Roll of Honor
Robert G. Anderson
Incident
Warehouse Agent Robert Anderson was shot and killed while assigned to protect the Hammond Distillery, at 150th Street and Calumet Avenue, in Hammond, Indiana. As another agent reported for duty in the early morning hours, he encountered six armed suspects who took him hostage and forced him to walk with them to the entrance gate and call Agent Anderson. When Agent Anderson arrived one of the men shot and killed him as he drew his revolver, after realizing the other agent had been taken captive. The suspects, who apparently were about to steal liquor from the warehouse, fled in an automobile leaving the other agent behind who alerted other officers. Officers stationed a Forsyth Crossing opened fire on the car when the bandits refused to stop, forcing the driver to crash into a telephone pole. One suspect was captured as the others escaped. A week later the suspect who shot Agent Anderson, the noted gangster, Joe Salston, known as the "Beer Baron" of prohibition days was apprehended in Chicago, returned to Hammond and jailed for murder. Agent Anderson's suspected killer was acquitted at trial when his attorney grilled his fellow agent getting him to say he could have been wrong about who fired the fatal shot. A few months later he was acquitted of another murder because it was thought the jury feared gangster retribution. Five years later Al Capone ran him out of business. Although he made a fortune he died a pauper in 1947. The other jailed suspect was released. The fate of the other four is unknown.
Survivors
Agent Anderson was survived by his wife and six children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-332EF07E- 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
You barely got started.
Warehouse Agent Anderson gave the United States Department of the Treasury 1 year.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Warehouse Agent Anderson.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Warehouse Agent Robert G. Anderson 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 - Internal Revenue Service - Prohibition Unit, 47 of 59 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 79.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Robert G. Anderson's cause is highlighted.
How Robert G. Anderson Compares
Offender Outcome
Acquitted
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Robert G. Anderson is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Robert G. Anderson was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
58 officers from United States Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service - Prohibition Unit are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
