Detective William L. Bell

William L. Bell

Detective Bell and Detective Marlyn Bateson were killed when their unmarked patrol car was struck by a drunk driver at 10 p.m. The detectives were en route to assist another unit on a man with a gun call.

The officers were stopped at a red light at the intersection of Lafayette Street and Livernois Street. When the light turned green they entered the intersection and were struck by a drunk driver at a speed of 80 mph. The suspect was never charged in connection with their deaths but was later convicted of murdering nine women.

Detective Bell was a U.S. Navy veteran who served as a radioman in the invasion of Okinawa and the Battle of Leyte.

He had been with the Detroit Police Department for 17 years and was survived by his wife, daughter, and son.