Robert L. Stevens
Agency patch
Sergeant

Robert L. Stevens

Felonious
End of Watch April 29, 1970
Age 36
Tour of Duty 9 yrs 6 mo
The Vigil Panel 106 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Sergeant Robert Stevens was shot and killed when a mentally ill man took control of his firearm and shot and killed him at 2:35 a.m. Sergeant Stevens was on break, eating with other officers at an all-night restaurant on Napier Avenue at Interstate 94 when the man approached the seated officers and went immediately for Sgt. Steven's duty revolver. He was able to remove it from the holster and shot Sergeant Stevens. The subject was pursued out of the restaurant by other officers and captured in the parking lot. The man was later ruled to be mentally ill and released. Sergeant Stevens had served with the Benton Township Police Department for nine years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, two daughters, a mother, six sisters, and four brothers.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-MI-D1D32504
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.
Sergeant Stevens gave the Benton Township Police Department 9 years.
Thank you for your service to the Benton community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Stevens.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Benton, MI
Platform Identity btpd.washtenaw.mi.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 29, 1970
Tour of Duty 9 yrs 6 mo
Age 36
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Officer's handgun

Sergeant Robert L. Stevens 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 MI, 426 of 719 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 59.2% of this state's fallen. That is 59.2 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

Benton Township Police Department
1
of 1 officers
100% Felonious
MI — Statewide
426
of 719 officers
59.2% 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. Robert L. Stevens's cause is highlighted.

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

How Robert L. Stevens Compares

Age at Death
36
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
9.5
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Robert L. Stevens is highlighted in Apr.

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. Robert L. Stevens was killed by officer's handgun.

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

Incident Location

Others Who Wore This Badge

0 officers from Benton Township Police Department are honored on badge.nw.