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Robert Shelton
Agency patch
Patrolman

Robert Shelton

Cleveland Division of Police — Cleveland, OH
Felonious
United States flag Ohio flag
End of Watch December 7, 1919
Age 44
Tour of Duty 15 yrs
The Vigil Panel 86 · Column 2 · Line 14 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 118

Incident

Patrolman Robert Shelton was shot and killed while walking a prisoner to jail at 2:00 am. He had arrested the man on Euclid Avenue near East 66th Street after catching the suspect and another man burglarizing a drug store. Because no patrol wagons were available to take the man to jail, Patrolman Shelton began to walk him toward the station house. As they walked down East 55th Street, the man produced a gun he had concealed in his overcoat pocket and shot Patrolman Shelton, who succumbed to his wounds at a local hospital. After an investigation, the suspect was apprehended in Toledo, Ohio. The suspect was convicted of Patrolman Shelton's murder and sentenced to life in prison. In October of 1954, he escaped from an outside work program. On March 6, 1957, he was captured in Barberton, Ohio. Patrolman Shelton had served with the Cleveland Police Department for 15 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and son.

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

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Shelton gave the Cleveland Division of Police 15 years.
Thank you for your service to the Cleveland community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Shelton.

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

Agency

Department Cleveland Division of Police
Type Other
Location Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, OH
Platform Identity cdpd.cuyahoga.oh.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 7, 1919
Tour of Duty 15 yrs
Age 44
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

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 1919, 212 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 7th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Robert was 44. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Robert had served 15 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 9.4% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Sundays: 15.2%.

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 handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Cleveland Division of Police has 119 officers remembered here, Robert among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Patrolman Robert Shelton

Cleveland Division of Police · End of Watch December 7, 1919

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 39-W

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