Grand Rapids Police Department, Michigan
End of Watch: Saturday, December 3, 1966
Age: 35
Tour of Duty: 13 years, 11 months
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: December 3, 1966
Weapon Used: Shotgun
Suspect Info: Died in prison
Sergeant Van Tuinen was shot and killed while he and other officers attempted to arrest a man wanted for a shooting at a local bar near the intersection of Franklin Street and South Division Avenue.
Shortly after arriving at the subject's home on Madison Avenue near Prince Street officer spotted the subject with a gun through a window. After negotiations failed for the man to drop his weapon Sergeant Van Tuinen was about to enter the residence when the suspect opened fire with a shotgun, fatally wounding Sergeant Van Tuinen. The suspect was shot by other officers as he attempted to flee from the rear of the house.
The suspect was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison on June 9, 1967. He died in prison on July 30, 1988.
Sergeant Van Tuinen served with the Grand Rapids Police Department for less than 14 years and was survived by his wife and six children. His brother and brother-in-law were Grand Rapids police officers.