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Benton James Hacker
Agency patch
Police Officer

Benton James Hacker

Detroit Police Department — Detroit, MI
Felonious
United States flag Michigan flag
End of Watch March 29, 1958
Age 64
Tour of Duty 25 yrs
The Vigil Panel 93 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 249

Incident

Police Officer Benton Hacker succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained on February 20th, 1948, while attempting to arrest a man who had just committed robberies of two filling stations.

As Officer Hacker and his partner checked the area they discovered the suspect's vehicle stopped for a passing Detroit Terminal freight train on Kercheval Avenue, near Hart Street. As Officer Hacker approached the car on foot the subject suddenly jumped from the vehicle and opened fire, striking him in the chest.

Officer Hacker was transported to a local hospital. The subject was arrested by other officers a short distance away.

Officer Hacker never fully recovered and was only able to return to desk duty until medically retiring with 25 years of service. His condition continued to worsen and he died from complications of the gunshot wound on March 29th, 1958.

Officer Hacker had served with the Detroit Police Department for 25 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, daughter, and brother.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

25 years. You could have gone home.
Police Officer Hacker gave the Detroit Police Department 25 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Detroit community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Hacker.

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

Agency

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

Service Record

End of Watch March 29, 1958
Tour of Duty 25 yrs
Age 64
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Benton 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.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1958, 63 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 119th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Benton was 64. 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. Benton had served 25 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

March holds 7.5% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Saturdays: 16.3%.

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

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

Across the years
VI

Where

Police Officer Benton James Hacker

Detroit Police Department · End of Watch March 29, 1958

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 38-W

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