Roll of Honor
Incident
Detective Mike Lett succumbed to critical injuries he received in a vehicle crash on October 28, 2023.
At 11:00 a.m., Detective Lett hydroplaned on Interstate 430 while responding to a service-to-assist with the Benton Police Department's Drug Take Back Program and struck a guardrail. He was transported to Baptist Hospital in Little Rock, where he died from his injuries.
Detective Lett was a United States Air Force veteran and had served in law enforcement for over 30 years, serving with the Benton Police Department, Saline County Sheriff's Department, Pulaski County Sheriff's Department, Arkansas Attorney General's Office, Maumelle Police Department, and the Salt Lake City (Utah) Police Department.
Survivors
He is survived by his four daughters, a son, two sisters, adopted parents, and two grandchildren.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AR-B7A6DBAD- 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. Air Force. One record, 2 gates. James 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.
Detective Lett gave the Benton Police Department 30 years.
Thank you for your service to the Benton community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
James Michael Lett served in the U.S. Air Force before joining law enforcement.
Detective James Michael Lett is one of 1 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,759 officers honored here.
In AR, 92 of 372 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 24.7% of this state's fallen. That is 24.7 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James Michael Lett's cause is highlighted.
How James Michael Lett Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. James Michael Lett is highlighted in Nov.
Incident Location
Military Service
James Michael Lett served in the U.S. Air Force before joining law enforcement.
Visit James Michael Lett’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 Benton Police Department are honored on badge.nw.