Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer Robert Dooley succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained on December 27th, 1972, while he and Officer Robert Bradford were on a stakeout at 9250 Carlin 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, Officer Bradford was killed, and Officer Dooley was critically wounded.
The subjects fled the scene. Two of them were later shot and killed in two separate shootouts with police officers in Atlanta, Georgia.
Officer Dooley was a U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam War and had served with the Detroit Police Department for four years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MI-74F639A2- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Robert. Claim this record.
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 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.
Police Officer Dooley gave the Detroit Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Detroit community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Robert W. Dooley served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Police Officer Robert W. Dooley is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In MI, 426 of 718 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 59.3% of this state's fallen. That is 5.1 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
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.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Robert W. Dooley's cause is highlighted.
How Robert W. Dooley Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Robert W. Dooley is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Robert W. Dooley was killed by shotgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
249 officers from Detroit Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
