Roll of Honor
Vernon Scott Averill
Incident
Conservation Officer V. Scott Averill succumbed to complications of head injuries sustained on October 23rd, 1980, when he was attacked by a father and son.
Officer Averill had just issued the pairs citations for illegally spearing fish in Acme Creek, near M-72, at about 1:15 pm. As he turned away from the pair attacked him. The 16-year-old son held him down as the father beat him over the head with a .22 caliber hunting revolver. The two then stole Officer Averill's service pistol, glasses, and ticket book and fled the scene.
Despite suffering two skull fractures and a concussion, Officer Averill was able to crawl to his truck and then drive to M-72 where he called for help.
The father and son were arrested a short time later and charged with robbery and assault.
Officer Averill underwent surgery on the night of the incident to relieve pressure on his brain. He developed tumors in the immediate area of the skull fractures and died on February 1st, 1986.
Officer Averill was survived by his wife and two children.
Survivors
Officer Averill was survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MI-88DF279A- 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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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Navy. One record, 2 gates. Vernon is one person.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Conservation Officer Averill served with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
Thank you for your service to the Lansing community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Conservation Officer Averill.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Vernon Scott Averill served in the U.S. Navy (1966â1970) before joining law enforcement.
Conservation Officer Vernon Scott Averill 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 Michigan Department of Natural Resources, 5 of 15 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 33.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Vernon Scott Averill's cause is highlighted.
How Vernon Scott Averill Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Vernon Scott Averill is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Vernon Scott Averill was killed by blunt object.
Incident Location
Military Service
Vernon Scott Averill served in the U.S. Navy (1966–1970) before joining law enforcement.
Visit Vernon Scott Averill’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Others Who Wore This Badge
14 officers from Michigan Department of Natural Resources are honored on badge.nw.
