Charles B. Stark

MI State Police — Lansing, MI

Felonious

End of Watch December 31, 1971

Age 32

Tour of Duty 7 yrs 6 mo

The Vigil Panel 109 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 56

Incident

Trooper Charles Stark and Trooper Gary Rampy were shot and killed after stopping a drunk driver on Red Arrow Highway at approximately 2:50 a.m. While the officers were pulling the suspect over, the driver was able to reach into his backseat and obtain a handgun, which he put in his waistband. When the driver was unable to produce a license, Trooper Rampy walked him back to the patrol car. Using the weapon he had concealed in his pants, the suspect ordered Trooper Rampy to call Trooper Stark back to the cruiser, at which point the suspect shot and killed both officers. Nearby residents called authorities when they heard the shots, and responding officers began to chase the suspect. The man crashed the vehicle and attempted to run away but was shot and killed by the officers when he opened fire on them. Trooper Stark had served with the Michigan State Police for over seven years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, two children, parents, three brothers, and five sisters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MI-F6820C77
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Trooper Stark gave the Michigan State Police 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Michigan. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Trooper Stark.

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

Agency

Department MI State Police

Type State Police

Location Lansing, MI

Platform Identity msp.mi.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 31, 1971

Tour of Duty 7 yrs 6 mo

Age 32

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Trooper Charles B. Stark is one of 17,559 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 53.9% of all 32,587 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 5.4 percentage points above the national rate of 53.9%.

At MI State Police, 27 of 57 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 47.4% of this agency's fallen.

MI State Police

of 57 officers

47.4% Felonious

MI — Statewide

426

of 718 officers

59.3% Felonious

Nationwide

17,559

of 32,587 officers

53.9% Felonious