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Robert L. Litsey
Agency patch
Police Officer

Robert L. Litsey

Seattle Police Department — Seattle, WA
Felonious
United States flag Washington flag
End of Watch September 25, 1924
Tour of Duty 22 yrs
The Vigil Panel 111 · Column 2 · Line 15 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 59

Incident

Police Officer Robert Litsey was shot and killed after responding to a report of loitering on a staircase at 7th Avenue and Pine Street. When Officer Litsey called for the suspects to come down the stairs, one of the men opened fire, killing him. Three men were arrested and charged with murder. One was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 19 years. He was paroled in 1930. Another was convicted of murder. He died in prison from tuberculosis on March 14, 1929. The last suspect was convicted of murder and sentenced to life. On September 15, 1925, he escaped from the city jail. Several days later he was captured in San Francisco after he committed an armed robbery. He spent 13 years in Folsom Prison and was returned to Walla Walla Penitentiary in 1938. In 1943 his sentence was reduced to 19 years making him eligible for parole.

Survivors

Officer Litsey had served with the Seattle Police Department for 22 years and was survived by his wife, two sons, and a daughter.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

22 years. You could have gone home.
Police Officer Litsey gave the Seattle Police Department 22 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Seattle community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Litsey.

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

Agency

Department Seattle Police Department
Type Police Department
Location Seattle, King County, WA
Platform Identity seatpd.king.wa.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 25, 1924
Tour of Duty 22 yrs
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Robert is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.

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

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1924, 225 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 4th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Robert had served 22 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

September holds 9.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Seattle Police Department has 60 officers remembered here, Robert among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Police Officer Robert L. Litsey

Seattle Police Department · End of Watch September 25, 1924

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 14-W

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