Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Robert Sandoval succumbed to wounds he received when he was accidentally shot during a burglary call at 3550 St. Paul Street in Denver at 2 pm on October 14, 1969.
Patrolman Sandoval and two other officers responded to a break-in call at a residence. The homeowner had reported that the molding and glass had been broken on his backdoor. Two officers went to the front of the house while Patrolman Sandoval went to the back. When he rattled the handle of the backdoor, the homeowner thought it was the robber and blindly fired, striking Patrolman Sandoval in the forehead.
Patrolman Sandoval was transported to Denver General Hospital, where he was treated for extensive brain damage, which caused paralysis on his left side, rehabilitating health conditions, infections, headaches, visual impairment, and seizures. He was hospitalized for five months and received constant rehabilitative care until he died from a seizure.
Patrolman Sandoval was shot two days shy of his one-year anniversary with the Denver Police Department.
No charges were filed against the homeowner.
Patrolman Sandoval was medically retired from the Denver Police Department after serving for two years.
Survivors
He is survived by his two daughters, a brother, who was also a Denver Police Officer, a sister, and a niece, who was his primary caregiver.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CO-C9576792- 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.
Patrolman Sandoval gave the Denver Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Denver community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Sandoval.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman Robert Eugene Sandoval 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 CO, 235 of 360 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 65.3% of this state's fallen. That is 65.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Denver Police Department, 55 of 74 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 74.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Robert Eugene Sandoval's cause is highlighted.
How Robert Eugene Sandoval Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Robert Eugene Sandoval is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
73 officers from Denver Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
