Robert L. McAllister
Incident
Private Robert McAllister was shot and killed by a prisoner he had just arrested for reckless and drunken driving. He was on his way to work in his personal car when he made the arrest. As he was driving the man to the Silver Spring police station, the man pulled out a gun and shot him near the intersection of Colesville Road and Ramsey Avenue. After the vehicle crashed, the suspect commandeered another car and returned to his car but was detained by citizens who witnessed the incident. When arrested, the 43-year-old suspect was found to be in possession of two handguns. The suspect died in his jail cell of natural causes on February 23, 1953, while waiting for his murder trial to begin. Private McAllister had been with the Montgomery County Police Department for two years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and son.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MD-F30279E4- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 31, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Private McAllister gave the Montgomery County Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Gaithersburg community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Private McAllister.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Robert L. McAllister served in the U.S. Army (1946â1947) before joining law enforcement.
Private Robert L. McAllister 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 MD, 195 of 377 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 51.7% of this state's fallen. That is 51.7 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Montgomery County Police Department, 8 of 21 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 38.1% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Robert L. McAllister's cause is highlighted.
How Robert L. McAllister Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Robert L. McAllister is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Robert L. McAllister was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Military Service
Robert L. McAllister served in the U.S. Army (1946–1947) before joining law enforcement.
Visit Robert L. McAllister’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Laid to Rest
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