Michael Janson Barwick
Agency patch
Police Officer

Michael Janson Barwick

Accident
End of Watch August 29, 2002
Age 27
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
The Vigil Panel 150 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Police Officer Michael Barwick was killed in an automobile crash at 2:20 am during a vehicle pursuit of a stolen car.

The pursuit started after Officer Barwick and his partner spotted the vehicle and attempted to stop it. During the pursuit, a minivan collided with Officer Barwick's patrol car at 25th Street and St. Louis Avenue. The collision caused the patrol car to go airborne, land on its side and burst into flames. Other units stopped and pulled Officer Barwick and Officer Christian from the vehicle. Both officers were transported to a local hospital where Officer Barwick succumbed to his injuries.

Other officers chased the vehicle off and on for over an hour. The driver and its passenger were both finally apprehended and were both charged with felony murder in connection with Officer Barwick's death. The suspect driving the car was convicted of the charges in September 2003 and sentenced to 12 years in prison. The suspect in the passenger seat was sentenced to 18 years in prison.

Officer Barwick had served with the St. Louis Police Department for two years and was assigned to the 4th District.

In 2007, a portion of Interstate 44 from Kings Highway to the City limits, was renamed the Police Officer Michael J. B Barwick Interstate in his honor.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtp8ewhsq43ger53rhd22
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
September 9, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Michael. 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.
Police Officer Barwick gave the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the St. Louis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Barwick.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location St. Louis, City of Saint Louis, MO
Platform Identity stlopd.saintlouis.mo.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 29, 2002
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
Age 27
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident
Cause Detail Vehicle pursuit
Weapon Automobile

The Sacrifice · Accident

Michael 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
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 2002, 73 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 38th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Michael was 27. 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. Michael 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

August holds 9.5% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Thursdays: 14%.

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. The weapon recorded was automobile, in 6.9% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, Michael among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Police Officer Michael Janson Barwick

St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department · End of Watch August 29, 2002

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 55-W

↑