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Patrolman

Robert L. Denton

New York City Police Department — New York, NY

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch July 24, 1971

Age 26

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

Badge 29283

The Vigil Panel 238 · Column 3 · Line 15 ›

Gender Male

Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Military Memorials 1 Also Remembered Department 1,221

Incident

Patrolman Robert Denton was stabbed to death by a man for no apparent reason outside a grocery store at the intersection of Saratoga Avenue and Blake Avenue, in Brooklyn, at approximately 2:15 am. Several minutes before the stabbing, the suspect had stopped Patrolman Denton and his partner and asked them how to become a policeman. After answering the question, Patrolman Denton and his partner entered a store. After several minutes, Patrolman Denton exited the store when he was approached by the subject, who pulled a 13-inch knife from a pocket and stabbed Patrolman Denton twice in the neck. The man was apprehended by a group of bystanders. On June 13th, 1972, the suspect, 20, was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced from 25 years to life in prison. He was paroled on January 19, 2021. Patrolman Denton was a United States Army veteran who served with the New York City Police Department for two years and was assigned to the 73rd Precinct.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

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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 Denton gave the New York City Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the New York 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 New York City Police Department

Type Police Department

Location New York, NY

Platform Identity nypd.newyork.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 24, 1971

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

Age 26

Badge Number 29283

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Edged weapon

Military Service

Robert L. Denton served in the U.S. Army 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 1971, 168 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 18th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States

Who

Robert was 26. 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

July holds 9.3% 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 edged weapon, in 2.2% of these deaths.

Every cause

Weapons recorded