Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer Robert Mandel succumbed to gunshot wounds he received on April 19, 1977, from a suspect who was able to gain control of his partner's service weapon. Officer Mandel and his partner, who were in plainclothes, responded to a call of drug sales inside 762 Franklin Avenue, Brooklyn. The officers arrested one suspect and turned him over to two uniformed officers. They then went outside the location with a second man who told the officers he had information for them. Once outside, the second man was able to gain control of the service weapon of Officer Mandel's partner. He then opened fire, striking Officer Mandel in the face and his partner in the torso. Officer Mandel and his partner were taken to Brooklyn Jewish Hospital, where he died four days later from his wounds. Officer Mandel's final act of service was to donate his kidneys. His partner was able to make a full recovery. The suspect, 24, who had just been freed on a $500 bail for another charge, was arrested later in the day at his home and charged with attempted murder and murder. On March 7, 1978, he was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to 20 years to life in prison. He was paroled on January 17, 2019, and deported. Officer Mendel had served with the New York City Police Department for five years and was assigned to the 77th Precinct Anti-Crime Unit.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, parents, and brother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NY-E38B39A0- 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 Mandel gave the New York City Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Mandel.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Robert W. Mandel 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 New York City Police Department, 382 of 1237 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 30.9% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Robert W. Mandel's cause is highlighted.
How Robert W. Mandel Compares
Offender Outcome
Paroled in 2019
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Robert W. Mandel is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Robert W. Mandel was killed by officer's handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1,236 officers from New York City Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
