Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Robert Holcomb was shot and killed while answering a residential burglary call. Patrolman Holcomb was on a residential burglary call at a home in Plainville when two men ran out of the house. Patrolman Holcomb chased one man, who was waiting for him in the woods across the street. The burglar shot him once in the arm and then stood over him and fired four more shots into his chest. Patrolman Holcomb died shortly after at New Britain General Hospital. The 33-year-old suspect was convicted of Patrolman Holcomb's murder and sentenced to life. On January 9, 2015, he was granted a parole that was quickly revoked after an outraged family and police, who were not notified of the hearing, expressed their disappointment. He will be considered for parole again in 2020. He was not paroled in 2020. As of December 15, 2022, he was in prison. Patrolman Holcomb had served with the Plainville Police Department for 5 years. He is survived by his wife and a 3-year-old son. A street in Plainville was later renamed Robert Holcomb Way in his memory.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and a 3-year-old son.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CT-84ECEC41- 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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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Holcomb gave the Plainville Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Plainville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Holcomb.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman Robert Michael Holcomb 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 97,772 officers honored here.
In CT, 74 of 169 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 43.8% of this state's fallen. That is 43.8 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Robert Michael Holcomb's cause is highlighted.
How Robert Michael Holcomb Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Robert Michael Holcomb is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Robert Michael Holcomb was killed by gun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
0 officers from Plainville Police Department are honored on badge.nw.