Thaddeus W. Szczesny
Agency patch
Police Officer

Thaddeus W. Szczesny

Detroit Police Department — Detroit, MI
Accident
End of Watch August 22, 1964
Age 36
Tour of Duty 9 yrs
Badge 3176
The Vigil Panel 99 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Officer Thaddeus Szczesny was killed when his patrol car was struck by a car that had run a red light at E. Vernor Highway and McDougall Street. He was responding to an emergency call at the time. It is believed the driver of the other vehicle was a minor driving drunk. Three other policemen in the cruiser were injured. Officer Szczesny had served with the Detroit Police Department, 7th Precinct, for 9 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and four children.

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

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Szczesny gave the Detroit Police Department 9 years.
Thank you for your service to the Detroit community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Szczesny.

— 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 August 22, 1964
Tour of Duty 9 yrs
Age 36
Badge Number 3176
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

The Sacrifice · Accident

Thaddeus is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.

33,917 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 1964, 68 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 54th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Thaddeus was 36. 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. Thaddeus had served 9 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

August holds 9.5% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Saturdays: 14.9%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

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

Across the years
VI

Where

Police Officer Thaddeus W. Szczesny

Detroit Police Department · End of Watch August 22, 1964

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 22-W

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