Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer Scalf was shot twice while attempting to arrest a suspect in an undercover prostitution sting. The suspect had propositioned a female officer posing as a prostitute. When Officers Scalf and Graves stopped the truck, the suspect fled on foot. Both officers were in pursuit when the suspect turned and fired at the officers. Officer Scalf was shot once in the hand. Then the second shot struck him in the shoulder which entered through the gap in the top of his protective vest. Officer Scalf was transported to the hospital where he died. Officer Graves, who also was shot multiple times, survived his injuries. The suspect was killed in an exchange of gunfire with law enforcement officers.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MI-42D61C1E- 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 Scalf 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 Scalf.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Richard Daniel Scalf 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%.
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. Richard Daniel Scalf's cause is highlighted.
How Richard Daniel Scalf Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Richard Daniel Scalf is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
249 officers from Detroit Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
