Charles E. Beasley
Agency patch
Police Officer

Charles E. Beasley

Detroit Police Department — Detroit, MI
Felonious
End of Watch November 22, 1988
Age 38
Tour of Duty 12 yrs
Badge 872
The Vigil Panel 134 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Officer Beasley was shot and killed while working an undercover narcotics operation. He had gone to make a large $25,000 narcotics purchase from a dealer in the White Castle parking lot at Livernois and West Warren. The dealer, however, went with the intent of robbing Officer Beasley; substituting the narcotics with flour. Officer Beasley refused to turn over the money and the suspects, suspicious they were being set up, shot Officer Beasley in the face. He was killed during the transaction. The gunman was shot in the thigh by Officer Beasley's partners and was arrested after trying to flee. Officer Beasley had served with the agency for 12 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and three children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtqhk5xp59pbhr56r39ty
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 Charles. 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 Beasley gave the Detroit Police Department 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the Detroit community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Beasley.

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

Agency

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

Service Record

End of Watch November 22, 1988
Tour of Duty 12 yrs
Age 38
Badge Number 872
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Charles is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% 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 1988, 97 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 55th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Charles was 38. 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. Charles had served 12 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

November holds 8.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Tuesdays: 13.4%.

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 gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

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

Across the years
VI

Where

Police Officer Charles E. Beasley

Detroit Police Department · End of Watch November 22, 1988

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 25-E

↑