Robert Anthony Way
Patrolman

Robert Anthony Way

North Charleston Police Department — North Charleston, SC
Veteran → Felonious
End of Watch February 18, 1985
Age 29
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
Badge 397
The Vigil Panel 129 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Tony Way was shot and killed by a person who was hostile towards the police and sought revenge. Patrolman Way and another officer responded to Rose's Hideaway Bar on Rivers Avenue in response to an alarm. Upon their arrival, Patrolman Way went to the rear of the building where the suspect was waiting. The suspect took off running, followed by Officer Way in foot pursuit. The suspect then ran around the corner of the building and stopped, turned around, and fired one round, striking Patrolman Way on the right side after he came around the building. The suspect then turned and tried to run again as Patrolman Way returned fire, striking the suspect twice in the lower back. The suspect then spun around and fired two more rounds at Patrolman Way, the first round missed, and the second round struck Patrolman Way near the heart. Patrolman Way returned fire, striking the suspect four more times in the abdominal area. The suspect died at the scene within minutes, and Patrolman Way died shortly thereafter at the hospital. The suspect had returned to the bar that night to seek revenge on a North Charleston Police Department canine team who had arrested him ten days prior at the exact location. The canine, Cougar, was utilized to catch the fleeing suspect when he refused to stop on the commands of the canine handler. Patrolman Way was a U.S. Air Force veteran and had served with the North Charleston Police Department for one year. He was survived by his wife and son. His father was a Sergeant with the Highway Patrol. In 2024, his son graduated from Basic Detention Training at the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy. On February 18th, 2022, a portion of Rivers Avenue was renamed Robert Anthony 'Tony' Way Road in honor of Officer Way.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and son.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-SC-BA88DB99
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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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Air Force. One record, 2 gates. Robert is one person.

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Tributes

I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Patrolman Way gave the North Charleston Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the North Charleston community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Type Other
Location North Charleston, Charleston County, SC
Platform Identity ncpd.charleston.sc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 18, 1985
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
Age 29
Badge Number 397
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

Military Service

Robert Anthony Way served in the U.S. Air Force before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Patrolman Robert Anthony Way 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 97,759 officers honored here.

In SC, 271 of 440 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.6% of this state's fallen. That is 61.6 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At North Charleston Police Department, 1 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 33.3% of this agency's fallen.

North Charleston Police Department
1
of 3 officers
33.3% Felonious
SC — Statewide
271
of 440 officers
61.6% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,759 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Robert Anthony Way's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Robert Anthony Way Compares

Age at Death
29
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
2
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Robert Anthony Way is highlighted in Feb.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Robert Anthony Way was killed by handgun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Military Service

Robert Anthony Way served in the U.S. Air Force before joining law enforcement.

Visit Robert Anthony Way’s page on salute.nw →

His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.

Others Who Wore This Badge

2 officers from North Charleston Police Department are honored on badge.nw.