Marlyn W. Bateson

Detroit Police Department — Detroit, MI

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch August 14, 1966

Tour of Duty 17 yrs

The Vigil Panel 101 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 249

Incident

Detective Marlyn Bateson and Detective William Bell were killed when their unmarked patrol car was struck by a drunk driver. The detectives were en route to assist another unit on a man-with-a-gun call. The officers were stopped at a red light at the intersection of Lafayette Street and Livernois Street. When the light turned green they entered the intersection and were struck by a drunk driver at a speed of 80 mph. The suspect was never charged in connection with their deaths but was later convicted of murdering nine women. Detective Bateson, a U.S.

Survivors

Army veteran, was survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MI-B0E9CD79
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.
Detective Bateson gave the Detroit Police Department 17 years.
Thank you for your service to the Detroit 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

Department Detroit Police Department

Location Detroit, MI

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

Service Record

End of Watch August 14, 1966

Tour of Duty 17 yrs

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Automobile; Alcohol involved

Offender Never charged

Military Service

Marlyn W. Bateson served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Detective Marlyn W. Bateson 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 Detroit Police Department, 177 of 250 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 70.8% of this agency's fallen.

Detroit Police Department

177

of 250 officers

70.8% Felonious

MI — Statewide

426

of 718 officers

59.3% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious