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Deputy Sheriff

Max Leonard Altman

Mason County Sheriff's Department — Ludington, MI

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch March 12, 1966

Age 32

Tour of Duty 3 mo

The Vigil Panel 101 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Deputy Max Altman was struck and killed by a vehicle while manning a roadblock at the intersection of US 31 and US 10. The vehicle that struck him was fleeing from other units. The 28-year-old driver was convicted of negligent homicide and sentenced to 1.5 to 2 years. Deputy Altman was a United States Army veteran and had only served with the Mason County Sheriff's Department for 3 months.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and three children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MI-C448E6E8
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: April 2, 2026
Last updated: July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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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.
Deputy Sheriff Altman served with the Mason County Sheriff's Department.
Thank you for your service to the Ludington 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

Department Mason County Sheriff's Department

Location Ludington, MI

Platform Identity mcso.mason.mi.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 12, 1966

Tour of Duty 3 mo

Age 32

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Automobile

Offender Sentenced to 2 years

Military Service

Max Leonard Altman served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Deputy Sheriff Max Leonard Altman is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 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 5.1 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

Mason County Sheriff's Department

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

MI — Statewide

426

of 718 officers

59.3% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Max Leonard Altman's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How Max Leonard Altman Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

0.2

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Sentenced to 2 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Max Leonard Altman is highlighted in Mar.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Max Leonard Altman was killed by automobile.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518