Roll of Honor
Incident
Detective Robert Walls died of wounds he received the previous month when he was shot while attempting to arrest three suspects committing a robbery. Sergeant Nathaniel Taylor was shot and killed in the same incident. Detective Walls and Sergeant Taylor were off-duty and patronizing the V & J Tavern on Seventh Street in Newark. Three masked men entered the bar and announced a robbery. When Sergeant Taylor attempted to intervene, he was shot and killed by one of the suspects. Detective Walls drew his weapon, but was also shot and seriously wounded by one of the suspects. He died 24 days later from his wounds. Two suspects, including the getaway car driver, were apprehended two days later and charged with murder. A third suspect was apprehended on June 17, 1986. All four, 17, 18, 18, and 21, were convicted of two counts of murder and sentenced to two consecutive 30 year terms. Two will be eligible for parole in 2045 and the other two will be eligible in 2046. Detective Walls had served with the Essex County Sheriff's Department for 27 years.
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- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
27 years. You could have gone home.
Detective Walls gave the Essex County Sheriff's Office 27 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Newark community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Walls.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Detective Robert E. Walls 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 NJ, 229 of 646 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 35.4% of this state's fallen. That is 35.4 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Essex County Sheriff's Office, 4 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Robert E. Walls's cause is highlighted.
How Robert E. Walls Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Robert E. Walls is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Robert E. Walls was killed by handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Essex County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
