Roll of Honor

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Policeman

George Carl "Tom" Emery

Eaton Rapids Police Department — Eaton Rapids, MI

Cardiac

End of Watch May 31, 1947

Age 65

Tour of Duty 10 yrs

The Vigil Panel 83 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Policeman Tom Emery suffered a fatal heart attack shortly after engaging in a violent struggle while attempting to arrest three men who were fighting in an alley at about 7:15 pm.

He had placed one of the men in custody, walked out of the alley, and suddenly collapsed. All three men who had been involved in the fight were arrested pending an inquest into Policeman Emery's death.

Policeman Emery had served with the Eaton Rapids Police Department for 10 years. He was survived by his wife and four children. He was predeceased by an infant son.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and four children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MI-A7DBB5BD
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.
Policeman Emery gave the Eaton Rapids Police Department 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Eaton Rapids community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Policeman Emery.

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

Agency

Department Eaton Rapids Police Department

Location Eaton Rapids, MI

Platform Identity erpd.eaton.mi.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 31, 1947

Tour of Duty 10 yrs

Age 65

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Cardiac

Cause Detail Heart attack

Weapon Person

Policeman George Carl "Tom" Emery is one of 1,306 officers lost to cardiac events in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 4% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In MI, 39 of 718 officers were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 5.4% of this state's fallen. That is 1.4 percentage points above the national rate of 4%.

Eaton Rapids Police Department

of 1 officers

100% Cardiac

MI — Statewide

of 718 officers

5.4% Cardiac

Nationwide

1,306

of 32,508 officers

4% Cardiac

National Cause Distribution

How Cardiac compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. George Carl "Tom" Emery'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 George Carl "Tom" Emery Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Cardiac: 48.6 years

Years of Service

This officer

Avg for Cardiac: 15.6 years

When Cardiac Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Cardiac deaths across the full memorial record. George Carl "Tom" Emery is highlighted in May.

Jan

124

Feb

105

Mar

Apr

116

May

115

Jun

Jul

Aug

104

Sep

109

Oct

121

Nov

113

Dec

111