Robert Burns Sandefur

Nashville City Police Department — Nashville, TN

Felonious

End of Watch July 3, 1943

Age 39

The Vigil Panel 80 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 21

Incident

Patrolman Sandefur was shot and killed when he and his partner responded to a domestic disturbance call. As they approached the home the suspect fired a shotgun through the door, striking Patrolman Sandefur in the torso, killing him. The suspect was shot and wounded by Patrolman Sandefur's partner and taken into custody. The suspect, 54, plead guilty to second degree murder and was sentenced to 20 years in prison October 5, 1943. He was denied parole on October 31, 1949.

Survivors

Patrolman Sandefur was survived by his wife and three daughters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-TN-A1A9F1B0
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Added to badge.nw: April 2, 2026
Last updated: July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Sandefur served with the Nashville City Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Nashville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Sandefur.

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

Agency

Department Nashville City Police Department

Location Nashville, TN

Platform Identity npd.davidson.tn.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 3, 1943

Age 39

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Shotgun

Offender Sentenced to 20 years

Patrolman Robert Burns Sandefur 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 TN, 498 of 769 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 64.8% of this state's fallen. That is 10.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Nashville City Police Department, 16 of 22 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 72.7% of this agency's fallen.

Nashville City Police Department

of 22 officers

72.7% Felonious

TN — Statewide

498

of 769 officers

64.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious