Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Henderson was killed when he was assaulted while playing cards at a friend's home around midnight. Several plainclothes Detroit policemen followed what they believed to be a suspicious individual with a gun to an apartment at 310 Rochester Street where a group of deputy sheriffs and a neighbor were playing cards. At least two of the plainclothes policeman entered the apartment with weapons drawn in pursuit of the individual who turned out to be a Wayne County Sheriff's deputy. All parties ultimately identified themselves as law enforcement officers but it is unclear at what point they did so. In the chaos, Deputy Henderson was killed, another deputy was critically wounded and two others suffered lesser wounds in the shoot‐out that was described as the result of a “tragic mix‐up” by the police department. Three plainclothes police officers were charged with murder in what was called the "Rochester Street Massacre;" all three were acquitted. Deputy Henderson had served with the Wayne County Sheriff's Office for 2 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MI-256E5252- 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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Henderson gave the Wayne County Sheriff's Office 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Detroit community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Henderson.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Henry C. Henderson 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 Wayne County Sheriff's Department, 7 of 14 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Henry C. Henderson's cause is highlighted.
How Henry C. Henderson Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Henry C. Henderson is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Henry C. Henderson was killed by not available.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
13 officers from Wayne County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.
