Raymond Vollertsen
Agency patch
Police Officer

Raymond Vollertsen

Detroit Police Department — Detroit, MI
Felonious
End of Watch January 26, 1926
Age 25
Tour of Duty 1 yrs
Badge 1256
The Vigil Panel 50 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Officer Vollertsen was shot and killed as he attempted to arrest two men for attempted robbery at 3927 Michigan Avenue. As he handcuffed one of the men the other drew a handgun and opened fire, killing Officer Vollertsen. The store owner grabbed his gun and fired at the two fleeing suspects, wounding both. Both men were later arrested, along with two other getaway drivers, and charged with Officer Vollertsen's murder and 25 robberies. One 22-year-old man was adjudged insane and committed to a mental institution. When committed it was discovered he was wanted in California for 20 robberies but officials there dropped their charges when he was committed. In 1932 he was found sane and charged with Officer Vollertsen's murder. The charges were later dismissed because all of the witnesses were either dead or could not be found. Officer Vollertsen had served with the Detroit Police Department for 1 year.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-MI-E83B737F
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

You barely got started.
Police Officer Vollertsen gave the Detroit Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Detroit community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Vollertsen.

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

Agency

Location Detroit, MI
Platform Identity detpd.wayne.mi.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 26, 1926
Tour of Duty 1 yrs
Age 25
Badge Number 1256
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun
Offender Apprehended

Police Officer Raymond Vollertsen 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

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Raymond Vollertsen'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 Raymond Vollertsen Compares

Age at End of Watch
25
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
1
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Apprehended

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Raymond Vollertsen is highlighted in Jan.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Raymond Vollertsen was killed by handgun.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518

Incident Location