Robert P. Bradford, Jr.

Detroit Police Department — Detroit, MI

Felonious

End of Watch December 27, 1972

Age 25

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

The Vigil Panel 111 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 249

Incident

Police Officer Robert Bradford was shot and killed when he and Police Officer Robert Dooley were on a stakeout at 9250 Carlin Street. The officers were searching for three subjects who were wanted in connection with several robberies and shootings of police officers. The officers observed the three men exit a home and confronted them. When they did so shots were exchanged and Officer Bradford was killed and Officer Dooley was critically wounded. Officer Dooley succumbed to his wounds on September 15th, 2012. The subjects fled the scene. Two of them were later shot and killed in two separate shootouts with police officers in Atlanta, Georgia. Officer Bradford had served with the Detroit Police Department for four years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife, son, and two daughters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MI-5D5E6C05
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.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Robert. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Bradford gave the Detroit Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Detroit community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Bradford.

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

Agency

Department Detroit Police Department

Location Detroit, MI

Platform Identity detpd.wayne.mi.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 27, 1972

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

Age 25

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Later shot and killed

Police Officer Robert P. Bradford, Jr. 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 MI, 426 of 718 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 59.3% of this state's fallen. That is 5.1 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Detroit Police Department, 177 of 250 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 70.8% of this agency's fallen.

Detroit Police Department

177

of 250 officers

70.8% Felonious

MI — Statewide

426

of 718 officers

59.3% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious