Joseph Peter Husken

Detroit Police Department — Detroit, MI

Felonious

End of Watch April 17, 1943

Age 61

Tour of Duty 16 yrs

The Vigil Panel 79 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 249

Incident

Sergeant Joseph Husken, Lieutenant Phillip Ellenstein, and Lieutenant David Morris were all shot when they went to investigate a burglar alarm at 25 Campus Martius that had been triggered at the Morton Bond Company. When they arrived, they were met with gunfire, and Lieutenant Ellenstein was killed. Lieutenant Morris was removed to the hospital, where he died two days later. Sergeant Husken was taken to a local hospital with bullets in his spine and abdomen. He survived the injuries, though, and was able to identify the suspects, who were sentenced to life in prison. For several years after the shooting, Sergeant Husken worked at police headquarters since his paralyzed left leg prevented him from performing patrol duties. Eventually, he was placed on the permanent sick list. He died in 1943. Doctors said the bullet wounds he suffered 22 years earlier caused his death. All four men were apprehended four months later. Two were apprehended after they robbed a post office in Toledo, Ohio. Another was captured in Chicago. One was sent to the Maryland Penitentiary and was later shot and killed when he tried to escape. Sergeant Husken served with the Detroit Police Department for 16 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, two daughters, and a son.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MI-04CEE0C5
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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Detective Sergeant Husken gave the Detroit Police Department 16 years.
Thank you for your service to the Detroit community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Sergeant Husken.

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

Agency

Department Detroit Police Department

Location Detroit, MI

Platform Identity detpd.wayne.mi.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 17, 1943

Tour of Duty 16 yrs

Age 61

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Sentenced to life in prison

Detective Sergeant Joseph Peter Husken 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 MI, 426 of 718 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 59.3% of this state's fallen. That is 5.1 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

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.

Detroit Police Department

177

of 250 officers

70.8% Felonious

MI — Statewide

426

of 718 officers

59.3% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious