Roll of Honor
Incident
Captain Kenneth Steil succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained on Sept. 12, 2016, while chasing a subject who had just attempted to carjack a vehicle at approximately 11:00 p.m.
As officers arrived on scene at the carjacking at a gas station at 7 Mile East and Hayes Street, the main suspect fled on foot. As Captain Steil pursued him, the subject turned and fired a sawed-off shotgun, striking Captain Steil in the shoulder. Two other officers were able to subdue the man and take him into custody.
Captain Steil was transported to St. John Hospital, where it was initially believed he would recover. However, he experienced complications and died on Sept. 17, 2016.
It was later determined that the suspect had shot his own father in the foot the previous night. He was charged with two counts of attempted murder and several other felonies. The subject who shot him was found guilty of the murder of a peace officer, first-degree murder, resisting an officer causing death, and multiple other felony charges, and was sentenced to 40-75 years in prison.
Captain Steil served with the Detroit Police Department for 20 years and was assigned to the 9th District.
Survivors
He was posthumously promoted to captain and is survived by his wife and two young sons.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MI-B1E92727- 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
20 years. You could have gone home.
Sergeant Steil gave the Detroit Police Department 20 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Detroit community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Steil.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sergeant Kenneth Melvin Steil 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 Detroit Police Department, 177 of 250 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 70.8% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Kenneth Melvin Steil's cause is highlighted.
How Kenneth Melvin Steil Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Kenneth Melvin Steil is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Kenneth Melvin Steil was killed by shotgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
249 officers from Detroit Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
