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David Morris
Agency patch
Detective Lieutenant

David Morris

Detroit Police Department — Detroit, MI
Felonious
United States flag Michigan flag
End of Watch February 2, 1921
Age 57
Tour of Duty 26 yrs
The Vigil Panel 40 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 249

Incident

Lieutenant David Morris, Lieutenant Phillip Ellenstein, 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 from four men, 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. 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 Morris served with the Detroit Police Department for 26 years.

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

26 years. You could have gone home.
Detective Lieutenant Morris gave the Detroit Police Department 26 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 Morris.

— 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 February 2, 1921
Tour of Duty 26 yrs
Age 57
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

David 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

David was 57. 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. David had served 26 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

February holds 7.4% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Wednesdays: 12.9%.

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, David among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Detective Lieutenant David Morris

Detroit Police Department · End of Watch February 2, 1921

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 35-E

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