Roll of Honor
Earl A. Roberts
Incident
Patrol Inspector Earl Roberts was shot and killed while he and another inspector attempted to apprehend two suspected liquor smugglers near the area of Roberts Landing on the St. Clair River in Algonac, Michigan. The two had observed a motorboat towing a rowboat approaching from Canada and the officers proceeded along the shore following the course of the boat in an attempt to intercept it when it reached the shore. The officers split up to converge on a landing point on the shore. When the boat arrived Inspector Roberts stepped aboard the stern and identified himself as a federal officer and his partner, who was still on the shore, shined a light on the suspects. One of the suspects stood in the center of the boat aiming a gun at Inspector Roberts, and then he opened fire. Inspector Roberts was fatally wounded succumbed to his wounds the following day. The suspect then turned to fire at the other inspector who returned fire but neither party was hit. The men who shot Inspector Roberts placed him in their boat and took him across the river to Port Lambton, placed him on a dock, and called out for help before fleeing again. Several bystanders located Inspector Roberts and he was tended to by a Canadian doctor before being taken back across the river to Roberts Landing to be treated in the United States. The shooter fled but was apprehended two months later in Sombra, Ontario, Canada. The second suspect jumped into the rowboat to flee but was also apprehended and later testified against the shooter. He was sentenced to two years in prison for liquor violations. The 29-year-old shooter was tried in Michigan state court instead of federal court, convicted of murder, and sentenced to life in prison. In the late 1940s he won a new trial, was convicted of second-degree murder, and sentenced to 25 to 50 years. He was released a few months later. Inspector Roberts had served with the United States Border Patrol for only two months.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two sons.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FED-7EC48A9C- 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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrol Inspector Roberts served with the United States Department of Labor.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrol Inspector Roberts.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrol Inspector Earl A. Roberts 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 Labor - Immigration Service - United States Border Patrol, 20 of 28 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 71.4% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Earl A. Roberts's cause is highlighted.
How Earl A. Roberts Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Earl A. Roberts is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Earl A. Roberts was killed by handgun; .45 caliber.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
27 officers from United States Department of Labor - Immigration Service - United States Border Patrol are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
