DeWitt Township Police Department, Michigan
End of Watch: Tuesday, January 25, 2000
Age: 43
Tour of Duty: 18 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Struck by vehicle
Date of Incident: January 25, 2000
Weapon Used: Automobile; Commercial
Suspect Info: Guilty of negligent homicide
Police Officer Gary Priess was killed when he was struck by a tractor-trailer while making a traffic stop on U.S. Highway 127 near the I-69 interchange.
He was speaking with the driver of the vehicle he had stopped, when the tractor-trailer struck his cruiser, and then him. The driver of the tractor-trailer pleaded guilty to negligent homicide and was sentenced to 90 days in jail, two years probation, and 60 hours of community service.
Officer Priess had served with the DeWitt Township Police Department for 18 years. He is survived by his wife and two young children.