Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer John Hessler was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a suspect for murdering his estranged wife's friend on White Street between Monroe and High Streets in Ecorse.
Officer Hessler and another officer were patrolling the area when they spotted the suspect. Two hours earlier, the suspect had killed a man in front of several witnesses at his estranged wife's boarding house. When Officer Hessler stepped out of the patrol car to arrest the man, the subject shot him in the head. The subject fired two more shots towards the other officer, but the bullets struck the vehicle. The second officer fired twice at the suspect, wounding him as he fled. The subject ran down the street and surrendered to a third officer. The man was transported to Wyandotte Hospital, where he died from his injuries two hours later.
Officer Hessler succumbed to his injuries in the ambulance on the way to the hospital.
Officer Hessler was a United States Army veteran of WWI and had served with the Ecorse Police Department for 17 years.
Survivors
He was survived by a wife and son.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MI-57918BCF- 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 Hessler gave the Ecorse Police Department 17 years.
Thank you for your service to the Ecorse community. Thank you 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
John Otto Hessler served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Police Officer John Otto Hessler 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 Ecorse Police Department, 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. John Otto Hessler's cause is highlighted.
How John Otto Hessler Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Otto Hessler is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John Otto Hessler was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Ecorse Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
