Roll of Honor
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
- 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.
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
Service Record
Incident Details
Sergeant Robert L. Stevens 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%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Robert L. Stevens's cause is highlighted.
How Robert L. Stevens Compares
Offender Outcome
Ruled mentally ill and released
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Robert L. Stevens is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Robert L. Stevens was killed by officer's handgun.