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Patrolman

Robert V. Bastin

Cincinnati Police Department — Cincinnati, OH

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch March 7, 1953

Age 27

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

Badge 230

The Vigil Panel 196 · Column 3 · Line 4 ›

Gender Male

Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Military Memorials 1 Also Remembered Department 105

Incident

Patrolman Robert Bastin was killed when his patrol car was struck by a drunk driver at the intersection of West Court and John Streets in Cincinnati. At 1:35 a.m., Patrolman Bastin was traveling east on West Court Street when his vehicle collided with another car traveling south on John Street. He was ejected from his patrol car and was dragged underneath the other vehicle through the intersection. Patrolman Bastin was transported to General Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries an hour later. The suspect, who had a history of reckless driving convictions, was apprehended and charged with driving under the influence and reckless driving. He was found guilty of reckless driving and was fined with a license suspension for six months. Patrolman Bastin was a United States Marine Corps World War II veteran who earned a purple heart and bronze star. He had served with the Cincinnati Police Division for two years. He was survived by his expectant wife, mother, three sisters, and a brother. His daughter was born a few months after his death. He is buried in Walnut Hills Cemetery, Cincinnati, Ohio.

Survivors

He was survived by his expectant wife, mother, three sisters, and a brother.

In Our Keeping

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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. Marine Corps. 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 Bastin gave the Cincinnati Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Cincinnati community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department Cincinnati Police Department

Type Police Department

Location Cincinnati, Hamilton County, OH

Platform Identity cincpd.hamilton.oh.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 7, 1953

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

Age 27

Badge Number 230

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Automobile

Military Service

Robert V. Bastin served in the U.S. Marine Corps before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

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.

Compare against

Time

In 1953, 72 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 98th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States

Who

Robert was 27. 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 2 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death

Where he stood among them

Age by years of service

III

When

March holds 7.5% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Saturdays: 16.3%.

By month

By day of the week

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was automobile, in 4.9% of these deaths.

Every cause

Weapons recorded