Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Matthew Bowens and Officer Jennifer Fettig were shot and killed while making a traffic stop on Gilbert Avenue at 2 am.
As the two officers called in the license plate information of the vehicle, while sitting in their patrol car, the suspect exited his vehicle and opened fire with a .40 caliber handgun, striking Officer Fettig five times and Officer Bowens three times. The shooter then went out of view as Officer Bowens exited the patrol car, returned fire three times, and then went to help Officer Fettig as he called assistance.
The shooter reappeared and shot Officer Bowens six more times before stealing his service weapon. The shooter fired a total of 19 rounds at the officers during the incident.
The killer fled in his pickup truck, but a portion of the shooting was recorded in the patrol car's camera. The killer and his brother were arrested several hours later. The killer was found guilty on four charges of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison, where he died on October 15, 2010.
Both officers were transported to Henry Ford Hospital where Officer Bowens was pronounced dead. Officer Fettig was admitted in extremely critical condition and died from her wounds 12 hours later.
Officer Bowens had served with the Detroit Police Department for 3 years and was assigned to the 4th Precinct.
Survivors
He is survived by his father and two brothers.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MI-70E8319F- 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 Bowens gave the Detroit Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Detroit community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Bowens.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Matthew Edmond Bowens 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. Matthew Edmond Bowens's cause is highlighted.
How Matthew Edmond Bowens Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Matthew Edmond Bowens is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Matthew Edmond Bowens was killed by handgun; .40 caliber.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
249 officers from Detroit Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
