Robert P. Bradford Jr.
Agency patch
Police Officer

Robert P. Bradford Jr.

Detroit Police Department — Detroit, MI
Veteran → Felonious
End of Watch December 27, 1972
Age 25
Tour of Duty 4 yrs
The Vigil Panel 111 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Police Officer Robert Bradford was shot and killed when he and Police Officer Robert Dooley were on a stakeout at 9250 Carlin Street. The officers were searching for three subjects who were wanted in connection with several robberies and shootings of police officers. The officers observed the three men exit a home and confronted them. When they did so shots were exchanged and Officer Bradford was killed and Officer Dooley was critically wounded. Officer Dooley succumbed to his wounds on September 15th, 2012. The subjects fled the scene. Two of them were later shot and killed in two separate shootouts with police officers in Atlanta, Georgia. Officer Bradford had served with the Detroit Police Department for four years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife, son, and two daughters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-MI-5D5E6C05
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Robert. Claim this record.

Also honored at salute.nw. One record, 2 gates. Robert is one person.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Bradford gave the Detroit Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Detroit community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Bradford.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Detroit, Wayne County, MI
Platform Identity detpd.wayne.mi.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 27, 1972
Tour of Duty 4 yrs
Age 25
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

Military Service

Robert P. Bradford Jr. served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Police Officer Robert P. Bradford Jr. 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 97,775 officers honored here.

In MI, 426 of 719 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 59.2% of this state's fallen. That is 59.2 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Detroit Police Department, 177 of 250 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 70.8% of this agency's fallen.

Detroit Police Department
177
of 250 officers
70.8% Felonious
MI — Statewide
426
of 719 officers
59.2% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,775 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

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

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

How Robert P. Bradford Jr. Compares

Age at Death
25
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
4
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Robert P. Bradford Jr. is highlighted in Dec.

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 P. Bradford Jr. was killed by gun.

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

Military Service

Robert P. Bradford Jr. served in the United States military before joining law enforcement.

Visit Robert P. Bradford Jr.’s page on salute.nw →

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