Incident
Correctional Officer Hinckley and Correctional Officer Joe Crater were killed while inside the arsenal at the State Prison of Southern Michigan when a mysterious explosion occurred.
A total of 80 percent of the facility's arsenal, including guns, tear gas, ammunition, and radios, were lost.
In Our Keeping
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- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Correctional Officer Hinckley served with the Michigan Department of Corrections.
Thank you for your service to the people of Michigan. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Correctional Officer Hinckley.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Michigan Department of Corrections has lost 15 officers; 5 of them lost to accidents.
Max is one of 224 officers lost to accidents in MI, 31.9% of the 703 remembered there.
Max is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Max is one of 10,100 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.8% of the 33,917 remembered here.
33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1967, 2 officers at Michigan Department of Corrections were lost to accidents, more than in any other year.
In 1967, 5 officers in MI were lost to accidents, the 4th heaviest of 98 years on record. The heaviest was 1928, with 8.
In 1967, 73 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 38th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1967, 92 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 34th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Max was 57. Of the 5 lost to accidents at Michigan Department of Corrections whose age is recorded, half were between 40 and 57; the middle age was 48.
Max was 57. Of the 212 lost to accidents in MI whose age is recorded, half were between 28 and 43; the middle age was 34.
Max was 57. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36.
Max was 57. Of the 9,451 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36.
When
March holds 60% of these deaths at Michigan Department of Corrections, more than any other month. Fridays: 40%.
March holds 6.3% of these deaths in MI; August holds the most, 14.3%. Fridays: 12.5%.
March holds 7.4% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Fridays: 15.1%.
March holds 7.4% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Fridays: 15%.
How
Accident deaths account for 33.3% of all 15 deaths at Michigan Department of Corrections, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 31.9% of all 703 deaths in MI, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.8% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Michigan Department of Corrections has 15 officers remembered here, Max among them.
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George W. Haight
Mar 27, 1893
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George Ferris
Jun 16, 1908
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Fred Menhennett
Dec 12, 1921
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Theodore Catlin
Jan 26, 1922
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Leon M. Sammons May 7, 1928
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Fred Boucher
Nov 5, 1939
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Bernard Fancher
Apr 28, 1960
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Joe D. Crater
Mar 31, 1967
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Max M. Hinckley
Mar 31, 1967
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Earl F. DeMarse
Sep 25, 1973
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Josephine Birdene McCallum
Mar 24, 1987
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Jack L. Budd
Dec 27, 1987
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Ronald Owen MacDonald
Jul 8, 2001
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Joseph Tyrone Candie
Dec 19, 2007
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Chad Alan Charles
May 21, 2014
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 56-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
14 officers from Michigan Department of Corrections are honored on badge.nw.












