Roll of Honor
Robert Galen Etter, Jr.
Incident
Officer Robert Etter and Officer Stephanie Markins were killed when the driver of a full-size pickup truck deliberately struck their patrol car while it was stopped at a stop sign in the 3800 block of West Mason Street (Highway 54) at 4:22 p.m.
As the suspect approached the patrol car, he accelerated to approximately 70 mph and struck the patrol car on the driver's side without ever applying his brakes. Officer Etter, sitting in the passenger's seat, was ejected from the patrol car, and Officer Markins was pinned inside. Both officers died at the scene. The suspect, who was out looking to kill a police officer, was arrested.
The 27-year-old suspect was found guilty of two counts of first-degree intentional homicide in 2003 and sentenced to 50 years in prison with no eligibility for parole.
Officer Etter was a United States Army Vietnam War veteran who had served with the DePere Police Department for 30 years and with the Pulaski Police Department for two years before joining the 5-person Hobart/Lawrence Police Department in March 2001 when it was created.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, children, and grandchildren.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-WI-EDE58B16- 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.
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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.
Officer Etter gave the Hobart / Lawrence Police Department 33 years.
Thank you for your service to the Oneida 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 Galen Etter, Jr. served in the Army (1966â1968) before joining law enforcement.
Officer Robert Galen Etter, Jr. 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 WI, 159 of 317 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50.2% of this state's fallen. That is 4 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At Hobart / Lawrence Police Department, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Robert Galen Etter, Jr.'s cause is highlighted.
How Robert Galen Etter, Jr. Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to 50 years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Robert Galen Etter, Jr. is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Robert Galen Etter, Jr. was killed by automobile.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Hobart / Lawrence Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
