Incident
Correctional Officer Chad Charles suffered a fatal heart attack while participating in a quarterly training exercise with the agency's Emergency Response Team at Camp Grayling.
He collapsed during a building clearing scenario. Other members of the ERT team performed CPR until he was transported to a local hospital, where he passed away.
Officer Charles had served with the Michigan Department of Corrections for nine years and was assigned to the Muskegon Correctional Facility.
Officer Charles had served with the Michigan Department of Corrections for nine years and was assigned to the Muskegon Correctional Facility.
Survivors
He was survived by his seven children, father, fiancée, brother, sister, and grandson. He was survived by his seven children, father, fiancée, brother, sister, and grandson.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtntr3xf2kn5dpd2qkcej- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Chad. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Correctional Officer Charles gave the Michigan Department of Corrections 9 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Michigan. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Correctional Officer Charles.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Cardiac
Michigan Department of Corrections has lost 15 officers; 1 of them lost to cardiac events.
Chad is one of 39 officers lost to cardiac events in MI, 5.5% of the 703 remembered there.
Chad is one of 1,307 officers lost to cardiac events in the United States, 4.7% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Chad is one of 1,309 officers lost to cardiac events worldwide, 3.8% of the 34,117 remembered here.
34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 2014, 1 officer in MI was lost to cardiac events, the 6th heaviest of 34 years on record. The heaviest was 1947, with 2.
In 2014, 24 officers in the United States were lost to cardiac events, more than in any other year.
In 2014, 24 officers worldwide were lost to cardiac events, more than in any other year.
Who
Chad was 42. Of the 37 lost to cardiac events in MI whose age is recorded, half were between 46 and 54; the middle age was 49. Chad had served 9 years; the middle length of service was 17 years.
Chad was 42. Of the 1,249 lost to cardiac events in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 43 and 55; the middle age was 48. Chad had served 9 years; the middle length of service was 15 years.
Chad was 42. Of the 1,251 lost to cardiac events worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 42.5 and 55; the middle age was 48. Chad had served 9 years; the middle length of service was 15 years.
When
May holds 15.4% of these deaths in MI, more than any other month. Wednesdays: 17.9%.
May holds 8.8% of these deaths in the United States; January holds the most, 9.6%. Wednesdays: 14.5%.
May holds 8.8% of these deaths worldwide; January holds the most, 9.5%. Wednesdays: 14.5%.
How
Cardiac deaths account for 6.7% of all 15 deaths at Michigan Department of Corrections, the 3rd most common cause.
Cardiac deaths account for 5.5% of all 703 deaths in MI, the 3rd most common cause.
Cardiac deaths account for 4.7% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 4th most common cause.
Cardiac deaths account for 3.8% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the 4th most common cause.
His people
Michigan Department of Corrections has 15 officers remembered here, Chad among them.
-
George W. Haight
Mar 27, 1893
-
George Ferris
Jun 16, 1908
-
Fred Menhennett
Dec 12, 1921
-
Theodore Catlin
Jan 26, 1922
-
Leon M. Sammons May 7, 1928
-
Fred Boucher
Nov 5, 1939
-
Bernard Fancher
Apr 28, 1960
-
Joe D. Crater
Mar 31, 1967
-
Max M. Hinckley
Mar 31, 1967
-
Earl F. DeMarse
Sep 25, 1973
-
Josephine Birdene McCallum
Mar 24, 1987
-
Jack L. Budd
Dec 27, 1987
-
Ronald Owen MacDonald
Jul 8, 2001
-
Joseph Tyrone Candie
Dec 19, 2007
-
Chad Alan Charles
May 21, 2014
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 20-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
14 officers from Michigan Department of Corrections are honored on badge.nw.












