More than four decades after his tragic death, the memory of Michigan State Police Trooper Tony Thames was honored with a new highway sign in Detroit. Thames was fatally shot in the line of duty while attempting to stop a robbery in 1983, as reported by WWJ Newsradio. The sign dedication ceremony took place at the Metro South Post in Taylor and marks a poignant reminder of the ultimate sacrifice made by Trooper Thames.
It was on June 12, 1983, when Thames, then an off-duty 25-year-old state trooper, encountered an armed robbery outside the Balmer Motel on Jefferson Avenue. Despite being critically wounded during the altercation, he managed to return fire. He hit one of the suspects before succumbing to his injuries, according to details provided by the Detroit Free Press. Thames' actions, although ultimately costing him his life, led to the arrest and conviction of the assailant, Robert Bowers, who remains incarcerated to this day.
At the sign dedication ceremony, Wendell Thames, Tony's brother, shared his gratitude and the sense of belonging to a greater community, stating, "What I’ve always been told, from all Michigan State troopers, is that you’re part of the family. ‘Anything we can do that will help,’” Wendell Thames stated, as per WWJ Newsradio. This new marker not only commemorates Thames' bravery but also symbolizes the enduring bonds within the MSP community.
