Detroit Police Department, Michigan
End of Watch: Thursday, February 17, 1949
Age: 26
Tour of Duty: 5 years
Badge Number: 195
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: February 17, 1949
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Sentenced to life
Police Officer David Bergum was shot and killed while questioning a suspicious person at Ash Street near 17th Street around 4:15 a.m. His partner was shot and wounded.
The 19-year-old suspect, who had just finished serving a robbery term and was the son of a former policeman, escaped but was later caught and arrested at a friend's home. He was convicted of murder and sentenced to life. On November 18, 1953, he stabbed and seriously wounded a fellow inmate and then tried unsuccessfully to take his own life. He was still in prison in 1967.
Officer Bergum was a United States Army WWII veteran and had served with the Detroit Police Department for five years. He was survived by his expectant wife, son, and daughter.