Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer William Slappey was shot and killed, and another officer was wounded, as he and several other officers exchanged gunfire with a man. The officers had entered an area of an apartment building known to be a narcotics trafficking area searching for stolen property. The suspect said he opened fire on the officers, who were in plainclothes because he thought they were going to rob him. On Dec. 10, 1970 the suspect was acquitted when another officer admitted in court that the bullet that killed Officer Slappey may have come from his gun. Officer Slappey was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran of the Vietnam War.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MI-09999F18- 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.
Police Officer Slappey gave the Detroit Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Detroit community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
William Slappey served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Police Officer William Slappey 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.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Slappey's cause is highlighted.
How William Slappey Compares
Offender Outcome
Acquitted
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Slappey is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William Slappey was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
249 officers from Detroit Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
