Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Cleo Platt was shot and killed while attempting to make an arrest of two burglary suspects at 2:00 am. He and his wife were walking home in the downtown area when he stopped to assist a motorist. When he noticed stolen items from a local store in the vehicle he sent his wife home and then attempted to arrest the two men. During the arrest he was shot in the shoulder and abdomen. Both subjects, ages 21 and 22, were arrested and sentenced to life at hard labor. One was paroled on January 1, 1950. Four months later he was killed in a motorcycle accident. Deputy Platt had served with the Eaton County Sheriff's Department for 14 months.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MI-330CB06D- 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
You barely got started.
Deputy Sheriff Platt gave the Eaton County Sheriff's Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Charlotte community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Platt.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Cleo Platt 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 Eaton County Sheriff's Department, 3 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Cleo Platt's cause is highlighted.
How Cleo Platt Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Cleo Platt is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Cleo Platt was killed by handgun; .45 caliber.
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Eaton County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.
