Robert Peter DeKorte

Coral Gables Police Dept. — Coral Gables, FL

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch January 21, 1972

Age 45

Tour of Duty 20 yrs

Badge 5

The Vigil Panel 109 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 8

Incident

Police Officer Robert DeKorte was shot and killed when he responded to a holdup alarm at a local liquor store at 238 South Dixie Highway. When he arrived at the store, he observed two suspects inside and attempted to stop them. The suspects opened fire, striking Officer DeKorte in the chest area. Officer DeKorte was able to grab onto both suspects until other officers arrived, but the two broke free and led the other officers in a foot pursuit. Neither of the responding officers knew Officer DeKorte had been wounded when they began to chase the suspects. Officer DeKorte attempted to drive himself to the hospital but made it only one-half mile before succumbing to his injuries. One of the suspects was shot and killed by the responding officers, and the second was apprehended and sentenced to life. He was denied parole in February 2012 and 2019. His next parole date is September 2025. Officer DeKorte was United States Navy veteran and had served with the Coral Gables Police Department for 20 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, a son, two daughters, his father, and three siblings.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-FL-780F78A8
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.
Police Officer DeKorte gave the Coral Gables Police Department 20 years.
Thank you for your service to the Coral Gables community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department Coral Gables Police Dept.

Location Coral Gables, FL

Platform Identity corapd.miamidade.fl.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 21, 1972

Tour of Duty 20 yrs

Age 45

Badge Number 5

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Offender One shot and killed

Military Service

Robert Peter DeKorte served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Police Officer Robert Peter DeKorte 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 FL, 539 of 1,008 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.5% of this state's fallen. That is 0.7 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Coral Gables Police Dept., 7 of 9 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 77.8% of this agency's fallen.

Coral Gables Police Dept.

of 9 officers

77.8% Felonious

FL — Statewide

539

of 1,008 officers

53.5% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious