Roll of Honor
Incident
Trooper Joel Popp was struck and killed by a vehicle while assisting with a DUI investigation on northbound I-75 near Birch Run at about 7:10 pm.
He was standing outside of his vehicle when another motorist struck him and two patrol cars. Trooper Popp was transported to Hurley Medical Center, where he succumbed to his injuries.
The 81-year-old driver sustained serious injuries. He pleaded no contest to a moving violation causing death. He was sentenced to six months of probation and required to complete 120 hours of community service. The driver who had been pulled over for a suspected DUI was convicted of a misdemeanor count of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated.
Trooper Popp had served with the Michigan State Police for four years and was assigned to the Tri-City Post.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, daughter, parents, two brothers, and grandparents.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MI-094F5523- 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.
Trooper Popp gave the Michigan State Police 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Michigan. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Trooper Popp.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Trooper Joel Popp is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In MI, 229 of 718 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 31.9% of this state's fallen. That is 0.9 percentage points above the national rate of 31%.
At MI State Police, 29 of 57 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 50.9% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Joel Popp's cause is highlighted.
How Joel Popp Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Joel Popp is highlighted in Jan.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
56 officers from MI State Police are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
