Danny Lee Watson

Detroit Police Department — Detroit, MI

Felonious

End of Watch January 14, 1971

Age 29

Tour of Duty 3 yrs

The Vigil Panel 108 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 249

Incident

Officer Watson and Officer William Wortmann were shot and killed when they approached a man and a woman for reasons that are unknown. The man remained at the scene after being approached by the officers while the woman ran to his brother's home for help. The man said he and his brother shot at the two officers, who were in plain clothes, because he thought they were going to rob him. He said he had just left a store he managed at 6524 W. Fort Ave. around 11:30 p.m. with a large amount of money. Officer Watson died at the scene and Officer Wortmann died from his wounds the following day. Both brothers were freed after an investigation showed no evidence of criminal intent, and that both officers failed to identify themselves as police officers.

Survivors

Officer Watson had served with the agency for three years and was survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MI-5CFC9145
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 Watson gave the Detroit Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Detroit community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Watson.

— 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 January 14, 1971

Tour of Duty 3 yrs

Age 29

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Offender Arrested and released

Police Officer Danny Lee Watson 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