Kenneth Joseph Moraska
Agency patch
Patrolman

Kenneth Joseph Moraska

Norway Police Department — Norway, MI
Veteran → Felonious
End of Watch May 23, 1971
Age 26
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
The Vigil Panel 108 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Kenneth Moraska was shot and killed after responding to a domestic disturbance. When Patrolman Moraska arrived at the scene of the domestic dispute he reportedly found the front door locked and in an attempt to enter the building approached the rear door. As he approached the rear door of the house he was shot in the head with a hunting rifle. The suspect had been previously arrested by Patrolman Moraska for disorderly conduct. After shooting Patrolman Moraska, the man stole Patrolman Moraska's gun and led other officers on a 6-hour chase before being apprehended. On December 1st, 1971, the suspect, 23, was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. As of October 5, 2022, he was still in prison. Patrolman Moraska was a U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam War and had served with the Norway Police Department for two years. He was survived by his wife and child. In May 2017, Route 2 in Norway was renamed Kenneth J. Moraska Memorial Highway.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and child.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-MI-CE5A712F
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. Army. One record, 2 gates. Kenneth 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.
Patrolman Moraska gave the Norway Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Norway 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 Norway, Dickinson County, MI
Platform Identity npd.dickinson.mi.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 23, 1971
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
Age 26
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Rifle

Military Service

Kenneth Joseph Moraska served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Patrolman Kenneth Joseph Moraska 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%.

Norway Police Department
1
of 1 officers
100% 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. Kenneth Joseph Moraska's cause is highlighted.

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

How Kenneth Joseph Moraska Compares

Age at Death
26
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
2
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Kenneth Joseph Moraska 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. Kenneth Joseph Moraska was killed by rifle.

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

Military Service

Kenneth Joseph Moraska served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.

Visit Kenneth Joseph Moraska’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 Norway Police Department are honored on badge.nw.