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Kenneth Melvin Steil
Agency patch
Sergeant

Kenneth Melvin Steil

Detroit Police Department — Detroit, MI
Felonious
United States flag Michigan flag
End of Watch September 17, 2016
Age 46
Tour of Duty 20 yrs
The Vigil Panel 166 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 249

Incident

Captain Kenneth Steil succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained on Sept. 12, 2016, while chasing a subject who had just attempted to carjack a vehicle at approximately 11:00 p.m.

As officers arrived on scene at the carjacking at a gas station at 7 Mile East and Hayes Street, the main suspect fled on foot. As Captain Steil pursued him, the subject turned and fired a sawed-off shotgun, striking Captain Steil in the shoulder. Two other officers were able to subdue the man and take him into custody.

Captain Steil was transported to St. John Hospital, where it was initially believed he would recover. However, he experienced complications and died on Sept. 17, 2016.

It was later determined that the suspect had shot his own father in the foot the previous night. He was charged with two counts of attempted murder and several other felonies. The subject who shot him was found guilty of the murder of a peace officer, first-degree murder, resisting an officer causing death, and multiple other felony charges, and was sentenced to 40-75 years in prison.

Captain Steil served with the Detroit Police Department for 20 years and was assigned to the 9th District.

Survivors

He was posthumously promoted to captain and is survived by his wife and two young sons.

In Our Keeping

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Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

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Tributes

20 years. You could have gone home.
Sergeant Steil gave the Detroit Police Department 20 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Detroit community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Steil.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Detroit Police Department
Type Police Department
Location Detroit, Wayne County, MI
Platform Identity detpd.wayne.mi.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 17, 2016
Tour of Duty 20 yrs
Age 46
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Shotgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Kenneth is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  3. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 2016, 82 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 79th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Kenneth was 46. 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. Kenneth had served 20 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

September holds 9.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Saturdays: 16.3%.

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 shotgun, in 7% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

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

Across the years
VI

Where

Sergeant Kenneth Melvin Steil

Detroit Police Department · End of Watch September 17, 2016

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 59-W

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