Roll of Honor
Michael Janson Barwick
Incident
Police Officer Michael Barwick was killed in an automobile crash at 2:20 am during a vehicle pursuit of a stolen car.
The pursuit started after Officer Barwick and his partner spotted the vehicle and attempted to stop it. During the pursuit, a minivan collided with Officer Barwick's patrol car at 25th Street and St. Louis Avenue. The collision caused the patrol car to go airborne, land on its side and burst into flames. Other units stopped and pulled Officer Barwick and Officer Christian from the vehicle. Both officers were transported to a local hospital where Officer Barwick succumbed to his injuries.
Other officers chased the vehicle off and on for over an hour. The driver and its passenger were both finally apprehended and were both charged with felony murder in connection with Officer Barwick's death. The suspect driving the car was convicted of the charges in September 2003 and sentenced to 12 years in prison. The suspect in the passenger seat was sentenced to 18 years in prison.
Officer Barwick had served with the St. Louis Police Department for two years and was assigned to the 4th District.
In 2007, a portion of Interstate 44 from Kings Highway to the City limits, was renamed the Police Officer Michael J. B Barwick Interstate in his honor.
Brother a days doesn't go by that I still reflect on that night when my FTO, Officer Billy March and I had just chatted with you and Officer Christian then we heard the pursuit over the radio. We were behind and missed the turn north onto 25th Street and by the time we reached you the accident had already happen.
I still can't get the scene out my mind and it's 2023. So many officers on the scene and we were determine that you were not going to die in a burning car. We were relieved that we got you and Jena to safety.
Several hours later, we were updated by Capt. Tooele that you passed due to your injuries. That's still hard to swallow and I am finally talking to somebody what my struggles are since that night.
Brother I had just started in the 4th but it seem like I knew you for a lifetime.
Continue to rest in paradise, until we meet again.
Love you,
Man
Retired Police Officer Andrew Ames St. Louis Metropolitan Police (St Louis City) December 19th, 2023
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MO-1F4E73E1- 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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Barwick gave the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the St. Louis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Barwick.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Michael Janson Barwick is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In MO, 237 of 813 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 29.2% of this state's fallen. That is 1.8 percentage points below the national rate of 31%.
At St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, 56 of 176 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 31.8% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Michael Janson Barwick's cause is highlighted.
How Michael Janson Barwick Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to 18 years
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Michael Janson Barwick is highlighted in Aug.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
175 officers from St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
