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Incident
Special Officer Brandsma and Detective Samuel Slater were shot and killed after responding to a house to arrest suspect bank robbers, four men and a woman. Detective Slater and Officer Brandsma were acting on a tip that said two suspected bank robbers were at a house at 455 Weaver Street SE (Present day Ardmore Street SE) . The tip was thought to be false by Detective Slater since so many tips had been false throughout the day. Detective Slater elected to take just one officer, Officer Brandsma, to assist him. As the officers arrived at the home of the tipster, who lived across from the suspect's home, the suspects saw them and turned out all the lights. The two officers watched the home for a short time, and then decided to go knock on the door. As the two officers were walking up the sidewalk leading to the door of the suspect's home, shots rang out. Detective Slater was shot through the door. Officer Brandsma rushed the door and forced his way into the home but was shot several times when be entered the home and was killed instantly. Detective Slater staggered back to the tipster's home where he collapsed. He was brought to the hospital by responding officers and died two days later. The suspects escaped in a stolen car. One of the suspects was captured in Detroit, convicted of murder, and sentenced to life. On August 16, 1931, during a riot at Marquette Penitentiary, a rioter shot him in the chest as he risked his life in an attempt to save the prison doctor and a fellow inmate whom the rioters killed. He recovered, and out of appreciation for his heroism he was released on May 4, 1932. On December 18, 1922, four men and two women in Denver, Colorado, robbed a federal mint bank truck of $200,000. As they fled from the scene a bank guard jumped on the running board of their car and shot one of the robbers. A month later the car, with his frozen body inside, was found in a remote area near Denver. He was identified as one of the suspects who murdered Officer Brand
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Special Officer Brandsma served with the Grand Rapids Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Grand Rapids community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Officer Brandsma.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Grand Rapids Police Department has lost 15 officers; 8 of them killed feloniously.
Gerrit is one of 415 officers killed feloniously in MI, 59% of the 703 remembered there.
Gerrit is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Gerrit is one of 17,631 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,117 remembered here.
34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1921, 2 officers at Grand Rapids Police Department were killed feloniously, more than in any other year.
In 1921, 8 officers in MI were killed feloniously, the 10th heaviest of 124 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 14.
In 1921, 248 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, more than in any other year.
In 1921, 516 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, more than in any other year.
Who
Gerrit was 38. Of the 8 killed feloniously at Grand Rapids Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 41.5; the middle age was 33.5.
Gerrit was 38. Of the 400 killed feloniously in MI whose age is recorded, half were between 28 and 42; the middle age was 35.
Gerrit 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.
Gerrit was 38. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38.
When
December holds 50% of these deaths at Grand Rapids Police Department, more than any other month. Wednesdays: 12.5%.
December holds 12.3% of these deaths in MI, more than any other month. Wednesdays: 12.3%.
December holds 9.4% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Wednesdays: 12.9%.
December holds 9.2% of these deaths worldwide, more than any other month. Wednesdays: 13.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 53.3% of all 15 deaths at Grand Rapids Police Department, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 37.5% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 59% of all 703 deaths in MI, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 31.8% 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 gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 20.4% of these deaths.
His people
Grand Rapids Police Department has 15 officers remembered here, Gerrit among them.
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George W. Powers
Aug 22, 1895
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Henry Slater
Sep 4, 1907
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Millard F. Davis
Aug 25, 1916
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Charles Irving DeYoung
Jun 7, 1920
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George David Geng
May 18, 1921
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Gerrit George Brandsma
Dec 7, 1921
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Samuel Slater, Jr.
Dec 9, 1921
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John Meiboom
Oct 10, 1925
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Francis Marion Gallup
May 13, 1946
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Stanley Van Tuinen
Dec 3, 1966
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Wayne Vonk
Jan 19, 1969
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Herman Reinhold Gloe
Dec 12, 1974
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Joseph Floyd Taylor
Nov 17, 1986
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Daniel Craig Duyst
May 30, 1994
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Robert Anthony Kozminski
Jul 8, 2007
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 61-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
14 officers from Grand Rapids Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
