Roll of Honor
Incident
Corporal Robert Klein was shot and killed by an escaped convict at 11:45 pm. Corporal Klein and another trooper were investigating a truck that had been reported stolen 30 minutes earlier. The convicts had broken into a home, tied up the elderly occupants, stolen several items, including guns, and broken into a neighboring house. As Corporal Klein was inspecting the truck, a shot was fired, and Corporal Klein fell to the ground. The other trooper fired in the direction of the blast. The two escaped convicts hid in a greenhouse and attic of a home until they surrendered around 5 am. The killer was convicted of Corporal Klein's murder and sentenced to death; he was executed on May 7, 1992. The other convict was sentenced to 86 years. Corporal Klein had served with the Arkansas State Police for 12 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, three sons, and a brother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AR-EA06D875- 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.
Corporal Klein gave the Arkansas State Police 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Arkansas. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Corporal Klein.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Corporal Robert Whittington Klein 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 AR, 249 of 372 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.9% of this state's fallen. That is 66.9 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Arkansas State Police, 7 of 23 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 30.4% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Robert Whittington Klein's cause is highlighted.
How Robert Whittington Klein Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Robert Whittington Klein is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Robert Whittington Klein was killed by shotgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
22 officers from Arkansas State Police are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
