James Michael Lett
Detective

James Michael Lett

Benton Police Dept. — Benton, AR
Accident Veteran
End of Watch November 8, 2023
Age 56
Tour of Duty 30 yrs
Badge 2725
The Vigil Panel 182 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Detective Mike Lett succumbed to critical injuries he received in a vehicle crash on October 28, 2023.

At 11:00 a.m., Detective Lett hydroplaned on Interstate 430 while responding to a service-to-assist with the Benton Police Department's Drug Take Back Program and struck a guardrail. He was transported to Baptist Hospital in Little Rock, where he died from his injuries.

Detective Lett was a United States Air Force veteran and had served in law enforcement for over 30 years, serving with the Benton Police Department, Saline County Sheriff's Department, Pulaski County Sheriff's Department, Arkansas Attorney General's Office, Maumelle Police Department, and the Salt Lake City (Utah) Police Department.

Survivors

He is survived by his four daughters, a son, two sisters, adopted parents, and two grandchildren.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-AR-B7A6DBAD
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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Detective Lett gave the Benton Police Department 30 years.
Thank you for your service to the Benton community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department Benton Police Dept.
Location Benton, AR
Platform Identity bentpd.saline.ar.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 8, 2023
Tour of Duty 30 yrs
Age 56
Badge Number 2725
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

Military Service

James Michael Lett served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Detective James Michael Lett is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In AR, 92 of 372 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 24.7% of this state's fallen. That is 6.3 percentage points below the national rate of 31%.

Benton Police Dept.
1
of 1 officers
100% Accident
AR — Statewide
92
of 372 officers
24.7% Accident
Nationwide
10,088
of 32,508 officers
31% Accident

National Cause Distribution

How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James Michael Lett's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How James Michael Lett Compares

Age at End of Watch
56
This officer
Avg for Accident: 38.1 years
Years of Service
30
This officer
Avg for Accident: 9.1 years

When Accident Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. James Michael Lett is highlighted in Nov.

Jan
820
Feb
730
Mar
748
Apr
707
May
847
Jun
795
Jul
897
Aug
937
Sep
913
Oct
925
Nov
872
Dec
897

Incident Location