Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer Michael Nickerson and Deputy Sheriff Jason Schwenz, of the Queen Anne County Sheriff's Office, were shot and killed after responding to a noise complaint in the 300 block of Hammond Street.
The two officers and a state trooper had responded to the complaint and had been given permission to enter the mobile home by the suspect's mother, who lived across the street. The officers were in a screened-in porch and had identified themselves when the man told them not to come in or they would get hurt. When the officers opened the door, the man opened fire with a shotgun, striking Deputy Schwenz and Officer Nickerson.
The state trooper dragged Officer Nickerson off of the porch and was attempting to revive him when the man attacked him. The trooper was able to overpower the man and place him under arrest.
The man was found guilty of two counts of first-degree murder on May 24th, 2002, and was sentenced to death. He was also sentenced to life without parole for the attempted murder of the state trooper. He died in prison on November 17th, 2002.
Officer Nickerson had served with the Centreville Police Department for one month and had previously served with the Kent County Sheriff's Office for two years.
Survivors
He is survived by his parents and two brothers.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-MD-FD3F0579- Stewardship
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- 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.
Police Officer Nickerson gave the Centreville Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Centreville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Nickerson.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Michael Scott Nickerson 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 MD, 195 of 377 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 51.7% of this state's fallen. That is 2.5 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Michael Scott Nickerson's cause is highlighted.
How Michael Scott Nickerson Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Michael Scott Nickerson is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.