Roll of Honor
Ralph Robinson
Incident
Location: Oklahoma Weapon: Rifle; .38 caliber Offender: Sentenced to life
Special Agent Ralph Robinson was shot and killed while confronting coal thieves on a train near the Rock Island yards in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, shortly after 1:00 a.m.
It is believed that he had placed at least one burglar under arrest and was walking him to the police station when he was shot by another gunman. Agent Robinson was shot three times with a .38 caliber handgun and his body was found in the morning by a railroad employee. 112 people were taken into custody the following day during a massive search for the killers.
The suspect, 26, was eventually arrested after fleeing to Texas from Oklahoma. The suspect bragged to a girlfriend that he had killed a railroad agent in Oklahoma. When the girlfriend's father learned of the murder he alerted Texas authorities who arrested the suspect and returned him to Oklahoma. On September 16, 1926, he was convicted of murder and sentenced to life.
Agent Robinson was employed by the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway Police Department for about one year, and was survived by his wife and child.
Survivors
Agent Robinson was employed by the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway Police Department for about one year, and was survived by his wife and child.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-RR-A4D57497- 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
You barely got started.
Special Agent Robinson gave the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Rock Island community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Agent Robinson.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Special Agent Ralph Robinson 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 IL, 842 of 1,318 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.9% of this state's fallen. That is 9.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway Police Department, 13 of 13 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. Ralph Robinson's cause is highlighted.
How Ralph Robinson Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Ralph Robinson is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Ralph Robinson was killed by rifle; .38 caliber.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
12 officers from Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
