Police Officer John Otto Hessler

John Otto Hessler

Police Officer John Hessler was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a suspect for murdering his estranged wife's friend on White Street between Monroe and High Streets in Ecorse.

Officer Hessler and another officer were patrolling the area when they spotted the suspect. Two hours earlier, the suspect had killed a man in front of several witnesses at his estranged wife's boarding house. When Officer Hessler stepped out of the patrol car to arrest the man, the subject shot him in the head. The subject fired two more shots towards the other officer, but the bullets struck the vehicle. The second officer fired twice at the suspect, wounding him as he fled. The subject ran down the street and surrendered to a third officer. The man was transported to Wyandotte Hospital, where he died from his injuries two hours later.

Officer Hessler succumbed to his injuries in the ambulance on the way to the hospital.

Officer Hessler was a United States Army veteran of WWI and had served with the Ecorse Police Department for 17 years. He was survived by a wife and son.