Michael Jerome Czapski

Detroit Police Department — Detroit, MI

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch March 29, 1969

Age 22

Tour of Duty 11 mo

The Vigil Panel 105 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 249

Incident

Officer Michael Czapski was shot and killed when he and his partner responded to reports of a group of men standing in front of a church with rifles at Linwood and Euclid Streets. The men opened fire on the officers as they approached, mortally wounding Officer Czapski. Officer Czapski's partner who was severely wounded radioed for help. More than 50 officers stormed the church, shot and wounded 4 suspects, and arrested 142 people. Police later stated that their investigation was severely hampered when 12 hours later a Recorders Court Judge freed all but two suspects. Three men were eventually charged in connection with the shooting. All three were tried and acquitted a year later. On October 26, 1970, one of them was stabbed to death in Detroit. Officer Czapski was a U.S. Army veteran who served in the military police.

Survivors

He was survived by his parents and two sisters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MI-60076A5C
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 Czapski served with the Detroit Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Detroit community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

— 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 March 29, 1969

Tour of Duty 11 mo

Age 22

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Rifle

Offender Acquitted

Military Service

Michael Jerome Czapski served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Police Officer Michael Jerome Czapski 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