Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Bob Stefanov and Patrolman Michael Brown were killed when their patrol car struck a utility pole during a pursuit. The officers had noticed a vehicle sitting outside of a closed business, and as they approached it, the vehicle sped off. The suspects entered an intersection against a red light at approximately 75 mph, with the officers close behind. When another vehicle entered the intersection of Lee and Harvard, the officers attempted to avoid a collision, but the patrol car struck the car, overturned, and struck a utility pole. The suspect was later apprehended and sentenced to ten years for involuntary manslaughter. Officer Stefanov had served with the Garfield Heights Police Department for five years.
Survivors
He was survived by his son and daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OH-2DCC0B6A- 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.
Patrolman Stefanov gave the Garfield Heights Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Garfield Heights community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Stefanov.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman Robert A. Stefanov is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In OH, 318 of 991 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 32.1% of this state's fallen. That is 1.1 percentage points above the national rate of 31%.
At Garfield Heights Police Department, 2 of 4 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Robert A. Stefanov's cause is highlighted.
How Robert A. Stefanov Compares
Offender Outcome
10 years
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Robert A. Stefanov is highlighted in Dec.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Garfield Heights Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
