Roll of Honor
James Clare Lounsberry
Incident
Chief of Police James Lounsberry succumbed to injuries sustained on January 9, 1986, in a hit-and-run vehicle crash on Michigan Highway 53 in the Marlett Township. At 10:55 a.m., Chief Lounsberry was transporting a citizen to a local hospital during a period of heavy snow on M-53. A vehicle traveling the opposite direction attempted to pass a tractor-trailer on the shoulder but struck the trailer. The collision caused the semi to veer into the oncoming lane of traffic and strike Chief Lounsberry's patrol car head-on. The citizen he was driving to the hospital was killed in the crash. Chief Lounsbeery was transferred to St. Mary's Hospital and died from his serious injuries 10 days later. The driver of the vehicle that struck the semi fled the scene and was never identified. The driver of the semi stayed at the scene and was not charged. Chief Lounsberry was a U.S. Army veteran who had served with the Marlette Police Department for 16 years and in law enforcement for over 20 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his two children and six grandchildren.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MI-2E569209- 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.
Chief of Police Lounsberry gave the Marlette Police Department 20 years.
Thank you for your service to the Marlette 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
James Clare Lounsberry served in the Army (1942â1945) before joining law enforcement.
Chief of Police James Clare Lounsberry 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%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James Clare Lounsberry's cause is highlighted.
How James Clare Lounsberry Compares
Offender Outcome
At large
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James Clare Lounsberry is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James Clare Lounsberry was killed by automobile.