroad Detective George Ziemba, Railroad Detective Rody Goe, and Railroad Detective Bernard Wozniak were shot and killed in the Dearborn Yards, near Miller Road in Dearborn, Michigan, while they conducted surveillance with five other detectives.
Earlier in the day, a railroad worker had discovered a pile of stolen tires hidden in the railroad yards. The detectives were alerted and hid near the area to await the return of the thieves.
At approximately 10:00 pm four men were observed approaching the area carrying timber they were going to use to string the tires onto. When Detective Goe shined his light on them and told them to stop, the men immediately opened fire. Detective Goe, Detective Wozniak, and Detective Ziemba were mortally wounded and one other railroad detective non-life-threatening wounds. It is believed that Detective Wozniak was inadvertently struck by a shotgun blast fired by another detective as he ran up an embankment.
The other detectives returned fire but did not strike the suspects as they fled. Detective Wozniak succumbed to his wounds on May 20th, 1918, and Detective Ziemba succumbed to his on May 25th, 1918.
Two of the suspects were apprehended the following night. Both men were convicted of Detective Goe's murder and sentenced to life in prison. On July 24, 1922, one of the men escaped from the state prison in Jackson. He was recaptured in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on May 14, 1923. Both men were released in 1941.
Detective Ziemba had served with the Michigan Central Railroad Police Department for at least eight years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two sons.
In Our Keeping
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- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Railroad Detective Ziemba gave the Michigan Central Railroad Police Department 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the Detroit community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Railroad Detective Ziemba.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Railroad Detective George Ziemba 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 Michigan Central Railroad Police Department, 2 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 33.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. George Ziemba's cause is highlighted.
How George Ziemba Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. George Ziemba is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. George Ziemba was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
5 officers from Michigan Central Railroad Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
