Michael Edward Deno
Patrol Officer

Michael Edward Deno

Oakland City Police Department — Oakland City, IN
Felonious
End of Watch February 29, 2000
Age 24
Tour of Duty 1 yrs
The Vigil Panel 147 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Officer Michael Deno was shot and killed while conducting a traffic stop on a man he knew was driving with a suspended license.

During the stop, the suspect, 24, produced a .25-caliber handgun from his rear pocket and shot Officer Deno in the right side of his head. Officer Deno was transported to a local hospital where he died the next morning.

The suspect fled the scene, but was arrested about an hour later and charged with murder. In December 2000, he was sentenced to life in prison without parole, plus 20 years for drug possession.

Officer Deno had served with the Oakland City Police Department for one year.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife, parents, brothers and sisters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-IN-56430C5E
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

You barely got started.
Patrol Officer Deno gave the Oakland City Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Oakland City community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrol Officer Deno.

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

Agency

Type Other
Location Oakland City, Gibson County, IN
Platform Identity opd.gibson.in.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 29, 2000
Tour of Duty 1 yrs
Age 24
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Patrol Officer Michael Edward Deno 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 IN, 311 of 503 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.8% of this state's fallen. That is 61.8 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

Oakland City Police Department
1
of 1 officers
100% Felonious
IN — Statewide
311
of 503 officers
61.8% 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. Michael Edward Deno's cause is highlighted.

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

How Michael Edward Deno Compares

Age at Death
24
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
1
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Michael Edward Deno is highlighted in Feb.

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.

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

Others Who Wore This Badge

0 officers from Oakland City Police Department are honored on badge.nw.