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Robert H. Bell
Agency patch
Corporal

Robert H. Bell

Delaware State Police — Dover, DE
Veteran → Illness
United States flag Delaware flag
End of Watch September 7, 1993
Age 51
Tour of Duty 11 yrs
Badge 396
The Vigil Panel 310 · Column 1 · Line 21 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Military Memorials 1 Also Remembered Department 20

Incident

Corporal Bell died after contracting AIDS from a blood transfusion received following a line of duty injury. On January 14, 1981, Corporal Bell was assisting another trooper during a struggle with a suicidal man on Kirkwood Highway. During the struggle, Corporal Bell received a severe back injury, which required surgery and a blood transfusion. The blood he received during the surgery was tainted with AIDS, which Corporal Bell then contracted. The blood was traced to the original donor, who was confirmed to be suffering from the virus as well. Corporal Bell was a United States Marine Corps Reserve veteran and had served with the Delaware State Police for 11 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, three sons, a daughter, three sisters, and five grandsons.

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. 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.
Corporal Bell gave the Delaware State Police 11 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Delaware, 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 Delaware State Police
Type State Police
Location Dover, Kent County, DE
Platform Identity dsp.de.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 7, 1993
Tour of Duty 11 yrs
Age 51
Badge Number 396
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Illness

Military Service

Robert H. Bell served in the U.S. Marine Corps before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

The Sacrifice · Illness

Robert is one of 2,028 officers lost to illness in the United States, 7.4% of the 27,552 remembered there.

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

  3. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1993, 2 officers in the United States were lost to illness, the 46th heaviest of 108 years on record. The heaviest was 2021, with 564.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Robert was 51. Of the 1,996 lost to illness in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 42 and 58; the middle age was 51. Robert had served 11 years; the middle length of service was 20 years.

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

When

September holds 11.2% of these deaths in the United States; October holds the most, 14.9%. Tuesdays: 13.3%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Illness deaths account for 7.4% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the 3rd most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Delaware State Police has 21 officers remembered here, Robert among them.

Across the years

Corporal Robert H. Bell

Delaware State Police · End of Watch September 7, 1993

Military Service

Robert H. Bell served in the U.S. Marine Corps before joining law enforcement.

Visit Robert H. Bell’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 39-W

Also Remembered

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