VanBuren Quarles
Agency patch
Patrolman

VanBuren Quarles

Detroit Police Department — Detroit, MI
Felonious
End of Watch January 10, 1943
Age 47
Badge 491
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman VanBuren Quarles succumbed to injuries he sustained as he and another officer struggled with a suspect. Patrolman Quarles and a second officer responded to a disturbance call on Oct. 18, 1941, regarding a fight at 3426 Junction Avenue and were attacked as they attempted to arrest the suspect. During the arrest attempt, Patrolman Quarles was kicked in the chest and stomach. The injuries caused him to suffer severe stomach ailments, and he died after undergoing corrective surgery. Patrolman Quarles was assigned to the Sixth Precinct.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, three children, four brothers, and four sisters.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Quarles served with the Detroit Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Detroit community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Quarles.

— 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 January 10, 1943
Age 47
Badge Number 491
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Person

The Sacrifice · Felonious

VanBuren 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
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1943, 66 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 109th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

VanBuren was 47. 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.

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%. Sundays: 15.2%.

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 person, in 2% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

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

Across the years
VI

Where

Patrolman VanBuren Quarles

Detroit Police Department · End of Watch January 10, 1943

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 1-E

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