Robert Venable
Agency patch
Police Officer

Robert Venable

Felonious
End of Watch September 22, 1987
Age 35
Tour of Duty 3 yrs
Badge 4510
The Vigil Panel 132 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Police Officer Robert Venable was shot and killed as he and five other officers attempted to make an arrest of two heavily armed men at an abandoned building at 2569 Pitkin Avenue in Brooklyn. Officer Venable and two other officers were transporting several prisoners to central booking in Brooklyn when they were alerted of a call involving several men with guns at 7:40 p.m. As they approached the scene, Officer Venable was shot. He succumbed to his injuries three hours later. The suspects were later apprehended. The suspect, 22, who shot Officer Venable, had been out of prison on parole for 42 days. He was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 25 years to life. He received an additional 12-1/2 years for drug possession. He will be eligible for parole in 2024. Officer Venable had served with the New York City Transit Police Department for three years.

Survivors

He was survived by his 8-year-old daughter and parents.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-NY-512ACAD7
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.
Police Officer Venable gave the New York City Transit Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Venable.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location New York, NY
Platform Identity nyttp.newyork.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 22, 1987
Tour of Duty 3 yrs
Age 35
Badge Number 4510
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

Police Officer Robert Venable 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 Transit Police Department, 11 of 14 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 78.6% of this agency's fallen.

New York City Transit Police Department
11
of 14 officers
78.6% Felonious
NY — Statewide
728
of 2,147 officers
33.9% 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 Venable's cause is highlighted.

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

How Robert Venable Compares

Age at Death
35
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
3
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Robert Venable is highlighted in Sep.

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 Venable was killed by gun.

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

Incident Location