Donald Albert Bezenah
Agency patch
Lieutenant

Donald Albert Bezenah

Felonious Veteran →
End of Watch August 31, 1990
Age 51
Tour of Duty 18 yrs
The Vigil Panel 136 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Lieutenant Bezenah was killed in a boating accident. He was assisting two Macomb County deputies and the Coast Guard in attempting to stop a fleeing boat when the drunken pilot of that boat deliberately rammed Lieutenant Bezenah's patrol boat. Lieutenant Bezenah was thrown from his boat and died at the scene from head injuries. The 41-year-old suspect fled when the Macomb County deputies tried to stop him for speeding in a no-wake zone. As the Macomb County deputies took custody of the suspect after the collision he fought them for their service revolvers. One discharged six times. Luckily no one was hit. His blood alcohol level was a 0.14 five hours after the collision. He was convicted of second degree murder. As of 1996 he was in prison. Lieutenant Bezenah was survived by his wife, son, and mother. He was a retired U.S. Navy Officer.

Survivors

Lieutenant Bezenah was survived by his wife, son, and mother.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-MI-8F9DD0C3
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.
Lieutenant Bezenah gave the St. Clair County Sheriff's Department 18 years.
Thank you for your service to the Port Huron 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

Location Port Huron, MI
Platform Identity sccso.stclair.mi.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 31, 1990
Tour of Duty 18 yrs
Age 51
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Boat
Offender Convicted of second degree murder

Military Service

Donald Albert Bezenah served in the Navy (1971–1976) before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Lieutenant Donald Albert Bezenah 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 St. Clair County Sheriff's Department, 2 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

St. Clair County Sheriff's Department
2
of 4 officers
50% Felonious
MI — Statewide
426
of 718 officers
59.3% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Donald Albert Bezenah's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Donald Albert Bezenah Compares

Age at End of Watch
51
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
18
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Convicted of second degree murder

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Donald Albert Bezenah is highlighted in Aug.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Donald Albert Bezenah was killed by boat.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518