In the line of duty, Detroit Police Officer Sherdard Raymund Brison, a 40-year-old male, lost his life in March of 1990. A veteran of the United States Army who served in the Vietnam War, he had been a member of the Detroit Police Department for twelve years. His death followed a violent encounter with an armed robbery suspect.
On the afternoon of February 28, 1990, Officer Brison and his partner conducted a traffic stop of a cab on Livernoise near the M-10 freeway.
They believed a passenger in the taxi was responsible for a recent armed robbery at a nearby dress shop where a customer had been injured. As Officer Brison was patting down the suspect, the man suddenly produced a pistol and shot him.
After being shot, Officer Brison fell and sustained further head injuries when he was struck by a passing car. The suspect then turned his weapon on Officer Brison's partner, shooting her below her protective vest before attempting to flee. Despite her injuries, his partner was able to return fire, killing the suspect with a single shot as he ran. The suspect was later identified as a parolee with a history of three prior felony convictions for which he had served minimal time.
Officer Sherdard Raymund Brison succumbed to his injuries six days after the shooting, on Monday, March 5, 1990. He was survived by his wife and daughter.
