Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer Bruce Williams was shot and killed when he was robbed as he was pumping gas at East Eight Mile Road near Ryan Road around 11:30 p.m. When he attempted to take action he was shot twice in the chest and killed. Four suspects, three of them juveniles, were arrested and the gunman was convicted and sentenced to life in prison without parole. Officer Williams was a U.S. Army veteran and a five-year veteran of the Detroit Police Department.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MI-215A78E8- 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 Williams gave the Detroit Police Department 5 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
Bruce Williams served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Police Officer Bruce Williams 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. Bruce Williams's cause is highlighted.
How Bruce Williams Compares
Offender Outcome
off duty
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Bruce Williams is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Bruce Williams was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
249 officers from Detroit Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
