Police Officer Mark Anthony Sawyers, Sterling Heights Police Department, Michigan

Police Officer Mark Anthony Sawyers

Sterling Heights Police Department, Michigan

End of Watch Saturday, June 5, 2004

Mark Anthony Sawyers

Officer Sawyers died of wounds he received the previous day when he was shot while sitting in his patrol car.

Officer Sawyers had just finished investigating a traffic accident and parked his patrol car in the parking lot of a shopping center at 15 Mile Road and Van Dyke Avenue. While Officer Sawyers was completing the paperwork for the accident, a vehicle pulled up next to his patrol car and a male armed with a shotgun opened fire, striking Officer Sawyers in the head. The suspect then stole Officer Sawyer's service weapon and fled.

Officer Sawyers was transported to St. John Macomb Hospital where he succumbed to his wounds the following morning.

The suspect's motive in the killing was to acquire a handgun. On July 25, 2004, the suspect was located in Jacksonville, Florida, after being featured on the television show America's Most Wanted. As a SWAT team of local deputies and U.S. marshals stormed the house the suspect committed suicide using Officer Sawyers' stolen service weapon.

Officer Sawyers had served with the Sterling Heights Police Department for seven months, and had previously served for three years with the Detroit Police Department. He is survived by his wife and child.

Bio

Age 30
Tour 3 years, 6 months
Badge 76

Incident Details

Cause Gunfire
Incident Date Friday, June 4, 2004
Weapon Shotgun
Offender Committed suicide

Most Recent Reflection

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Dad,

This is the first time I’ve written here, except maybe onetime mom helped me when I was little. It’s been hard for me lately. I’m lucky to have so many amazing people in my life, who tell me stories about the amazing person you were, and how much I’m like you. It’s hard I don’t remember you, I feel selfish getting sad because of this, so many people lost someone but I don’t even remember losing you. I’m always told I look like you and we’re so much alike, which I’m glad helps people cope, but for me it’s hard to find who I am, and to believe people truly love me and not just who I’m like. But, that doesn’t matter, because whenever I say something like you did my moms face lights up. They say people’s faces light up when they talk about something they’re passionate about, sometimes I can just tell my mom is thinking about you, because hers always lights up. We were in target the other day and I said something along the lines of “if you hadn’t noticed already” and she did a double take. I pass the police station everyday after school, I always think of you, and how sad I am Ms. Kathy isn’t working in the building anymore. Winston is doing great, he loves the new barn. He’s already gaining muscle, and his disposition is a lot like it used to be when I first got him. I was thinking about your beta fish today. The ones I named chippy and dippy. I can’t really have chip dip anymore, I’m not eating meat, and I’ve learned that EVERYTHING has gelatin in it. It’s been 5 or so months. For some reason reading through this page has inspired me to write again. I think I’m
Going to start a new book, or maybe continue the old one. I just don’t know what about yet. I’m going to Spain next year, I love the Spanish language. Last year I tried to talk to Harold and Lisa a little bit in Spanish but I was nervous I’d say something wrong. I’m starting to drive next week, moms really nervous. I keep seeing 76 places. I think I’m psychic, but I never can communicate with energies around myself, only other people’s. I haven’t tried again lately but it’s disappointing when nothing happens. Also, I love rap, and I attribute that to you for having listened to Missy Elliot with me when I was a baby. I didn’t have much to say so I kind of just word vommited. Love you

Lily

Lily
Daughter

September 12, 2018