Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Hilenski was shot and killed while he and his partner attempted to deal with a mentally disturbed person at 5731 Trenton Street. As the two officers climbed the stairs the man appeared on the top and fired a shot from a single-shot shotgun, striking Officer Hilenski in the face. As his partner dragged him to safety, the suspect reloaded. The man then shot Officer Hilenski a second time before being shot and wounded by the partner. The suspect was committed to a state hospital, where he died in 1966. Officer Hilenski had served with the agency for 17 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MI-6B35D766- 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
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Hilenski gave the Detroit Police Department 17 years.
Thank you for your service to the Detroit community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Hilenski.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Leo F. Hilenski 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. Leo F. Hilenski's cause is highlighted.
How Leo F. Hilenski Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Leo F. Hilenski is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Leo F. Hilenski 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.
