Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer Ben Montie was shot and killed while arresting a suspected bank robber.
Officer Montie, the Ecorse police chief, and Wayne County sheriff's deputies went to arrest suspects who had stolen a safe from a local store. The officers unwittingly walked into a local robbery crew's hideout. The men were responsible for a series of bank robberies and had robbed a bank in Detroit earlier in the day. Two of the suspects were counting money when the officers arrived. They jumped out of the window and began swimming across the Detroit River to Canada, but they returned and surrendered due to icy waters and the officers' gunfire.
The deputies left with the prisoners while the chief and Officer Montie stayed to investigate the hideout, which was connected to four different houses via trap doors, false walls, and a tunnel. The other two suspects returned and were surprised by the officers. When Officer Montie was handcuffing one of the men, the suspect broke free, pulled out a handgun, and fatally shot him in the chest. The two suspects ran back to their vehicle, but the chief gave chase and returned fire, killing the suspect who shot Officer Montie. The fourth suspect escaped but was arrested a few months later in Arizona.
The suspect who was captured in Arizona was sentenced to 20 to 40 years. Two other suspects were sentenced to 12 to 25 years. One of those suspects was paroled but immediately returned to prison for burglary.
Officer Montie was survived by his wife, infant son, parents, two brothers, and two sisters.
Survivors
Officer Montie was survived by his wife, infant son, parents, two brothers, and two sisters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MI-E42552B5- 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.
Police Officer Montie served with the Ecorse Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Ecorse community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Montie.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Benjamin C. Montie 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 Ecorse Police Department, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Benjamin C. Montie's cause is highlighted.
How Benjamin C. Montie Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Benjamin C. Montie is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Benjamin C. Montie was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Ecorse Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
