Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Earl Martindale was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a burglar at a pool hall he operated in Coleman.
He had been alerted at about 3:30 am that a nearby garage had been burglarized. While he was investigating the burglary, he discovered that several other local businesses, a schoolhouse, and his restaurant and pool hall had been burglarized as well. He encountered a suspect in front of the pool hall at about 4:00 am and placed him under arrest. As he walked the man into the pool hall, the subject drew a pistol and shot him three times. Deputy Martindale was able to return fire and wounded the subject.
The subject was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison. He was paroled on December 8, 1962.
Deputy Martindale was a United States Army WWI veteran and had served with the Midland County Sheriff's Office for only 18 days.
Survivors
He was survived by his mother and sister.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-MI-8F6C8F81- Stewardship
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- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 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.
Deputy Sheriff Martindale gave the Midland County Sheriff's Office 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Midland community. Thank you 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
Earl C. Martindale served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.
Deputy Sheriff Earl C. Martindale is one of 17,559 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 53.9% of all 32,587 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 5.4 percentage points above the national rate of 53.9%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Earl C. Martindale's cause is highlighted.
How Earl C. Martindale Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Earl C. Martindale is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Earl C. Martindale was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Military Service
Earl C. Martindale served in the United States military before joining law enforcement.
Visit Earl C. Martindale’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.