Police Officer Robert Kozminski - Grand Rapids Police Dept., Michigan

**Autumn2009** · 07-08-07, 03:14 PM

GRPD officer shot, killed; man arrested

Updated: July 8, 2007 02:11 PM

By PATRICK CENTER

GRAND RAPIDS - A Grand Rapids police officer was shot and killed early Sunday morning on the northeast side of the city.

Officer Robert Kozminski, 29, died shortly after the shooting at 1:30 a.m. at 1233 Emerald NE when police responded to a domestic disturbance.

Police arrested Jeffrey Vanvels, 45, who will be arraigned Monday on a charge of felony homicide. He was also arrested just more than a week ago - June 29, 2007 - for domestic violence and interference with communication, and released on June 30.

His wife, Sharon Gigi Vanvels, filed for divorce in November. She obtained a no-contact order against Jeffrey Vanvels. He currently lives at 1382 Kinney in Walker.

The Midwest Michigan Critical Incident Team has been brought in to help officers deal with the situation.

24 Hour News 8 will have more details as they develop.

http://www.woodtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=6759104
http://www.odmp.org/officer.php?oid=18950

May Angels Lead You In Sir....

**Jenna** · 07-08-07, 03:23 PM

Rest in peace.

**kjlaw** · 07-08-07, 04:05 PM

RIP Brother thoughts and prayers enroute to family and friends.

**countybear** · 07-08-07, 04:14 PM

Rest easy, brother.

**Autumn2009** · 07-08-07, 04:17 PM

Jul 8, 3:47 PM EDT

Grand Rapids police officer killed answering domestic call
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GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) -- A city police officer answering a domestic disturbance call was killed with a shotgun blast to the head early Sunday, police said. They said a suspect was in custody.

Officer Robert Kozminski, 29, was a seven-year veteran of the force, said police Chief Harry Dolan.

Police got a call about 1:40 a.m. of a "family member walking around inside the residence with a shotgun, threatening to kill them," Dolan said in a news release.

Kozminski was setting up a perimeter at the scene when he was shot by a shotgun fired through the glass window of a garage where the subject of the disturbance call was hiding, Dolan said.

"The suspect ambushed Officer Kozminski, shooting him in the head," the chief said.

Soon after, police arrested the subject of the disturbance call, Dolan said. The chief identified him as Jeffrey VanVels, 45. He was being held in the Kent County Jail on an open murder charge.

Kozminski is survived by a 3-year-old daughter, parents and several siblings, Dolan said.

© 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Learn more about our

**Willowdared** · 07-12-07, 03:51 PM

Does Michigan have the death penalty?

Thoughts and prayers enroute.

**Autumn2009** · 07-12-07, 06:46 PM

Originally Posted by PDawg

Does Michigan have the death penalty?

Thoughts and prayers enroute.

Negative. This state has too many damn....ok I won't get started. A few years ago I know a petition was going around to try and get the death penality for those that killed a peace officer at least, but yeah that didn't get passed either. Sad.

Was hoping to get down to this officers funeral tomorrow but the way my eye is looking I won't be able to.