Roll of Honor
Incident
Operative Robert Webster, Coast Guardsman Sidney Sanderlin, and Coast Guardsman Victor Lamby, of the United States Coast Guard, were shot and killed by a suspect they had just arrested for rum running near the Bimini Islands. Operative Webster was en route to conduct a counterfeit investigation when he was killed. The incident occurred after their Coast Guard Cutter CGC 249 stopped the suspect's boat. The killer, a 43-year-old gulf stream pirate, was called "King of the Rum Runners" during the prohibition era. He was sentenced to death and hung at the Coast Guard Station in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, on August 17, 1929. A man with him was sentenced to one year after he turned states evidence. This was the only execution ever carried out by the U.S. Coast Guard, the only execution ever carried out in a seaplane hangar, and the last legal hanging in Florida. Operative Webster, a US WWI veteran, served with the United States Secret Service for seven years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two young children and is buried at Arlington National Cemetary.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FED-6593842C- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- 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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Operative Webster gave the United States Department of the Treasury 7 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Robert K. Webster served in the Other before joining law enforcement.
Operative Robert K. Webster 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 DC, 754 of 1,419 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.1% of this state's fallen. That is 1.1 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At United States Department of the Treasury - United States Secret Service, 9 of 26 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 34.6% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Robert K. Webster's cause is highlighted.
How Robert K. Webster Compares
Offender Outcome
Executed in 1929
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Robert K. Webster is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Robert K. Webster was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
25 officers from United States Department of the Treasury - United States Secret Service are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
