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Patrolman

Robert L. Gotel

Monticello Police Department — Monticello, GA

Felonious

End of Watch August 27, 1979

Age 23

Tour of Duty 1 yrs

The Vigil Panel 121 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Patrolman Robert Gotel was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a 99-year-old man for brandishing a firearm. Patrolman Gotel and the police chief were attempting to enter the man's home to arrest him when the man fired a round from a pistol. The round struck Patrolman Gotel in the head. Patrolman Gotel had served with the Monticello Police Department for one year.

Survivors

He was survived by his parents and six siblings.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-GA-23DE213F
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.
Patrolman Gotel gave the Monticello Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Monticello community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Gotel.

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

Agency

Department Monticello Police Department

Location Monticello, GA

Platform Identity mpd.jasper.ga.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 27, 1979

Tour of Duty 1 yrs

Age 23

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Not available

Patrolman Robert L. Gotel 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 GA, 548 of 903 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.7% of this state's fallen. That is 6.5 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

Monticello Police Department

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

GA — Statewide

548

of 903 officers

60.7% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Robert L. Gotel's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How Robert L. Gotel Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Not available

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Robert L. Gotel is highlighted in Aug.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Robert L. Gotel was killed by gun; unknown type.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518