Robert Randall East
Agency patch
Patrolman

Robert Randall East

Veteran → Accident
End of Watch December 21, 1972
Age 56
Tour of Duty 25 yrs
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman East succumbed to injuries sustained a week earlier in an automobile accident during a pursuit in Raleigh at US-1 and US-401. He was pursuing a vehicle when he struck a bridge abutment, suffering major injuries. He was rushed to North Carolina Hospital where his left leg was amputated. Patrolman East was a U.S Army veteran of WWII and had served with the North Carolina Highway Patrol for 25 years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife, daughter, and son.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
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Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Army. One record, 2 gates. Robert is one person.

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Tributes

I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Patrolman East gave the North Carolina Highway Patrol 25 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of North Carolina, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Highway Patrol
Location Raleigh, NC
Platform Identity nchp.nc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 21, 1972
Tour of Duty 25 yrs
Age 56
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

Military Service

Robert Randall East served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

The Sacrifice · Accident

Robert is one of 8,276 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,552 remembered there.

34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1972, 85 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 19th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Robert was 56. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Robert had served 25 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

December holds 8.9% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

North Carolina Highway Patrol has 69 officers remembered here, Robert among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Patrolman Robert Randall East

North Carolina Highway Patrol · End of Watch December 21, 1972

Military Service

Robert Randall East served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.

Visit Robert Randall East’s page on salute.nw →

His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 31-E

Also Remembered

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