Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer William Schmedding was shot and killed after responding to a report of a robbery in progress at Sam's Loans at an area pawn shop at 2104 Michigan Avenue at 1:40 p.m. Officer Schmedding interrupted three suspects who fired on him. Officer Schmedding emptied his revolver trying to return fire but was killed while trying to reload. One suspect was shot and killed, two were wounded during a shootout with responding officers. Although the two wounded suspects were convicted, the convictions were overturned in 1981. Officer Schmedding served with the Detroit Police Department for 16 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, son, and twin daughters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MI-9202544B- 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 Schmedding gave the Detroit Police Department 16 years.
Thank you for your service to the Detroit community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Schmedding.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer William Schmedding Jr. 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. William Schmedding Jr.'s cause is highlighted.
How William Schmedding Jr. Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Schmedding Jr. is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William Schmedding Jr. 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.
