Roll of Honor

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Patrolman

Roy Lee Graham

Sumpter Township Police Department — Belleville, MI

Felonious

End of Watch July 28, 1985

Age 33

The Vigil Panel 129 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Patrolman Roy Graham was killed when his patrol car was struck by a drunk driver on Sumpter Road in Van Buren Township. A Van Buren Township police officer had stopped a vehicle for drunk driving. During the arrest, a second drunk driver struck the Van Buren officer's patrol car. At 2:00 am Sumpter Township officers responded to assist at the scene of this accident and while there, a third drunk driver struck the patrol car Patrolman Graham and his partner were in. Both officers were transported to a local hospital where Patrolman Graham succumbed to his injuries. The drunk driver who struck Patrolman Graham was charged with drunk driving, causing an accident, and manslaughter.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MI-A415462C
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.
Patrolman Graham served with the Sumpter Township Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Belleville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Graham.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Sumpter Township Police Department

Location Belleville, MI

Platform Identity stpd.wayne.mi.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 28, 1985

Age 33

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Automobile; Alcohol involved

Offender Charged with manslaughter

Patrolman Roy Lee Graham 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%.

Sumpter Township Police Department

of 1 officers

100% 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. Roy Lee Graham'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 Roy Lee Graham Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Charged with manslaughter

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Roy Lee Graham is highlighted in Jul.

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. Roy Lee Graham was killed by automobile; alcohol involved.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518