Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer David Bergum was shot and killed while questioning a suspicious person at Ash Street near 17th Street around 4:15 a.m. His partner was shot and wounded. The 19-year-old suspect, who had just finished serving a robbery term and was the son of a former policeman, escaped but was later caught and arrested at a friend's home. He was convicted of murder and sentenced to life. On November 18, 1953, he stabbed and seriously wounded a fellow inmate and then tried unsuccessfully to take his own life. He was still in prison in 1967. Officer Bergum was a United States Army WWII veteran and had served with the Detroit Police Department for five years.
Survivors
He was survived by his expectant wife, son, and daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MI-CFC17046- 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.
Police Officer Bergum gave the Detroit Police Department 5 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
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
David I. Bergum served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Police Officer David I. Bergum 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.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. David I. Bergum's cause is highlighted.
How David I. Bergum Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. David I. Bergum is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. David I. Bergum was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
249 officers from Detroit Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
