Detroit Police Department, Michigan
End of Watch: Wednesday, February 5, 1986
Age: 24
Tour of Duty: 3 months
Badge Number: 4850
Cause of Death: Gunfire (Inadvertent)
Date of Incident: February 5, 1986
Weapon Used: Officer's weapon
Suspect Info: Not available
Officer Mark Radden and Officer Jack Buffa were shot and killed in a case of mistaken identity.
Officer Buffa and his partner, who were in plainclothes, were performing a drug raid at a home. At the same time as the raid, Officer Radden and his partner, also in plainclothes, were responding to a report of a shooting at the same home.
Neither pair of officers knew the other was at the home and when they encountered each other shots were exchanged. Officer Radden and Officer Buffa were both fatally wounded.
Officer Radden is survived by his young daughter, parents, and three siblings.