Grand Rapids Police Department, Michigan
End of Watch Thursday, August 22, 1895
Add to My HeroesGeorge W. Powers
Detective Powers was shot and killed while attempting to arrest two suspected train robbers.
Detective Powers and two other detectives had gone to the Union Train Depot on Bridge Street to find two suspected train robbers. Detective Powers located the men in a train preparing to leave. When Detective Powers went to pull the bell cord on the train to alert the other Detective that he had located the suspects, one of them drew a concealed gun and shot Detective Powers, killing him.
The next day police shot and killed one of the suspects in McBain. One of the detectives who was with Detective Powers identified the suspect as being the one who killed Detective Powers.
Detective Powers was a U.S Army veteran of the Civil war and served with the Grand Rapids Police Department for 18 years. He was survived by his wife and two children. During the Civil war, he was taken prisoner following the Battle of the wilderness and sent to Andersonville Prison. During a prisoner transfer, he and another soldier managed to escape and make it back to Union Army Lines.
Bio
- Age 52
- Tour 18 years
- Badge Not available
- Military Veteran
Incident Details
- Cause Gunfire
- Weapon Handgun; .44 caliber
- Offender Shot and killed
Most Recent Reflection
View all 9 ReflectionsDet. Powers,
On today, the 125th anniversary of your death I would just like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice-not just for your Community but for our Country as well when you served with the Union Army during the Civil War.
R.I.P.
USBP
Anonymous
United States Border Patrol
August 22, 2020
Recent LODD Deaths

Lieutenant Jeff Bain
DeKalb County Sheriff's Office, AL
EOW: January 3, 2021

Correctional Officer David A. Christensen
Washington State Department of Corrections, WA
EOW: December 29, 2020

Lieutenant John Reynolds
Garden Grove Police Department, CA
EOW: January 17, 2021

Corrections Officer Joseph A. Martini
Ulster County Sheriff's Office, NY
EOW: January 17, 2021

Police Officer Arturo Villegas
Alamo Police Department, GA
EOW: January 10, 2021

Deputy Sheriff Jon Melvin
Grant County Sheriff's Office, WA
EOW: December 11, 2020

Deputy Sheriff Adam Gibson
Sacramento County Sheriff's Department, CA
EOW: January 18, 2021

Police Officer Brandon Stalker
Toledo Police Department, OH
EOW: January 18, 2021

Police Officer Jay Hughes
Kalispel Tribal Police Department, TR
EOW: January 6, 2021