Grosse Pointe Park Department of Public Safety, Michigan
End of Watch: Thursday, December 12, 1985
Age: 41
Tour of Duty: 18 years
Badge Number: 123
Cause of Death: Assault
Date of Incident: December 12, 1985
Weapon Used: Person
Suspect Info: Not available
Patrolman Steven Molitor suffered a fatal skull fracture during a struggle with a suspect.
He and his partner were exiting the Ram's Horn Restaurant at 3:30 a.m. when they observed two people tampering with their patrol car at 17410 Mack Ave. The suspects resisted arrest when confronted by the officers, and during the ensuing struggle, Patrolman Molitor suffered an apparent heart attack. As he fell to the ground, he struck his head on the suspect's car door, causing a fractured skull. He was transported to a local hospital, where he succumbed to the head wound.
Patrolman Molitor had been with the Grosse Pointe Park Department of Public Safety for 18 years. He was survived by his wife and three children.