Patrick Eugene Hill

Detroit Police Officer Patrick Eugene Hill passed away on October 19, 2013 due to complications from a gunshot wound he sustained six months prior in the line of duty.

Hill was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. He had a passion for sports, including football and baseball, and was a high academic achiever. Hill attended the University of Michigan College of Language Science and Arts, and was a walk-on addition to the football team. Hill met his wife, Deodge, during his junior year of college, and became close friends through shared classes and days spent studying together. The pair were later married, Hill raised Deodge’s young son as his own, and together they later welcomed three children into the world.

In 2001, Hill attended Detroit Police Academy. Upon Hill joining the force, he became a sniper and a member of the Tactical Service Section. Prior to his premature death, he joined the Comprehensive Violence Reduction Partnership, a multi-agency task force, as a special guest agent in 2012. Hill’s goal was to join the ATF, but was injured before he could go through the final interview process. Hill was on an ATF special agent assignment on April 2, 2013 when he sustained accidental gunshot wounds while engaging in a high speed pursuit of a murder suspect. The murder suspect opened fire on officers from the inside of the vehicle, wounding one officer. Other officers on scene returned fire, killing the suspect. Hill was shot by a friendly fire, suffering multiple gunshot wounds to the head. He survived his initial surgeries but never fully recovered and eventually succumbed to his injuries after spending six months in a vegetative state.

Currently, Deodge resides in Michigan with her four children. Deodge is a certified physician’s assistant and is currently running Gretchen’s Place, a non-profit organization that specializes in mental health, substance use disorder, and primary care. While not working, Deodge enjoys ballroom dancing, exercising, riding her bike, and enjoying her time near water and nature. The donation of a mortgage free home is what Deodge describes as a true blessing. It reminded her that after ten years, her husband has not been forgotten. Finally, Deodge would like others to know that her husband was an incredible individual. He was very smart and athletic. She is honored to have been his wife for 12 years and will do whatever it takes to keep his legacy alive.

Detroit Police Officer Patrick Eugene Hill is survived by his wife, Deodge, his four children, Donovan, Lauren, Kamryn, and Patrick Jr., his mother, Ernestine, his father, Sylvester, his step-mother, Melanie, his sisters, Tiffanie, Miranda, and Kia, and his brothers, Sylvester and Christopher.