Harold G. Roughley
Agency patch
Police Officer

Harold G. Roughley

Detroit Police Department — Detroit, MI
Veteran → Felonious
End of Watch May 5, 1919
Age 34
Tour of Duty 7 yrs
Badge 77
The Vigil Panel 37 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Police Officer Roughley was shot and killed while attempting to investigate a murder that took place earlier in the week. Officer Roughly, who was in plain clothes, went to the home of a person of interest for questioning at 511 Clinton Street. He was accompanied by other officers who approached the front of the home. He and a partner approached the back of the house and attempted to force entry into the home in order to detain a suspect in the case. The rear door of the home opened a crack and a double-barreled shotgun was used to shoot Officer Roughly. A suspect was arrested and admitted to the murder. Officer Roughley had served with the Detroit Police Department for seven years. He had recently rejoined with the Detroit Police after serving overseas in World War I.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-MI-E9B6CB34
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

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.
Police Officer Roughley gave the Detroit Police Department 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the Detroit 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 Detroit, Wayne County, MI
Platform Identity detpd.wayne.mi.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 5, 1919
Tour of Duty 7 yrs
Age 34
Badge Number 77
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Shotgun

Military Service

Harold G. Roughley served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Police Officer Harold G. Roughley 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%.

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.

Detroit Police Department
177
of 250 officers
70.8% 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. Harold G. Roughley's cause is highlighted.

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

How Harold G. Roughley Compares

Age at Death
34
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. Harold G. Roughley is highlighted in May.

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. Harold G. Roughley was killed by shotgun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Incident Location

Military Service

Harold G. Roughley served in the United States military before joining law enforcement.

Visit Harold G. Roughley’s page on salute.nw →

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