Robert David Stolz
Deputy Sheriff

Robert David Stolz

Veteran → Felonious
End of Watch November 17, 1975
Age 34
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
The Vigil Panel 116 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Robert Stolz and Deputy Sheriff David Beck were shot and killed while searching a wooded area for two men who had fired a shotgun at another deputy who was pursuing them. Deputy Stoltz and Deputy Beck were the first deputies to arrive in the area near the Mississippi line in western Mobile County. The subjects opened fire on both deputies, killing Deputy Stoltz before he was able to draw his weapon. Deputy Beck was also fatally wounded in the exchange of shots. One of the subjects was found dead, suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest. The other man was apprehended and sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole. In 1989 and again in 1992, he received new trials and was sentenced to life each time. He was denied parole on March 20th, 2019, and died in prison in 2023. Deputy Stolz had served with the Mobile County Sheriff's Office for two years. He was a United States Navy veteran and was one of the first crewmen of the USS Kittyhawk.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and son.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-AL-18DAB9DF
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 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.
Deputy Sheriff Stolz gave the Mobile County Sheriff's Office 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Mobile 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 Mobile, Mobile County, AL
Platform Identity mcso.mobile.al.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 17, 1975
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
Age 34
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Shotgun

Military Service

Robert David Stolz served in the U.S. Navy before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Deputy Sheriff Robert David Stolz 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 AL, 405 of 643 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63% of this state's fallen. That is 63 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Mobile County Sheriff's Department, 6 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Mobile County Sheriff's Department
6
of 6 officers
100% Felonious
AL — Statewide
405
of 643 officers
63% 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 David Stolz's cause is highlighted.

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

How Robert David Stolz Compares

Age at Death
34
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 David Stolz is highlighted in Nov.

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 David Stolz was killed by shotgun.

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

Military Service

Robert David Stolz served in the U.S. Navy before joining law enforcement.

Visit Robert David Stolz’s page on salute.nw →

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