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Police Officer Earl J. Kobinski | Detroit Police Department, Michigan
Detroit Police Department, Michigan

Police Officer

Earl J. Kobinski

Detroit Police Department, Michigan

End of Watch: Friday, July 9, 1926

Biographical Info

Age: 40
Tour of Duty: 4 years
Badge Number: 1523

Incident Details

Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: July 9, 1926
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: One shot and killed

Officer Kobinski was shot and killed while he and his partner attempted to stop four young bank robbery suspects at Hubbell and Eaton avenues. The men were fleeing a robbery they had just committed at the People's State Bank in the City of Plymouth. The men opened fire when they encountered the officers and Officer Kobinski was shot in the head. One of the suspects, a 15-year-old youth, was killed in the return gunfire.

The other three, ages 16, 18, and 22, were apprehended, convicted of first degree murder, and sentenced to life. All three were released in 1948 when a judge ruled they should have been convicted of second degree murder. A year later the youngest of the three was shot and critically wounded by a 15-year-old store clerk when he attempted to rob a drug store in Detroit.

Officer Kobinski had served with the Detroit Police Department for 4 years.