Peter F. McGuigan

Detroit Police Department — Detroit, MI

Felonious

End of Watch October 23, 1920

Age 46

Tour of Duty 15 yrs

The Vigil Panel 39 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 249

Incident

Lieutenant McGuigan was shot and killed and his partner was seriously wounded while questioning a suspicious man near Grand River Avenue and Lothrop Street just after 8 p.m. The lieutenant and his partner were on their way to work when several neighbor boys approached them and told them a suspicious man was near the rear of their house at 2915 Lothrop Street. The man produced a gun as the officers spoke with him and fired two shots. Lieutenant McGuigan chased the man several blocks after being shot in the chest but ultimately fell. He was taken to Providence Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. The suspect was arrested a short time later, convicted of murder, and sentenced to life. Lieutenant McGuigan had served with the Detroit Police Department for 15 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two daughters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MI-73ABCB94
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.
Lieutenant McGuigan gave the Detroit Police Department 15 years.
Thank you for your service to the Detroit community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Lieutenant McGuigan.

— 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 October 23, 1920

Tour of Duty 15 yrs

Age 46

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Offender Sentenced to life

Lieutenant Peter F. McGuigan 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