Roll of Honor
Incident
Detective Robert Alexander was shot and killed in Warwick, New York while investigating an armed robbery. Police had learned that the suspect would be at the Post Office on Warwick's Main Street at a certain time. Detective Alexander spotted the suspect, who wore a disguise. He didn't pull his gun as he approached the suspect and grabbed the upper part of his body. The subject had a gun in his coat pocket and fired it three times into Detective Alexander, fatally wounding him. The suspect was killed moments later in a shootout with Paterson officers and state troopers. Detective Alexander was transported to a nearby hospital where he died a short time later. Detective Alexander had served with the agency for 27 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, two sons, and four grandchildren.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NJ-0DDE1461- 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
27 years. You could have gone home.
Detective Alexander gave the Paterson Police Department 27 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Paterson community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Alexander.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Detective Robert J. Alexander 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 NJ, 229 of 646 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 35.4% of this state's fallen. That is 35.4 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Paterson Police Department, 5 of 11 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 45.5% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Robert J. Alexander's cause is highlighted.
How Robert J. Alexander Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Robert J. Alexander is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Robert J. Alexander was killed by gun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
10 officers from Paterson Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
