Roll of Honor
Mason James Samborski
Incident
Public Safety Officer Mason Samborski was shot and killed while conducting an investigation following a traffic stop.
He had stopped a juvenile subject, and when the juvenile did not have a license, he took him to the Rue Versailles Apartment Complex to drop him off with an adult. After arriving at the location, Officer Samborski realized that the subject had taken him to a friend's apartment and not his residence; he stated that he would take him to jail unless he took him to his home. The juvenile tried to flee, and a scuffle ensued. They fell down a flight of stairs, and the subject grabbed Officer Samborski's gun and shot him. The suspect fled the scene with Officer Samborski's service weapon and was apprehended the following day.
The suspect was found guilty of first-degree murder on November 19, 2010. He was sentenced to life without parole on December 16, 2010. In 2016 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the defendants, who were juveniles at the time of their crime and were sentenced to life without parole, was cruel and unusual and ordered new sentences for all who were. In 2022, he was resentenced to 40 to 70 years. He is eligible for parole in 2050.
Officer Samborski had served with the Oak Park Police Department for 4 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, child, parents, brother, and sister.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MI-359215C2- 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.
Public Safety Officer Samborski gave the Oak Park Department of Public Safety 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Michigan. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Public Safety Officer Samborski.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Public Safety Officer Mason James Samborski 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 Oak Park Department of Public Safety, 2 of 2 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. Mason James Samborski's cause is highlighted.
How Mason James Samborski Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Mason James Samborski is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Mason James Samborski was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Oak Park Department of Public Safety are honored on badge.nw.
