Incident
Detective Gonser was shot and killed while he and another officer were working a surveillance operation in Inkster, Michigan. As the officers began to leave the scene, another car approached and attempted to block them in. Detective Gonser drove around them and the car began to follow them. The suspects fired several shots, striking Detective Gonser. The suspects were never identified.
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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.
Detective Gonser served with the Michigan State Police.
Thank you for your service to the people of Michigan. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Gonser.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
MI State Police has lost 57 officers; 27 of them killed feloniously.
Robert is one of 415 officers killed feloniously in MI, 59% of the 703 remembered there.
Robert is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Robert is one of 17,631 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 52% of the 33,917 remembered here.
33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1968, 1 officer at MI State Police was killed feloniously, the 5th heaviest of 23 years on record. The heaviest was 1941, with 2.
In 1968, 3 officers in MI were killed feloniously, the 41st heaviest of 124 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 14.
In 1968, 91 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 62nd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1968, 91 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 73rd heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Robert was 33. Of the 27 killed feloniously at MI State Police whose age is recorded, half were between 26 and 33; the middle age was 29.
Robert was 33. Of the 400 killed feloniously in MI whose age is recorded, half were between 28 and 42; the middle age was 35.
Robert was 33. 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.
Robert was 33. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38.
When
August holds 7.4% of these deaths at MI State Police; July holds the most, 14.8%. Thursdays: 14.8%.
August holds 9.2% of these deaths in MI; December holds the most, 12.3%. Thursdays: 15.2%.
August holds 8.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.
August holds 8.6% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Thursdays: 14.1%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 47.4% of all 57 deaths at MI State Police, the 2nd most common cause. The weapon recorded was rifle, in 11.1% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 59% of all 703 deaths in MI, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was rifle, in 7.5% 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 rifle, in 5.9% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 52% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was rifle, in 5.3% of these deaths.
His people
MI State Police has 57 officers remembered here, Robert among them.
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Harold Anderson
Mar 12, 1921
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Milan Pratt
Apr 15, 1922
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John P. Clinton
Jan 8, 1923
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Harvey Edgar Bolen
May 4, 1923
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William Martz
Mar 12, 1925
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Howard H. Funk
Jul 8, 1926
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Sam Mapes
May 1, 1927
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Delos A. Williams
Jun 30, 1929
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John S. Burke
Oct 13, 1930
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Richards F. Hammond
Jan 20, 1937
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Irvine F. Wurm
Jan 26, 1941
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John W. Cain
Nov 26, 1941
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Charles T. Wood
Apr 14, 1942
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Ralph Broullire
Mar 16, 1943
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John D. Ryan
Mar 3, 1950
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George Branny
Apr 12, 1950
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Perry Critchell
Mar 20, 1954
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Calvin Rutledge Jones
Feb 10, 1956
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George Eino Lappi
Nov 19, 1956
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Bert Anthony Pozza
Nov 19, 1956
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Dugald A. Pellot
Sep 30, 1957
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Albert W. Souden
Sep 3, 1959
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Robert Raymond Gonser
Aug 8, 1968
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Carl P. Lindberg
May 26, 1969
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Rodger M. Adams
May 14, 1971
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Gary T. Rampy
Dec 31, 1971
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Charles B. Stark
Dec 31, 1971
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Steven Bruce DeVries
Oct 12, 1972
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Darryl M. Rantanen
May 27, 1974
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Larry Lee Forreider
Dec 5, 1974
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Norman R. Killough
Oct 7, 1978
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Harry A. Sorenson
Dec 5, 1978
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David William Hubbard
Sep 16, 1980
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Allan Philip Peterson
Aug 29, 1981
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Craig Alan Scott
Feb 9, 1982
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Vicki Moreau DeVries
Jul 22, 1982
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Tony L. Thames
Jun 12, 1983
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Robert James Mihalik
Sep 9, 1984
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Paul L. Hutchins
Aug 30, 1985
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James E. Boland
Jul 26, 1987
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Kermit Fitzpatrick
Jul 7, 1991
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James R. DeLoach
Feb 1, 1992
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Steven J. Niewiek
Feb 2, 1992
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Byron Joseph Erickson
Jul 31, 1993
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Bryon S. Egelski
Jul 11, 1994
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Manuel H. Fields
Aug 27, 1994
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Frederick Anthony Hardy
Nov 6, 1999
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Rick Lee Johnson
May 6, 2000
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Kevin Michael Marshall
Jul 7, 2003
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Jeffrey James Werda
Apr 6, 2011
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Paul Kenyon Butterfield, II
Sep 9, 2013
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Chad H. Wolf
Aug 28, 2015
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Timothy James O'Neill
Sep 20, 2017
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Caleb Howard Starr
Jul 31, 2020
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Todd Lawrence Leveille
Dec 9, 2021
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Joel Popp
Jan 24, 2024
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Daniel Kerstetter
Sep 15, 2024
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 24-E
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