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Patrolman

Robert H. Holmes

New York City Police Department — New York, NY

Felonious

End of Watch August 6, 1917

Age 29

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

Badge 9140

The Vigil Panel 75 · Column 4 · Line 17 ›

Gender Male

Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 1,221

Incident

Patrolman Robert Holmes was shot and killed in a running gun battle with a burglar in Harlem. Patrolman Holmes was standing on his post at the corner of Lenox Avenue and 139th Street in Manhattan when he heard four gunshots. He ran to the sound and surprised a burglar who was climbing out of a window at 68 West 139th Street. The burglar had entered the apartment but was confronted by the homeowner. When confronted, the burglar fired four shots at the homeowner, missing him with each shot. Patrolman Holmes chased the burglar down an alley, exchanging gunfire. The suspect entered a house at 14 West 138th Street and hid in a hallway. As Patrolman Holmes approached him, the suspect fired two shots, striking Patrolman Holmes in the head and face, killing him. The suspect was arrested in Stamford, Connecticut, a few days later. Three New York detectives found a hat near the crime scene that belonged to the suspect. They traced the hat to a storekeeper in Stamford. He said he sold the hat to the suspect who lived in Stamford. The suspect was arrested, returned to New York, convicted of murder, and sentenced to prison. Patrolman Holmes had served with the New York City Police Department for four years and was assigned to the 38th Precinct, the current-day 32nd Precinct. At the time of his murder, he was one of only four black police officers serving with the agency. He was survived by his parents. He is buried in Mount Olivet Cemetery in Maspeth, Queens County, New York.

Survivors

He was survived by his parents.

In Our Keeping

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Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Holmes gave the New York City Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Holmes.

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

Agency

Department New York City Police Department

Type Police Department

Location New York, NY

Platform Identity nypd.newyork.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 6, 1917

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

Age 29

Badge Number 9140

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Robert is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

Compare against

Time

In 1917, 165 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 19th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States

Who

Robert was 29. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Robert had served 4 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death

Where he stood among them

Age by years of service

III

When

August holds 8.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Mondays: 13.8%.

By month

By day of the week

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause

Weapons recorded