Robert J. Mihalik

MI State Police — Lansing, MI

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch September 9, 1984

Age 37

Tour of Duty 11 yrs

The Vigil Panel 128 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 56

Incident

Trooper Robert Mihalik was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a man for leaving a gas station without paying. He spotted the man on I-94 in St. Joseph shortly after the broadcast was put out and was able to stop him in a residential area. During the arrest, the suspect was argumentative and failed to cooperate. After getting one handcuff on the man, he suddenly turned and pushed Trooper Mihalik against the hood of the cruiser and obtained control of his service weapon. Trooper Mihalik took cover on the other side of the hood, but the man again began to yell and fired at Trooper Mihalik six times, striking him in the chin and twice in the chest. Trooper Mihalik was able to return fire with his backup weapon and wounded the suspect, who was arrested minutes later by backup officers. The suspect was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life on July 15, 1985. Trooper Mihalik was a United States Army veteran and had served with the Michigan State Police for 11 years. He was survived by his wife and two sons. In June 2020, Red Arrow Highway was renamed Robert J. Mihalik Memorial Highway.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two sons.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MI-53F6A53E
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Army. One record, 2 gates. Robert is one person.

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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.
Trooper Mihalik gave the Michigan State Police 11 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Michigan, 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 MI State Police

Type State Police

Location Lansing, MI

Platform Identity msp.mi.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 9, 1984

Tour of Duty 11 yrs

Age 37

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Officer's handgun

Military Service

Robert J. Mihalik served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Trooper Robert J. Mihalik 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 97,756 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 59.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At MI State Police, 27 of 57 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 47.4% of this agency's fallen.

MI State Police

of 57 officers

47.4% Felonious

MI — Statewide

426

of 718 officers

59.3% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,756 officers

0% Felonious