Roll of Honor
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
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 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
Service Record
Incident Details
Officer John A. Robertson 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 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 61.8 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Phoenix Police Department, 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.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John A. Robertson's cause is highlighted.
How John A. Robertson Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John A. Robertson is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John A. Robertson was killed by gun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
46 officers from Phoenix Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
