Roll of Honor
Incident
Jail Master David Robinson was shot and killed during an escape attempt by two inmates from the old county jail on Third Street, adjacent to the courthouse in East Cambridge. The inmate who shot Jail Master Robinson was awaiting trial for the murder of Patrolman Lawrence W. Gorman of the Cambridge Police Department on September 3rd, 1960. The man committed suicide three days after murdering Jail Master Robinson when police stormed a Boston apartment where he was hiding. The second inmate, who was awaiting trial for the murder of a clerk in a Saugus clothing store, was captured four days later while robbing a store in New Hampshire. He was convicted of two counts of murder and sentenced to life in prison. In December 1985 he escaped from prison and he remained at large until March 22nd, 2005, when he was arrested in Chicago, Illinois. He was denied parole on January 12th, 2010. Jail Master Robinson had served with the Middlesex County Sheriff's Office for 27 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, son, daughter, mother, and three brothers.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MA-DD24CF8C- Stewardship
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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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Tributes
27 years. You could have gone home.
Jail Master Robinson gave the Middlesex County Sheriff's Office 27 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Medford community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Jail Master Robinson.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Jail Master David S. Robinson Sr. is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.
In MA, 199 of 469 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 42.4% of this state's fallen. That is 42.4 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Middlesex County Sheriff's Office, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. David S. Robinson Sr.'s cause is highlighted.
How David S. Robinson Sr. Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. David S. Robinson Sr. is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. David S. Robinson Sr. was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Middlesex County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
