Roll of Honor
Incident
Detective Alton Fritcher was shot and killed while responding to an armed robbery. He and another officer were visiting a business on Davison Road when a customer of a nearby cocktail lounge ran in and told them the place was being robbed. Detective Fritcher went to the front door, and his partner went to the back door of the lounge. When the two officers entered the lounge, the suspects, two men and a woman, opened fire, striking Detective Fritcher in the back and wounding his partner in the hand. Detective Fritcher was transported to Hurley Hospital, where he died the following day. All three suspects were captured a short time later. Before one of the male suspects, a Southern Michigan Prison escapee, 32, was captured, he ran to a nearby house and tried to break in. He shot and killed the owner of the house in front of his wife and three children. He was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole on September 12, 1969. He died in prison on November 20, 2020. The female suspect, 28, was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison on September 11, 1969. She died in prison on October 16, 2001. The other male suspect, 30, was also sentenced to life. Detective Fritcher was a United States Army World War II veteran and had served with the Flint Police Department for 18 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, three sons, and two stepdaughters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MI-66487393- 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 Alton. 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
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.
Detective Fritcher gave the Flint Police Department 18 years.
Thank you for your service to the Flint 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
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Alton Fritcher served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Detective Alton Fritcher 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 Flint Police Dept., 4 of 13 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 30.8% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Alton Fritcher's cause is highlighted.
How Alton Fritcher Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Alton Fritcher is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Alton Fritcher was killed by rifle; m-1.
Others Who Wore This Badge
12 officers from Flint Police Dept. are honored on badge.nw.
