Norman Frank Towler
Agency patch
Police Officer

Norman Frank Towler

Detroit Police Department — Detroit, MI
Felonious
End of Watch October 17, 1917
Age 26
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
Badge 968
The Vigil Panel 33 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Officer Towler was shot and killed while investigating a suspicious person near the intersection of Porter and Vinewood. As Officer Towler patrolled his beat he noticed that the man had been in the same location for several hours. He decided to question the man but as he approached the man began to walk away. The suspect suddenly turned around and shot Officer Towler five times.

Survivors

Officer Towler had served with the Detroit Police Department for three years and was survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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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.
Police Officer Towler 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 Towler.

— 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 October 17, 1917
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
Age 26
Badge Number 968
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Norman 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.

  1. See the roll
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1917, 165 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 19th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Norman was 26. 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. Norman 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

October holds 7.9% 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, Norman among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Police Officer Norman Frank Towler

Detroit Police Department · End of Watch October 17, 1917

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 17-W

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