Roll of Honor
Incident
Detective Sergeant Mickley was shot and killed with his own weapon while struggling with an armed robbery suspect. He and his partner observed the suspect robbing a man making a night deposit at a local bank. When the suspect saw the officers he opened fire on their car. Sergeant Mickley gave chase and caught the man in an alley and apprehended him. While walking the suspect back to the vehicle the man started struggling with Sergeant Mickley. He twisted his gun around and fired it, striking him in the head. The suspect fled but was apprehended one week later. He was convicted of Detective Sergeant Mickley's murder and remained in prison until his death in 1969. Detective Sergeant Mickley had served in law enforcement for several years with different agencies. He was responsible for the apprehension of Detroit Police Officer Andrew Rusinko's murderer four years earlier and was shot five times by the suspect, but fully recovered.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MI-8231BD77- 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.
Detective Sergeant Mickley served with the Hamtramck Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Hamtramck community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Sergeant Mickley.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Detective Sergeant John F. Mickley 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 Hamtramck Police Department, 2 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John F. Mickley's cause is highlighted.
How John F. Mickley Compares
Offender Outcome
Died in prison
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John F. Mickley is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John F. Mickley was killed by officer's handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Hamtramck Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
