John W. Matthews

Macomb County Sheriff's Office — Mount Clemens, MI

Felonious

End of Watch April 16, 1916

Age 37

The Vigil Panel 31 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 4

Incident

Deputy Sheriff John Matthews succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained four years earlier while attempting to question a man who was fishing in Conger Bay.

The man was a suspect in a theft and the deputies had gone to this cabin on the bay to question him. They learned the man was on the water and began to approach him in their launch. As they neared the man's boat the man opened fire without warning, striking Deputy Matthews in the head.

Deputy Matthews was returned to shore and taken to a hospital as the subject sailed away. The man was shot and killed in a shootout with officers the following day.

Deputy Matthews was survived by his wife, mother, and three brothers.

Survivors

Deputy Matthews was survived by his wife, mother, and three brothers.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MI-5FC26714
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.
Deputy Sheriff Matthews served with the Macomb County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Mount Clemens community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Matthews.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Macomb County Sheriff's Office

Location Mount Clemens, MI

Platform Identity mcso.macomb.mi.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 16, 1916

Age 37

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Shot and killed

Deputy Sheriff John W. Matthews is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 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 5.1 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Macomb County Sheriff's Office, 2 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 40% of this agency's fallen.

Macomb County Sheriff's Office

of 5 officers

40% Felonious

MI — Statewide

426

of 718 officers

59.3% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious