Grand River Swelling

Summer rainfall causes the Grand River to swell and flood it’s surrounding areas.

EOW: Friday, July 31, 2020

Michigan State Police, MI

Tour: 1 Year, 10 Months

Trooper Caleb Starr succumbed to injuries sustained three weeks earlier when his vehicle was struck head-on by an intoxicated driver in Ionia County.

He was traveling west on Grand River Avenue, in Boston Township, responding to a low-priority call when a vehicle crossed the center line and struck his vehicle. He had to be extricated from the vehicle and flown by helicopter to Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital, in Grand Rapids, where he remained until succumbing to his injuries. 

Trooper Caleb Starr is survived by his wife and two children.

EOW: Sunday, July 8, 2007

Grand Rapids Police Department, MI

Tour: 7 years

Officer Kozminski responded to a call of a man with a gun threatening to shoot others at the location. Shortly after arriving at the location, he was shot when he went to the rear of the residence to establish a perimeter. Unknown to the officer, the suspect was lying in wait in the garage at the rear of the residence. From that location, the suspect ambushed Officer Kozminski, shooting him in the head with a shotgun round through the glass of the closed garage door. Another officer fired one shot but did not hit the suspect.

Other officers were able to reach Officer Kozminski and carried him to a police cruiser. He was taken to Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital where he died from his wounds.

The suspect was taken into custody and charged with murder. He was subsequently convicted of first-degree murder in March 2008 and sentenced to life in prison with no parole.