Robert R. Randolph
Incident
Acting Chief of Police Robert Randolph succumbed to complications of a gunshot wound sustained two days earlier while attempting to arrest a drunk subject.
He was riding in a car with the police chief, who was off duty while on injury leave, when he observed a man staggering down College Street between Second Street and Water Street. Acting Chief Randolph had encountered the man earlier in the afternoon and had already ordered him off the street once. He placed the man under arrest and started to search him. The man suddenly pulled out a pistol and opened fire, striking Acting Chief Randolph in the leg. Acting Chief Randolph returned fire and killed the subject.
Acting Chief Randolph's wound was initially believed to be superficial but he suffered a pulmonary embolism while recovering.
Acting Chief Randolph had served with the Mount Vernon Police Department for 25 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and son.
In Our Keeping
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- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
25 years. You could have gone home.
Acting Chief of Police Randolph gave the Mount Vernon Police Department 25 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Mount Vernon community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Acting Chief of Police Randolph.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Acting Chief of Police Robert R. Randolph is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In IN, 311 of 503 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.8% of this state's fallen. That is 7.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Robert R. Randolph's cause is highlighted.
How Robert R. Randolph Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Robert R. Randolph is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Robert R. Randolph was killed by handgun.