During National Police Week, May 11-17, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) honors and remembers 17 conservation officers who were killed or died as a result of incidents that occurred during the line of duty. This photo is from the May 2025 Peace Officers Memorial Day ceremony in Roscommon. (DNR)

During National Police Week, May 11-17, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) joins communities across the United States to honor and remember those law enforcement officers who were killed or died as a result of incidents that occurred during the line of duty.

“These officers stood as protectors of natural resources, often in quiet, remote places,” said Chief Brandon Kieft, DNR Law Enforcement Division. “We honor their sacrifice and we carry forward, every day, the legacy of our 17 fallen conservation officers across the lands and waters they gave everything to defend.”

In 2022, the Michigan Conservation Officers Association and the DNR dedicated a memorial to Michigan’s then 16 fallen officers. The memorial is located at the DNR’s Ralph A. MacMullan Conference Center in Roscommon and is open to the public.

After being notified in 2024 by historians, who came across records for Conservation Officer Paul Durham, the DNR added Durham as the memorial’s 17th officer. Durham passed away in his patrol car in 1972.

The DNR currently is aware of 17 fallen conservation officers. From time to time, historians, other law enforcement agencies or media throughout the United States will encounter records that reveal a fallen CO who should be recognized. When the DNR receives these notifications, a thorough investigation is conducted to determine who the officer was and how they died and to interview any living relatives or identified acquaintances.

The DNR will host a small Peace Officers Memorial Day ceremony Thursday in Roscommon. Additionally, State of Michigan flags will be placed at the gravesite of each fallen officer.

Read more about the histories of these officers at Michigan.gov/DNRFallenOfficers. For more on the day-to-day and specialized work of Michigan’s COs, visit Michigan.gov/ConservationOfficers.