LaVern Steven Brann
Agency patch
Detective

LaVern Steven Brann

Veteran → Felonious
End of Watch May 9, 2005
Age 44
Tour of Duty 20 yrs
The Vigil Panel 153 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Detective LaVern Brann was shot and killed while he and his partner were investigating a homicide that had occurred the previous month.

The shooting occurred when the two went to an apartment complex at 140 Brewer Drive to interview a woman and her mother. Detective Brann went to the front of the apartment complex while his partner went to the back of the building.

While in the rear, Detective Brann's partner heard gunshots fired from the front of the complex. When he ran to investigate, he was met by an armed man. The two exchanged gunfire, and the detective was shot in the leg as the suspect fled the scene.

When backup officers arrived, they found Detective Brann shot in the stairwell of the complex. He was transported to Battle Creek Health Systems, where he died from his wounds.

The suspect was convicted of Detective Brann's murder and sentenced to life in prison without parole.

Detective Brann had served with the Battle Creek City Police Department for 20 years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and two daughters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-MI-0ED4BBD1
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. LaVern is one person.

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Tributes

20 years. You could have gone home.
Detective Brann gave the Battle Creek City Police Department 20 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Battle Creek community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Brann.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Battle Creek, Calhoun County, MI
Platform Identity bcpd.calhoun.mi.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 9, 2005
Tour of Duty 20 yrs
Age 44
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Shotgun; 12 gauge

Military Service

LaVern Steven Brann served in the U.S. Army (1980–1980) before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Detective LaVern Steven Brann 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 Battle Creek City Police Department, 3 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Battle Creek City Police Department
3
of 6 officers
50% Felonious
MI — Statewide
426
of 719 officers
59.2% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. LaVern Steven Brann's cause is highlighted.

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

How LaVern Steven Brann Compares

Age at Death
44
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
20
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. LaVern Steven Brann 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. LaVern Steven Brann was killed by shotgun; 12 gauge.

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

Incident Location

Military Service

LaVern Steven Brann served in the U.S. Army (1980–1980) before joining law enforcement.

Visit LaVern Steven Brann’s page on salute.nw →

His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.