Roll of Honor
Incident
Detective Parker and Detective Patrick Rafferty were shot and killed when they attempted to arrest a suspect on a domestic violence complaint.
The two detectives had been working on a case involving the suspect. They received a call from the suspect's mother, who told them the man had returned home and was attempting to take her car.
Detective Rafferty and Detective Parker responded to the location, on East 49th Street, between Snyder Avenue and Tilden Avenue in Brooklyn. The detectives intentionally drove the wrong way down East 49th Street and boxed in the auto that the suspect was in. When the detectives moved in to make the arrest, a violent struggle ensued, and the suspect was able to gain control of Detective Parker's 9mm service weapon. The suspect then opened fire, striking both detectives in the chest. Detective Rafferty was able to return fire, wounding the suspect in the leg.
Before he died, Detective Parker was able to call 911 from his cell phone and identify his killer to the operator. He was also able to tell the first responding officers the identity of the suspect and direct them to a photo of him that was in his police vehicle.
The suspect fled the location after carjacking a woman. He was apprehended less than two hours later, several blocks from where he murdered Detective Parker and Detective Rafferty, after a citizen called 911 to report a suspicious man in his building.
Detective Rafferty and Detective Parker were taken to Kings County Hospital, where they died from their wounds.
The suspect was charged with first-degree murder and later convicted after a trial in which he claimed that he shot Detective Parker and Detective Rafferty in self-defense. He was sentenced to two life terms in prison with no possibility of parole.
Detective Parker was posthumously awarded the New York City Police Department’s Medal of Honor for his actions.
Detective Parker had served with the New York City Police Department for 22 years and was assigned to the 67th Precinct Detective Squad.
Survivors
He is survived by his daughter.
In Our Keeping
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- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
22 years. You could have gone home.
Detective Parker gave the New York City Police Department 22 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Parker.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Detective Robert L. Parker 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 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 New York City Police Department, 365 of 1237 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 29.5% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Robert L. Parker's cause is highlighted.
How Robert L. Parker Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Robert L. Parker is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Robert L. Parker was killed by officer's handgun.
Incident Location
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