Henry G. Puffer
Agency patch
Police Officer

Henry G. Puffer

Detroit Police Department — Detroit, MI
Felonious
End of Watch November 8, 1927
Age 26
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
Gender Male

Incident

Police Officer Henry Puffer was shot and killed when he interrupted five youths robbing a service station at Vinewood and West Warren. The suspects opened fire on him before he could draw his weapon. Although mortally wounded, he chased the suspects a short distance before collapsing. He was transported to Detroit Receiving Hospital where he was pronounced dead. One of the suspects was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life. Another was convicted of two counts of murder and sentenced to life. He had shot and killed a drug store clerk a week earlier. He was paroled in 1961 and the other suspect was paroled in 1960. Of the other three, one was sentenced to 5 to 10 years for armed robbery and the other two were sentenced to 3 to 5 years for armed robbery. All five had committed several armed robberies. Neither they nor the police could get an exact count but it was several. Officer Puffer had served with the Detroit Police Department for two years.

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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.
Police Officer Puffer gave the Detroit Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Detroit community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Puffer.

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

Agency

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

Service Record

End of Watch November 8, 1927
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
Age 26
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Henry is one of 15,742 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,102 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1927, 220 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 6th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Henry was 26. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Henry had served 2 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

November holds 8.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Tuesdays: 13.4%.

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, Henry among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Police Officer Henry G. Puffer

Detroit Police Department · End of Watch November 8, 1927

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 14-W

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