Robert Lee Mikesell
Sergeant

Robert Lee Mikesell

Calipatria Police Department — Calipatria, CA
Felonious
End of Watch August 3, 1972
Age 45
Tour of Duty 5 yrs
Badge 10
The Vigil Panel 110 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Sergeant Robert Mikesell was shot and killed while approaching a vehicle he had stopped while investigating a series of shots fired calls throughout the evening on California 111 at 3 am. The occupant of the vehicle opened fire on him with a rifle, killing him instantly. The suspect, 27, was convicted of Sergeant Mikesell's murder and sentenced to 15 years to life in prison. Sergeant Mikesell had served with the Calipatria Police Department for five years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, two daughters, and a son, who became a law enforcement officer.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-D050B50C
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.
Sergeant Mikesell gave the Calipatria Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Calipatria community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Mikesell.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Other
Location Calipatria, Imperial County, CA
Platform Identity calipd.imperial.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 3, 1972
Tour of Duty 5 yrs
Age 45
Badge Number 10
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Rifle

Sergeant Robert Lee Mikesell 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 CA, 974 of 1,837 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53% of this state's fallen. That is 53 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Calipatria 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.

Calipatria Police Department
2
of 2 officers
100% Felonious
CA — Statewide
974
of 1,837 officers
53% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Robert Lee Mikesell's cause is highlighted.

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

How Robert Lee Mikesell Compares

Age at Death
45
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
5
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Robert Lee Mikesell is highlighted in Aug.

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 Lee Mikesell was killed by rifle.

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

Incident Location

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Calipatria Police Department are honored on badge.nw.