Police Officer Dayton A. Winegar

Police Officer Dayton A. Winegar | Detroit Police Department, Michigan
Detroit Police Department, Michigan
Police Officer Dayton A. Winegar

Detroit Police Department, Michigan

End of Watch Saturday, March 8, 1930

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Dayton A. Winegar

Officer Dayton Winegar was shot and killed while chasing three robbery suspects.

Officer Winegar was on patrol when he observed a youth run out of a haberdashery store at 7313 Jos Campau with an employee running after him. The store owner had been slugged and robbed. As the suspect made his escape along with two other youths in an automobile, Officer Winegar commandeered a citizens vehicle and had the driver pursue as he stood on the running board. In an alley near St. Aubin Street, the suspects abandoned their vehicle and fled on foot with Officer Winegar continuing the pursuit on foot close behind. As Officer Winegar followed the suspects into a nearby grocery store, one of the suspects turned and shot him in the head, killing him instantly.

The suspect, a 17-year-old youth, was arrested at his girlfriend's home a few hours later. The other two suspects, ages 16 and 20, were also eventually apprehended.

Officer Winegar's murderer was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life. He was paroled from Jackson State Prison June 23, 1955.

Officer Winegar had served with the Detroit Police Department for six years. He was assigned to the Old Hunt Street Station, (7th Precinct). He was survived by his wife and two sons. Officer Winegar's grandson was a Detroit police officer who is now retired. Upon entering the Detroit Police Academy, he was presented with his grandfather's badge which he proudly wore during a very distinguished career.

Bio

  • Age 29
  • Tour 6 years
  • Badge 1742

Incident Details

  • Cause Gunfire
  • Weapon Gun; Unknown type
  • Offender Paroled in 1955

foot pursuit, robbery

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Well Grandpa Dayton it is now 93 years since you passed away in the line of duty. All the history of our family in the Detroit PD, as well as my son with the Montgomery PD are in prior reflections. Our nephew Erik, is still patrolling the streets in Macomb County as a deputy sheriff assigned to road patrol.
I am turning 72 next month and what all citizens are seeing across the country is a complete lack of law enforcement due to politics and progressive district attorneys who have an agenda of their own.
No one is really safe anymore. The officers do their job, and the perps are released without bail and without being prosecuted. What does that leave the law abiding citizen? Anarchy in the streets of some cities. Having served in the military as well as my son retiring from the military before becoming an officer, all the law enforcement officers, sheriffs, federal agents, and military personnel who have laid down their lives for this country, their cities, states, county, are now in vain. What all of us current, retired, and deceased have fought for, dedicated our lives to protecting this country both in the military and civilian law enforcement fields, are a breed that believed in God, believed in the possibility that one day, one night they would have to sacrifice their lives for what they personally believed in, protecting our freedom for our country, protecting the freedoms for those in our cities, counties, states. We must never forget what they sacrificed for our country and the citizens they protected on their streets as a law enforcement officer, sheriff, deputy, border patrol, custom agents, FBI, DEA, ATF, Secret Service, among many other military soldiers, sailors, airmen/airwomen, marines, coast guard who gave it all in some foreign battlefield throughout our country's history. These are those who helped make our country free and safe. I have lost too many during my lifetime, both military buddies, and fellow officers. They will NEVER be forgotten!
March 7, 2023

Officer David Winegar retired DPD 1742
Detroit Police grandson of Officer Dayton Winegar DPD Badge #1742

March 7, 2023

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