Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer Michael McAllister was shot and killed while searching a suspect after responding to a report of gunshots at 2:45 am. When he arrived on the scene, he located the suspect on North Shore Drive, just north of the city limits, and began to pat him down. With his back to Officer McAllister during the search, the suspect suddenly fired a gun through his own coat, striking Officer McAllister in the stomach three times. The subject was apprehended a short distance away. At the time of the shooting, the subject was a radical and was wanted for the October 9th, 1971, hijacking of Eastern Airlines Flight 953 and its 44 passengers on a flight from Detroit to Miami. He forced the pilots to fly to Havana, Cuba. It was discovered that he had stayed in Cuba for four years before secretly returning to the United States. He was sentenced to life in prison for Officer McAllister's murder on September 10th, 1976. In February 2021, he was granted parole and released in May 2021. Officer McAllister had served with the South Haven Police Department for 15 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his five children.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-MI-595B7AC9- 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.
Police Officer McAllister gave the South Haven Police Department 15 years.
Thank you for your service to the South Haven community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer McAllister.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Michael McAllister 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. Michael McAllister's cause is highlighted.
How Michael McAllister Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Michael McAllister is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Michael McAllister was killed by handgun; 9 mm.