Alphonse H. Kemper

Detroit Police Department — Detroit, MI

Felonious

End of Watch October 10, 1945

Age 43

Tour of Duty 21 yrs

The Vigil Panel 81 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 249

Incident

Sergeant Kemper was shot and killed when he interrupted a robbery at a local paint store at 5707 Michigan Avenue. Sergeant Kemper, still in uniform, was on his way home when he walked into Frazier Paint Company at 4:20 p.m. as the robbery was taking place. The store owner attempted to warn the officer but the suspects opened fire, seriously wounding him. He managed to return fire killing one suspect. He died of his wounds 8 days later. The second suspect was arrested and sentenced to life in prison.

Survivors

Sergeant Kemper had served with the Detroit Police Department for 21 years and was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MI-5557EF97
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.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Alphonse. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

21 years. You could have gone home.
Sergeant Kemper gave the Detroit Police Department 21 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Detroit community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Kemper.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Detroit Police Department

Location Detroit, MI

Platform Identity detpd.wayne.mi.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 10, 1945

Tour of Duty 21 yrs

Age 43

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Shot and killed

Sergeant Alphonse H. Kemper 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.

Detroit Police Department

177

of 250 officers

70.8% Felonious

MI — Statewide

426

of 718 officers

59.3% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious