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Incident
Sergeant Van Tuinen was shot and killed while he and other officers attempted to arrest a man wanted for a shooting at a local bar near the intersection of Franklin Street and South Division Avenue. Shortly after arriving at the subject's home on Madison Avenue near Prince Street officer spotted the subject with a gun through a window. After negotiations failed for the man to drop his weapon Sergeant Van Tuinen was about to enter the residence when the suspect opened fire with a shotgun, fatally wounding Sergeant Van Tuinen. The suspect was shot by other officers as he attempted to flee from the rear of the house. The suspect was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison on June 9, 1967. He died in prison on July 30, 1988. Sergeant Van Tuinen served with the Grand Rapids Police Department for less than 14 years and was survived by his wife and six children. His brother and brother-in-law were Grand Rapids police officers.
Survivors
Sergeant Van Tuinen served with the Grand Rapids Police Department for less than 14 years and was survived by his wife and six 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.
Sergeant Van Tuinen gave the Grand Rapids Police Department 13 years.
Thank you for your service to the Grand Rapids community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Van Tuinen.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Grand Rapids Police Department has lost 15 officers; 8 of them killed feloniously.
Stanley is one of 415 officers killed feloniously in MI, 59% of the 703 remembered there.
Stanley is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Stanley is one of 17,631 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,117 remembered here.
34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1966, 1 officer at Grand Rapids Police Department was killed feloniously, the 2nd heaviest of 7 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 2.
In 1966, 5 officers in MI were killed feloniously, the 24th heaviest of 124 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 14.
In 1966, 77 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 91st heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1966, 81 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 87th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Stanley was 35. Of the 8 killed feloniously at Grand Rapids Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 41.5; the middle age was 33.5. Stanley had served 13.9 years; the middle length of service was 10.4 years.
Stanley was 35. Of the 400 killed feloniously in MI whose age is recorded, half were between 28 and 42; the middle age was 35. Stanley had served 13.9 years; the middle length of service was 7 years.
Stanley was 35. 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. Stanley had served 13.9 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Stanley was 35. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Stanley had served 13.9 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
December holds 50% of these deaths at Grand Rapids Police Department, more than any other month. Saturdays: 12.5%.
December holds 12.3% of these deaths in MI, more than any other month. Saturdays: 14.9%.
December holds 9.4% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Saturdays: 16.3%.
December holds 9.2% of these deaths worldwide, more than any other month. Saturdays: 16.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 53.3% of all 15 deaths at Grand Rapids Police Department, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was shotgun, in 25% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 59% of all 703 deaths in MI, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was shotgun, in 7% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was shotgun, in 7% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was shotgun, in 6.3% of these deaths.
His people
Grand Rapids Police Department has 15 officers remembered here, Stanley among them.
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George W. Powers
Aug 22, 1895
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Henry Slater
Sep 4, 1907
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Millard F. Davis
Aug 25, 1916
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Charles Irving DeYoung
Jun 7, 1920
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George David Geng
May 18, 1921
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Gerrit George Brandsma
Dec 7, 1921
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Samuel Slater, Jr.
Dec 9, 1921
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John Meiboom
Oct 10, 1925
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Francis Marion Gallup
May 13, 1946
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Stanley Van Tuinen
Dec 3, 1966
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Wayne Vonk
Jan 19, 1969
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Herman Reinhold Gloe
Dec 12, 1974
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Joseph Floyd Taylor
Nov 17, 1986
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Daniel Craig Duyst
May 30, 1994
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Robert Anthony Kozminski
Jul 8, 2007
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 17-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
14 officers from Grand Rapids Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
