Incident
Officer Robert Jester was shot and killed by two bank robbers in a shootout in downtown Miami. He and another officer recognized two men wanted for a bank robbery in Reading, Pennsylvania, as they entered the Seminole Hotel at 53 E. Flagler Street. When the officers ordered the men to stop they turned and opened fire fatally wounding Officer Jester. Officer Jester's partner returned fire killing one suspect and wounding the other. That wounded suspect escaped but was apprehended one hour later. The captured suspect, a 17-year-old boy, was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison. In 1938 he was given the nickname Houdini after he escaped three times in one year. Each time he was captured within a few weeks in Colorado, Tennessee, and Pennsylvania. In 1952 he was added to the FBI's 10 Most Wanted list after he escaped from a prison work farm. He was apprehended one year later in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania. He was released from prison in 1958. Officer Jester had served with the Miami Police Department for 10 years.
In Our Keeping
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Officer Jester gave the Miami Police Department 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Miami community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Jester.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Miami Police Department has lost 39 officers; 20 of them killed feloniously.
Robert is one of 536 officers killed feloniously in FL, 53.3% of the 1,006 remembered there.
Robert is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Robert is one of 17,631 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,117 remembered here.
34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1933, 1 officer at Miami Police Department was killed feloniously, the 3rd heaviest of 18 years on record. The heaviest was 1927, with 2.
In 1933, 7 officers in FL were killed feloniously, the 14th heaviest of 143 years on record. The heaviest was 1987, with 10.
In 1933, 184 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 15th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1933, 186 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 18th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Robert was 40. Of the 20 killed feloniously at Miami Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 27.5 and 41; the middle age was 32. Robert had served 10 years; the middle length of service was 4.5 years.
Robert was 40. Of the 496 killed feloniously in FL whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 44.3; the middle age was 36. Robert had served 10 years; the middle length of service was 5 years.
Robert was 40. 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 10 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Robert was 40. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Robert had served 10 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
November holds 15% of these deaths at Miami Police Department, more than any other month. Saturdays: 20%.
November holds 7.6% of these deaths in FL; April holds the most, 10.1%. Saturdays: 20.1%.
November holds 8.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Saturdays: 16.3%.
November holds 8.2% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Saturdays: 16.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 51.3% of all 39 deaths at Miami Police Department, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 25% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 53.3% of all 1,006 deaths in FL, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 23.7% of these deaths.
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.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 20.4% of these deaths.
His people
Miami Police Department has 39 officers remembered here, Robert among them.
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John Rhinehart Riblet Jun 2, 1915
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Frank Angelo Croff
May 22, 1921
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Richard Roy Marler
Nov 28, 1921
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Laurie Lafayette Wever
Mar 15, 1925
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John D. Marchbanks
Feb 16, 1926
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Samuel J. Callaway
Jan 10, 1927
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Jesse L. Morris
Jul 8, 1927
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Albert R. Johnson
Sep 25, 1927
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James Franklin Beckham
Feb 3, 1928
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Augustus S. McCann
Sep 26, 1928
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Sidney Clarence Crews
Apr 25, 1929
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John I. Brubaker
Mar 31, 1933
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Robert Lee Jester
Nov 18, 1933
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Samuel D. Hicks
Aug 9, 1936
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Patrick Howell Baldwin
Mar 29, 1940
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Wesley Frank Thompson
Sep 18, 1941
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John Milledge
Nov 1, 1946
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Johnnie Young
Mar 8, 1947
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Frampton Pope Wichman, Jr.
Sep 24, 1948
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Leroy Joseph LaFleur, Sr.
Feb 16, 1951
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James H. Brigman
Feb 28, 1951
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John Thomas Burlinson
Mar 8, 1958
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Jerrel E. Ferguson
Nov 7, 1962
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Ronald F. McLeod
May 8, 1969
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Rolland Lane, II
May 23, 1970
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Victor Butler, Jr.
Feb 20, 1971
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Edward F. McDermott
May 18, 1980
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Nathaniel Keith Broom
Sep 2, 1981
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Jose Raimundo DeLeon
Dec 21, 1984
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David Herring
Sep 3, 1986
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Victor Estefan
Mar 31, 1988
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William Don Craig
Jun 21, 1988
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Osvaldo Juan Canalejo, Jr.
Oct 13, 1992
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Carlos A. Santiago
May 30, 1995
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William Harris Williams
Jul 3, 2000
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James Merry Walker
Jan 8, 2008
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Jorge Sanchez
Nov 1, 2016
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Aubrey Travis Johnson, Jr.
Oct 1, 2020
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Paul Schippereit
Jul 4, 2022
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 41-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
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