Trooper Steven B. DeVries, Michigan State Police, Michigan

Trooper Steven B. DeVries

Michigan State Police, Michigan

End of Watch Thursday, October 12, 1972

Steven B. DeVries

Trooper DeVries was shot and killed after stopping a suspect who had just robbed a bank in Niles, Michigan. During the stop the suspect shot him in the chest. Responding officers found that during the course of the stop Trooper DeVries had written the man's name and address on a note pad and arrested the man.

The suspect was sentenced to life in prison but escaped in 1987. Later that same year he was shot and killed by deputies in Mississippi following another bank robbery.

Bio

Age 32
Tour Not available
Badge Not available

Incident Details

Cause Gunfire
Weapon Gun; Unknown type
Offender Later shot and killed

Most Recent Reflection

View all 14 Reflections

I will never forget this day. My now former husband, a rookie trooper, was sent to Niles from New Buffalo and the Chickaming Township police officer, along with a trooper out of New Buffalo came to my home to tell me that he (my former husband) would be working on the manhunt for Trooper DeVrie's killer and to not be concerned. I had heard of the murder on the news and I was scared to death. My then husband had been sent to New Buffalo as his first assigned post shortly after the deaths of Rampy and Stark and everyone was still in shock from that incident. Then to find out that Trooper DeVries was related to Gary Rampy's wife made it all the more acute and tragic. These are memories that one never forgets!

Jeanne Radley (formerly Kroll)
Former Wife of a now retired State Trooper

August 29, 2015