Robert K. Barchey
Incident
Correctional Officer Robert Barchey was killed when the bus he was riding in was struck head-on by a tractor-trailer that had jack-knifed near the junction of Arizona 87 and Arizona 287. He was transporting a prisoner when the accident occurred. The truck driver was also killed, and all 22 inmates aboard the bus were injured in the crash. Another correctional officer driving the bus suffered critical injuries that resulted in one of his legs being amputated. Officer Barchey had served with the Arizona Department of Corrections and was awarded the Meritorious Service Award for heroic actions.
Survivors
He was survived by his son and parents.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AZ-D6BC7B76- 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. Navy. One record, 2 gates. Robert is one person.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Correctional Officer Barchey gave the Arizona Department of Corrections 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Arizona. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Correctional Officer Barchey.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Robert K. Barchey served in the U.S. Navy (1965â1971) before joining law enforcement.
Correctional Officer Robert K. Barchey is one of 1 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.
In AZ, 95 of 330 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 28.8% of this state's fallen. That is 28.8 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Arizona Department of Corrections, 3 of 10 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 30% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Robert K. Barchey's cause is highlighted.
How Robert K. Barchey Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Robert K. Barchey is highlighted in Nov.
Incident Location
Military Service
Robert K. Barchey served in the U.S. Navy (1965–1971) before joining law enforcement.
Visit Robert K. Barchey’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Others Who Wore This Badge
9 officers from Arizona Department of Corrections are honored on badge.nw.








