Michael L. Raburn
Detective

Michael L. Raburn

Felonious
End of Watch March 27, 1984
Age 38
Tour of Duty 12 yrs
The Vigil Panel 128 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Detective Michael Raburn was stabbed with a sword while responding to the home of a mentally disturbed person. He was working plainclothes at the time to serve an eviction on the tenant. When he knocked on the front door, the subject reached through the doorway and stabbed him. Detective Raburn was able to fire several shots at the suspect while retreating. A SWAT team forced entry later in the night and shot and killed the suspect. Detective Raburn had served with the King County Sheriff's Office for 12 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, two sons, foster son, father, brother, and sister.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-WA-449A0C06
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.
Detective Raburn gave the King County Sheriff's Office 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the Seattle community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Raburn.

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

Agency

Type Other
Location Seattle, WA
Platform Identity kingso.king.wa.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 27, 1984
Tour of Duty 12 yrs
Age 38
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Edged weapon

Detective Michael L. Raburn 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 WA, 187 of 340 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 55% of this state's fallen. That is 55 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At King County Sheriffs Department, 11 of 18 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.1% of this agency's fallen.

King County Sheriffs Department
11
of 18 officers
61.1% Felonious
WA — Statewide
187
of 340 officers
55% 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 L. Raburn's cause is highlighted.

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

How Michael L. Raburn Compares

Age at Death
38
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
12
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Michael L. Raburn is highlighted in Mar.

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. Michael L. Raburn was killed by edged weapon.

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

Incident Location