Grand Rapids Police Department, Michigan
End of Watch: Sunday, July 8, 2007
Age: 29
Tour of Duty: 7 years
Badge Number: 089
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: July 8, 2007
Weapon Used: Shotgun
Suspect Info: Sentenced to life
Officer Bobby Kozminski was shot and killed while responding to a domestic disturbance at a home on Emerald Avenue NE at approximately 1:40 am.
Officer Kozminski responded to a call of a man with a gun threatening to shoot others at the location. Shortly after arriving at the location, he was shot when he went to the rear of the residence to establish a perimeter. Unknown to the officer, the suspect was lying in wait in the garage at the rear of the residence. From that location, the suspect ambushed Officer Kozminski, shooting him in the head with a shotgun round through the glass of the closed garage door. Another officer fired one shot but did not hit the suspect.
Other officers were able to reach Officer Kozminski and carried him to a police cruiser. He was taken to Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital where he died from his wounds.
The suspect was taken into custody and charged with murder. He was subsequently convicted of first degree murder in March 2008 and sentenced to life in prison with no parole.
Officer Kozminski had served with the Grand Rapids Police Department for 7 years. He is survived by a three-year-old daughter, parents, and six siblings.