Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Villaire was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a robbery suspect. Officer Villaire was shot six times on Sunday, Sept. 23 at 2:30 p.m. as he grappled with a man who had threatened the lives of a number of people at a house located at 2457 St. Antoine Street. Responding to a call for help, Officer Villaire had entered the first floor of the home and was warned by a woman who lived there that there was an armed man was inside. As he opened the door leading to a back room, as many as nine shots were fired in rapid succession and the officer fell dead at the scene. His assailant fled. The 24-year-old suspect was arrested, convicted of murder, and sentenced to life on October 5, 1923. He was paroled on May 4, 1951. Officer Villaire had been with the police department for nine years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two children; a son and a daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MI-23CE3BA4- 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.
Police Officer Villaire gave the Detroit Police Department 9 years.
Thank you for your service to the Detroit community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Villaire.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Stephen Villaire 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%.
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. Stephen Villaire's cause is highlighted.
How Stephen Villaire Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Stephen Villaire is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Stephen Villaire was killed by gun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
249 officers from Detroit Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
