Robert M. Skelton Jr.
Agency patch
Sergeant

Robert M. Skelton Jr.

Monroe County Sheriff's Office — Rochester, NY
Veteran → Felonious
End of Watch June 23, 1972
Age 33
Tour of Duty 10 yrs
Badge 213
The Vigil Panel 110 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Sergeant Robert Skelton was killed when his patrol car was struck head-on by a vehicle being operated by an intoxicated driver at the intersection of Clover Street and Tobey Road. On the rainy evening of June 21, 1972, Sergeant Robert Skelton, Jr., was on patrol in the Town of Pittsford. At about 8:30 p.m., Sergeant Skelton was southbound on Clover Street when an intoxicated northbound driver crossed into Sergeant Skelton's lane. Although Sergeant Skelton pulled to the right, he could not avoid the oncoming car. He was taken to the hospital, where he died 30 hours later. The other driver was taken to the hospital in serious condition but did survive his injuries. He was arrested for driving while intoxicated. Sergeant Skelton was a United States Army veteran who served with the Monroe County Sheriff's Office for ten years and was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in April 1971.

Survivors

He was survived by his expectant wife and 3-year-old son.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-NY-B61F72A6
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 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.
Sergeant Skelton gave the Monroe County Sheriff's Office 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Rochester 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 Sheriff's Office
Location Rochester, Monroe County, NY
Platform Identity mcso.monroe.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 23, 1972
Tour of Duty 10 yrs
Age 33
Badge Number 213
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Automobile

Military Service

Robert M. Skelton Jr. served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Sergeant Robert M. Skelton Jr. 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 NY, 728 of 2,147 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 33.9% of this state's fallen. That is 33.9 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Monroe County Sheriff's Office, 4 of 10 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 40% of this agency's fallen.

Monroe County Sheriff's Office
4
of 10 officers
40% Felonious
NY — Statewide
728
of 2,147 officers
33.9% 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 M. Skelton Jr.'s cause is highlighted.

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

How Robert M. Skelton Jr. Compares

Age at Death
33
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
10
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Robert M. Skelton Jr. is highlighted in Jun.

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 M. Skelton Jr. was killed by automobile.

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

Incident Location

Military Service

Robert M. Skelton Jr. served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.

Visit Robert M. Skelton Jr.’s page on salute.nw →

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