Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer Bob Heinle succumbed to complications from a gunshot wound suffered 11 years earlier.
On October 21st, 1998, he had responded to a local bank after receiving reports of a man attempting to cash a forged check. When he arrived at the location he located the man outside and chased him on foot when the man fled. A short distance away the man opened fire, striking Officer Heinle once in the neck.
The wound caused Officer Heinle to become paralyzed from the neck down. He continued to suffer complications from the wound and passed away as a result of those complications on February 12th, 2010.
The man who shot Officer Heinle was convicted of several charges after the initial shooting, including attempted murder, and was sentenced to life in prison.
At the time of the shooting, Officer Heinle had served with the Missoula Police Department for seven years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, brother, & sister.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MT-EED2CF69- 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.
Police Officer Heinle gave the Missoula Police Department 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the Missoula community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Heinle.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Robert Heinle 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 MT, 93 of 142 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 65.5% of this state's fallen. That is 11.3 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Missoula Police Department, 3 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 75% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Robert Heinle's cause is highlighted.
How Robert Heinle Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Robert Heinle is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Robert Heinle was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Missoula Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
