Roll of Honor
Incident
Policeman Martin Draft was killed in a vehicle crash while returning to the station to retrieve a patrol wagon and notify other officers he needed assistance.
Earlier in his shift, he had arrested two men who had attempted to flee from him and crashed into a business at the intersection of W Jefferson Avenue and Henry Street. The vehicle was transporting illegal whiskey and the collision caused over 75 gallons of the liquor to spill onto the roadway. He had taken the men to the station and returned to duty.
Approximately 15 minutes later he attempted to stop another vehicle that also fled from him. After the fleeing vehicle crashed into another car at the River Rouge bridge, Policeman Draft turned around to rush back to the station to retrieve the patrol wagon and request assistance. He lost control of his motorcycle as he drove through the pooled-up whiskey on the roadway from the previous crash. The motorcycle struck a utility pole and he suffered fatal injuries.
Policeman Draft was survived by his wife and two young children.
Survivors
Policeman Draft was survived by his wife and two young children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MI-AB442AB6- 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 Draft served with the River Rouge Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the River Rouge community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Policeman Draft.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Policeman Martin Draft is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In MI, 229 of 718 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 31.9% of this state's fallen. That is 0.9 percentage points above the national rate of 31%.
At River Rouge Police Department, 2 of 2 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Martin Draft's cause is highlighted.
How Martin Draft Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Martin Draft is highlighted in May.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from River Rouge Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
