Paul L. Hutchins
Trooper

Paul L. Hutchins

MI State Police — Lansing, MI
Felonious
End of Watch August 30, 1985
Age 30
Tour of Duty 7 yrs
The Vigil Panel 130 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Trooper Hutchins was shot and killed while off duty during an armed robbery. Trooper Hutchins and a companion were in Detroit when two men approached them and demanded Trooper Hutchins' wallet and his companion's purse. After giving up the items the suspects instructed them to walk to a more secluded area. As he complied, the suspects saw an additional wallet in Trooper Hutchins' pocket and demanded he hand it over. This wallet contained his identification and badge. As he gave it to them he suddenly pushed his companion away and drew his off-duty weapon as he ran a short distance away to draw the suspect's attention from his companion. As he turned back to the suspects he was struck in the head by a round fired by one of them. Four local gang members were apprehended and charged with Trooper Hutchins' murder in December of 1986. Three suspects were 17 years-old, one a female. All four were convicted of second degree murder and armed robbery and sentenced to 150 to 300 years in prison. Their terms were later reduced to 95 to 150 years. One of the suspects later received a life sentence for his involvement in two unrelated Detroit murders.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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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.
Trooper Hutchins gave the Michigan State Police 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Michigan. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Trooper Hutchins.

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

Agency

Department MI State Police
Type State Police
Location Lansing, Ingham County, MI
Platform Identity msp.mi.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 30, 1985
Tour of Duty 7 yrs
Age 30
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Paul 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.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1985, 99 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 52nd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Paul was 30. 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. Paul had served 7 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 8.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 14.3%.

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 handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

MI State Police has 57 officers remembered here, Paul among them.

Across the years

Trooper Paul L. Hutchins

MI State Police · End of Watch August 30, 1985

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 34-E

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