John A. Robertson

Phoenix Police Dept. — Phoenix, AZ

Felonious

End of Watch November 19, 1984

Age 31

Tour of Duty 8 yrs

Badge 3127

The Vigil Panel 129 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 46

Incident

Officer John Robertson was shot and killed while working a uniformed off-duty security job at a local hotel. He was questioning a suspect behind the hotel at 1624 N. Black Canyon Highway about the robbery of two truck drivers when the suspect opened fire. Officer Robertson was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries two days later. Two women, 18, and 19, and a man, 25, were arrested in connection with the shooting and robbery. In 1986 the man was convicted of murder, armed robbery, burglary, and sentenced to 66 years. In 1985 the women were convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to 10 years each. Officer Robertson had been with the agency for eight years and was survived by his wife and two children. He was working a second job at the Sixpence Inn to save money for a special family Christmas.

Survivors

Officer Robertson had been with the agency for eight years and was survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-AZ-2C507604
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: April 2, 2026
Last updated: July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Officer Robertson gave the Phoenix Police Department 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the Phoenix community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Robertson.

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

Agency

Department Phoenix Police Dept.

Location Phoenix, AZ

Platform Identity phoepd.maricopa.az.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 19, 1984

Tour of Duty 8 yrs

Age 31

Badge Number 3127

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Sentenced to 66 years

Officer John A. Robertson is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In AZ, 204 of 330 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.8% of this state's fallen. That is 7.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Phoenix Police Dept., 28 of 47 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 59.6% of this agency's fallen.

Phoenix Police Dept.

of 47 officers

59.6% Felonious

AZ — Statewide

204

of 330 officers

61.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious