Frederick H. Rabe
Agency patch
Sergeant

Frederick H. Rabe

Rensselaer Police Department — Rensselaer, NY
Felonious
End of Watch September 1, 1939
Age 50
Tour of Duty 27 yrs
Badge 7
The Vigil Panel 76 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Sergeant Frederick Rabe and Detective James Stevens were shot and fatally wounded while responding to a bank robbery committed by the Scarnici Gang from New York City. The two officers were shot as the gang attempted to come out of the bank at 810 Broadway. Detective Stevens died at the scene and Sergeant Rabe succumbed to his wounds six years later on September 1st, 1939. Two of the subjects were shot and killed during the incident. Three members of the gang were eventually caught in Poughkeepsie, New York. One was executed on June 27th, 1935. The other two were acquitted.

Survivors

Sergeant Rabe was survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-NY-807BD282
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

27 years. You could have gone home.
Sergeant Rabe gave the Rensselaer Police Department 27 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Rensselaer community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Rabe.

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

Agency

Location Rensselaer, NY
Platform Identity rpd.rensselaer.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 1, 1939
Tour of Duty 27 yrs
Age 50
Badge Number 7
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun; Unknown type
Offender Executed in 1935

Sergeant Frederick H. Rabe 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 NY, 754 of 2,147 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 35.1% of this state's fallen. That is 19.1 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Rensselaer Police Department, 2 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.

Rensselaer Police Department
2
of 3 officers
66.7% Felonious
NY — Statewide
754
of 2,147 officers
35.1% 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. Frederick H. Rabe'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 Frederick H. Rabe Compares

Age at End of Watch
50
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
27
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Executed in 1935

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Frederick H. Rabe is highlighted in Sep.

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. Frederick H. Rabe 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

Incident Location

Others Who Wore This Badge

2 officers from Rensselaer Police Department are honored on badge.nw.