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Philip Ellenstein
Agency patch
Detective Lieutenant

Philip Ellenstein

Detroit Police Department — Detroit, MI
Felonious
United States flag Michigan flag
End of Watch January 31, 1921
Age 52
Tour of Duty 25 yrs 6 mo
Badge 348
The Vigil Panel 40 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 249

Incident

Lieutenant Phillip Ellenstein, Lieutenant David Morris, and Sergeant Joseph Husken were all shot when they went to investigate a burglar alarm at 25 Campus Martius that had been triggered at the Morton Bond Company near City Hall. When they arrived, they were met with gunfire, and Lieutenant Ellenstein was killed. Lieutenant Morris was removed to the hospital, where he died two days later. Sergeant Husken was taken to a local hospital with bullets in his spine and abdomen. He survived the injuries, though, and was able to identify the suspects, who were sentenced to life in prison. For several years after the shooting, Sergeant Husken worked at police headquarters since his paralyzed left leg prevented him from performing patrol duties. Eventually, he was placed on the permanent sick list. He died in 1943. Doctors said the bullet wounds he suffered 22 years earlier caused his death. All four men were apprehended four months later. Two were apprehended after they robbed a post office in Toledo, Ohio. Another was captured in Chicago. One was sent to the Maryland Penitentiary and was later shot and killed when he tried to escape. Lieutenant Ellenstein had served with the Detroit Police Department for 25.5 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, son, and daughter.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

25 years. You could have gone home.
Detective Lieutenant Ellenstein gave the Detroit Police Department 25 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Detroit community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Lieutenant Ellenstein.

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

Agency

Department Detroit Police Department
Type Police Department
Location Detroit, Wayne County, MI
Platform Identity detpd.wayne.mi.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 31, 1921
Tour of Duty 25 yrs 6 mo
Age 52
Badge Number 348
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Philip is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1921, 248 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, more than in any other year.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Philip was 52. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Philip had served 25.5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

January holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Mondays: 13.8%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Detroit Police Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, Philip among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Detective Lieutenant Philip Ellenstein

Detroit Police Department · End of Watch January 31, 1921

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 17-E

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