George Seman
Encyclopedia
George "Ted" Seman was a Michigan
Police Officer, and the first Evart
police officer to be killed in the line of duty. He was a member of the police department during the early years of the agency, before it was more formally organized into the modern police force that it is today. Therefore, his rank is often listed as "Police Chief" since there was no formal rank structure at the time, and he was the lone officer for the town.
.
Ted had three brothers, Leonard, Frank, and Eugene and four sisters, Dorothy, Loretta, Irene and Madaline.
After high school, Ted worked in the coal mines in and around Morann, Pennsylvania for a short time, before leaving to work in the Chrysler Lynch Road Assembly Plant in Detroit.
In 1950, while making a trip back to Detroit from Morann, Ted was involved in a car-truck accident. Ted was believed to be dead until the ambulance driver heard him moan. Ted lost his left arm above the elbow in the accident. In an ironic twist, the truck that hit him was hauling wood that was to be used to build caskets.
On September 19, 1953 George Seman married Mildred Hodge from Millboro, Virginia. They had three children. The Seman family eventually re-located to Evart, MI where Ted was elected as the town police officer in 1965.
had placed a suspect under arrest for disorderly conduct.
According to police reports, during his transport to the county jail, the suspect produced a hidden knife and went over the seat and stabbed Seman. He then got control of Seman's gun, fired two shots into his side, then pushed him from the patrol car and returned to the apartment where he had been arrested.
A State Police Officer that had been sent from Reed City observed Officer Seman sitting down on the side of the roadway across from Evart Municipal Airport
and stopped to render assistance. This officer and a second officer transported Seman to Reed City hospital. An ambulance
with a police escort transported Seman to Blogget Hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he later died of his injuries.
Officer Seman was the third Osceola County, Michigan
officer to be killed in the line of duty. It was the first felonious killing of an Osceola County officer.
Seman was survived by his wife and his three children, the youngest who was six years and nine months old at the time of the death.
A collection was taken up for Officer Seman's family by the local merchants in Evart.
Due to the small size of the department at the time, Seman was buried without any police honors, such as a flag covering the casket, a 3-volley salute
, or the playing of Taps
.
, and is now displayed at the city police station in Evart
; a second ceremony took place on May 15, 2004, Peace Officers Memorial Day
, during which Seman received the Police Medal of Honor award (posthumously.) His family received the Family Survivor Medal and Family Survivor badge. A three-volley salute was performed for Seman and all police killed in the line of duty.
signed Senate Bill No. 943 into law.
A portion of the street where Seman was killed at 1:55 am on June 13, 1966 was renamed in honor of Seman, after his youngest son contacted State Rep. Darwin Booher (R-Evart), the governor's office, MDOT
, and COPS. These agencies eventually came together to create a lasting memorial to Seman in the form of a highway sign, which dedicates a portion of the highway in his name.
Seman is also remembered on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC.
s. The town of Evart was shut down and for that week every business was taking up a collection for the Seman Family.
The Michigan Fallen Heroes Memorial is the only memorial in the State of Michigan that honors both law enforcement and fire fighters who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
Police Officer, and the first Evart
Evart, Michigan
Evart is a city in Osceola County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,738 at the 2000 census. The city lies on the northern edge of Evart Township and is partially within neighboring Osceola Township.-History:...
police officer to be killed in the line of duty. He was a member of the police department during the early years of the agency, before it was more formally organized into the modern police force that it is today. Therefore, his rank is often listed as "Police Chief" since there was no formal rank structure at the time, and he was the lone officer for the town.
Biography
George Seman was born in Morann, Pennsylvania, USA, a town of about 300 people, to Susan and Andrew Seman. He got the nickname "Ted" when he was very young, being built like a teddy bearTeddy bear
The teddy bear is a stuffed toy bear. They are usually stuffed with soft, white cotton and have smooth and soft fur. It is an enduring form of a stuffed animal in many countries, often serving the purpose of entertaining children. In recent times, some teddy bears have become collector's items...
.
Ted had three brothers, Leonard, Frank, and Eugene and four sisters, Dorothy, Loretta, Irene and Madaline.
After high school, Ted worked in the coal mines in and around Morann, Pennsylvania for a short time, before leaving to work in the Chrysler Lynch Road Assembly Plant in Detroit.
In 1950, while making a trip back to Detroit from Morann, Ted was involved in a car-truck accident. Ted was believed to be dead until the ambulance driver heard him moan. Ted lost his left arm above the elbow in the accident. In an ironic twist, the truck that hit him was hauling wood that was to be used to build caskets.
On September 19, 1953 George Seman married Mildred Hodge from Millboro, Virginia. They had three children. The Seman family eventually re-located to Evart, MI where Ted was elected as the town police officer in 1965.
Line of Duty Death
On June 12, 1966, George Seman became the first police officer to be killed in the line of duty for the Evart Police Department. He was shot by a suspect that he had been transporting to the Osceola Co. Jail.The night of the incident
In the evening of June 12, 1966, Officer Seman of Evart, MichiganEvart, Michigan
Evart is a city in Osceola County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,738 at the 2000 census. The city lies on the northern edge of Evart Township and is partially within neighboring Osceola Township.-History:...
had placed a suspect under arrest for disorderly conduct.
According to police reports, during his transport to the county jail, the suspect produced a hidden knife and went over the seat and stabbed Seman. He then got control of Seman's gun, fired two shots into his side, then pushed him from the patrol car and returned to the apartment where he had been arrested.
A State Police Officer that had been sent from Reed City observed Officer Seman sitting down on the side of the roadway across from Evart Municipal Airport
Evart Municipal Airport
Evart Municipal Airport is a public airport located 1 mile west of Evart in Osceola County, Michigan, USA....
and stopped to render assistance. This officer and a second officer transported Seman to Reed City hospital. An ambulance
Ambulance
An ambulance is a vehicle for transportation of sick or injured people to, from or between places of treatment for an illness or injury, and in some instances will also provide out of hospital medical care to the patient...
with a police escort transported Seman to Blogget Hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he later died of his injuries.
Officer Seman was the third Osceola County, Michigan
Osceola County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 23,197 people, 8,861 households, and 6,415 families residing in the county. The population density was 41 people per square mile . There were 12,853 housing units at an average density of 23 per square mile...
officer to be killed in the line of duty. It was the first felonious killing of an Osceola County officer.
Seman was survived by his wife and his three children, the youngest who was six years and nine months old at the time of the death.
A collection was taken up for Officer Seman's family by the local merchants in Evart.
Background
(Ted) Seman's Funeral was at the Corey Funeral Home in Evart. Service was at Sacred Heart Catholic Church West of Evart.Due to the small size of the department at the time, Seman was buried without any police honors, such as a flag covering the casket, a 3-volley salute
3-volley salute
The 3-volley salute is a ceremonial act performed at military and police funerals as part of the drill and ceremony of the Honor Guard. It consists of a rifle party firing blank cartridges into the air three times. The custom originates from the European dynastic wars, where the fighting ceased so...
, or the playing of Taps
Taps
"Taps" is a musical piece sounded by the U.S. military nightly to indicate that it is "lights out". The tune is also sometimes known as "Butterfields Lullaby", or by the lyrics of its second verse, "Day is Done". It is also played during flag ceremonies and funerals, generally on bugle or trumpet...
.
The Trial
The suspect was later found not guilty by reason of mental illness, and was sentenced to 5 years in a mental facility.In memory
Nearly thirty years after his death, on May 15, 2000, the nationally recognized Police Officers Memorial Day, Officers from the Evart Police, Osceola County, and surrounding areas, as well as elected officials and members of the Evart community, gathered to pay homage to the officer who had made the ultimate sacrifice so long ago. The service took place at Guyton Memorial Park on Main Street, with an honor guard present for a 3-volley salute3-volley saluteThe 3-volley salute is a ceremonial act performed at military and police funerals as part of the drill and ceremony of the Honor Guard. It consists of a rifle party firing blank cartridges into the air three times. The custom originates from the European dynastic wars, where the fighting ceased so...
, and a plaque with the engraving "Rest in peace, fallen brother" being presented to the Mayor of Evart. The plaque still hangs in the lobby of the police department, alongside a photo of Seman, to this day.
Seman was buried at Forest Hill cemetery outside the town. The same cemetery that Joseph William GuytonJoseph William GuytonJoseph William Guyton was the first American soldier killed on German-held soil during World War I. Private Guyton was from the small town of Evart, Michigan.-Life:...
, World War I hero from Evart, Michigan, was buried.
Peace Officer Memorial Day
In addition to the plaque, which was originally presented on May 15, 2000, Peace Officers Memorial DayPeace Officers Memorial Day
Peace Officers Memorial Day and Police Week is an observance in the United States that pays tribute to the local, state, and Federal peace officers. The Memorial takes place on May 15, and Police Week is the calendar week in which the Memorial falls....
, and is now displayed at the city police station in Evart
Evart, Michigan
Evart is a city in Osceola County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,738 at the 2000 census. The city lies on the northern edge of Evart Township and is partially within neighboring Osceola Township.-History:...
; a second ceremony took place on May 15, 2004, Peace Officers Memorial Day
Peace Officers Memorial Day
Peace Officers Memorial Day and Police Week is an observance in the United States that pays tribute to the local, state, and Federal peace officers. The Memorial takes place on May 15, and Police Week is the calendar week in which the Memorial falls....
, during which Seman received the Police Medal of Honor award (posthumously.) His family received the Family Survivor Medal and Family Survivor badge. A three-volley salute was performed for Seman and all police killed in the line of duty.
George Edward (Ted) Seman Memorial Highway
On October 6, 2008, a 9/10 mi section of US-10 in Evart, Michigan was named "George Edward (Ted) Seman Memorial Highway" when Michigan Governor Jennifer GranholmJennifer Granholm
Jennifer Mulhern Granholm is a Canadian-born American politician, educator, and author who served as Attorney General and 47th Governor of the U.S. state of Michigan. A member of the Democratic Party, Granholm became Michigan's first female governor on January 1, 2003, when she succeeded Governor...
signed Senate Bill No. 943 into law.
A portion of the street where Seman was killed at 1:55 am on June 13, 1966 was renamed in honor of Seman, after his youngest son contacted State Rep. Darwin Booher (R-Evart), the governor's office, MDOT
Michigan Department of Transportation
The Michigan Department of Transportation is a constitutional government agency in the US state of Michigan. The primary purpose of MDOT is to maintain the Michigan State Trunkline Highway System which includes all Interstate, US and state highways in Michigan with the exception of the Mackinac...
, and COPS. These agencies eventually came together to create a lasting memorial to Seman in the form of a highway sign, which dedicates a portion of the highway in his name.
Seman is also remembered on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC.
Services
Chief Seman was buried on June 16, 1966, in his uniform. The casket was not draped with a flag, there was no 3-volley salute, and there were no police pallbearerPallbearer
A pall-bearer is one of several funeral participants who helps carry the casket of a deceased person from a religious or memorial service or viewing either directly to a cemetery or mausoleum, or to and from the hearse which carries the coffin....
s. The town of Evart was shut down and for that week every business was taking up a collection for the Seman Family.
The Michigan Fallen Heroes Memorial is the only memorial in the State of Michigan that honors both law enforcement and fire fighters who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
External links
- Early Evart, Evart Michigan DDA & LDFA
- Joseph W. Guyton, Michigan Historical Marker
- "Memorial Highway pursuant to an act of the state legislature. (The roadway's official name is still US-10.)[5][6] In 2000, a plaque was given to the city and placed in the police station at 127½ North River street. On the same block where Ted Seman lived."
- "Officer Down Memorial Page - George Edward (Ted) Seman. Retrieved 2009-08-20
- The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial