Police Officer Mark Anthony Sawyers

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

Sterling Heights Police Department, Michigan

End of Watch Saturday, June 5, 2004

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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
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To the Family of Officer Sawyers,
I was living in SH at the time of Officer Sawyers EOW. In the following days I remember driving into work in Detroit looking for a specific car with a specific license plate... I felt the need to help find the person who took him from you. I even missed my exit as I was focusing on cars in the I94 morning rush hour! I didn't know him, but his loss hit home as my dad lost his partner in '86 (Buffa, EOW 2-5-86). I came the church to pay my respects and in the time of social media, Yvonne accepted my friend request on social media several years ago so I am able to follow Lily's journey into adulthood and offer support to both of them as they fight for the rights they EARNED with Officer Sawyers passing.
Please know you are all in my thoughts anytime I see a 76. Even thought that is the year I was born, I think of him first, that is the impact his loss has had on me. I'm even considering having a small 76 added to my Thin Blue Line tattoo that I had done to honor my dad's partner (and when he passes my dad who is retired DPD and my father who is retired Wayne County SD).
Sending continued prayers for strength, love, peace and comfort to his entire family, both blood and Blue.
Wholeheartedly with Love,

Elizabeth J. Vorhoff
Daughter of Ret. Detroit Police Officer
& Ret. Wayne County SD Deputy
Former resident of Sterling Heights

June 17, 2021

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