Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Michael Briggs succumbed to a gunshot wound inflicted the previous morning when he and his partner responded to a domestic disturbance call.
Both officers were on bicycle patrol, and they located one of the participants in an alley at the corner of Lake Avenue and Lincoln Streets. Officer Briggs was shot in the head as he was questioning the male subject.
Officer Briggs was transported to Elliott Hospital, where he remained until succumbing to the wound.
The suspect fled the state but was arrested later in the day while hiding in his grandmother's home in Dorchester, Massachusetts. In an odd twist, it was discovered that the suspect was the same man whose life Officer Briggs had saved in 2003 following a shooting. The suspect was convicted in November 2008 of Capital Murder and sentenced to death. He is the only inmate on New Hampshire's death row. The last New Hampshire death sentence was in 1959.
Officer Briggs was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and had served with the Manchester Police Department for 5 years. He had previously served as a correctional officer for the Hillsborough County Department of Corrections for 6 years. During his time as a correctional officer, he also served as a part-time officer with the Epsom Police Department.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, two sons, parents, and three sisters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NH-577840DC- 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.
Officer Briggs gave the Manchester Police Department 11 years.
Thank you for your service to the Manchester community. Thank you 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
Michael Leland Briggs served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.
Officer Michael Leland Briggs 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 NH, 23 of 59 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 39% of this state's fallen. That is 15.2 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At Manchester Police Department, 4 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 80% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Michael Leland Briggs's cause is highlighted.
How Michael Leland Briggs Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to death
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Michael Leland Briggs is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Michael Leland Briggs was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
4 officers from Manchester Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
