Ecorse Police Department, Michigan
End of Watch Monday, March 31, 1924
Add to My HeroesBenjamin C. Montie
Police Officer Ben Montie was shot and killed while arresting a suspected bank robber.
Officer Montie, the Ecorse police chief, and Wayne County sheriff's deputies went to arrest suspects who had stolen a safe from a local store. The officers unwittingly walked into a local robbery crew's hideout. The men were responsible for a series of bank robberies and had robbed a bank in Detroit earlier in the day. Two of the suspects were counting money when the officers arrived. They jumped out of the window and began swimming across the Detroit River to Canada, but they returned and surrendered due to icy waters and the officers' gunfire.
The deputies left with the prisoners while the chief and Officer Montie stayed to investigate the hideout, which was connected to four different houses via trap doors, false walls, and a tunnel. The other two suspects returned and were surprised by the officers. When Officer Montie was handcuffing one of the men, the suspect broke free, pulled out a handgun, and fatally shot him in the chest. The two suspects ran back to their vehicle, but the chief gave chase and returned fire, killing the suspect who shot Officer Montie. The fourth suspect escaped but was arrested a few months later in Arizona.
The suspect who was captured in Arizona was sentenced to 20 to 40 years. Two other suspects were sentenced to 12 to 25 years. One of those suspects was paroled but immediately returned to prison for burglary.
Officer Montie was survived by his wife, infant son, parents, two brothers, and two sisters.
Bio
- Age 34
- Tour Not available
- Badge Not available
Incident Details
- Cause Gunfire
- Weapon Handgun
- Offender Shot and killed
Most Recent Reflection
View all 2 Reflections“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God."
Matthew 5:9
Chris Di Gerolamo
Federal Air Marshal Service
January 11, 2022
Recent LODD Deaths

Police Officer Cesar "Echy" Echaverry
Miami-Dade Police Department, FL
EOW: August 17, 2022

Deputy Sheriff Ned P. Byrd
Wake County Sheriff's Office, NC
EOW: August 11, 2022

Corporal Chad M. Beattie
Washington County Sheriff's Office, PA
EOW: August 10, 2022

Deputy Sheriff Andrew Peery
El Paso County Sheriff's Office, CO
EOW: August 7, 2022

Special Police Officer Maurica Manyan
District of Columbia Public Library Office of Public Safety, DC
EOW: August 4, 2022

Sergeant Jèan-Harold Louis Astree
Fairburn Police Department, GA
EOW: July 28, 2022

Sergeant Matthew Ryan Fishman
Wayne County Sheriff's Office, NC
EOW: August 2, 2022

Supervising Fire Marshal John Joseph "Jack" McCauley
New York City Fire Department - Bureau of Fire Investigation, NY
EOW: May 28, 2022

Police Officer Noah Jacob Shahnavaz
Elwood Police Department, IN
EOW: July 31, 2022