Robert E. Machate
Agency patch
Police Officer

Robert E. Machate

Felonious
End of Watch March 3, 1989
Age 25
Tour of Duty 2 yrs 6 mo
Badge 25539
Gender Male

Incident

Police Officer Robert Machate was shot and killed while checking on an automobile. Officer Machate and his partner stopped a vehicle that was occupied by two suspicious males. While they were questioning the males, one of the suspects was able to gain control of Officer Machate’s service weapon during a fierce struggle and shot him. The suspect fled but was later apprehended and charged with murder. He was acquitted of murder but convicted of Criminal Possession of a Weapon and Escape. Officer Machate had served with the New York City Police Department for 2 ½ years and was assigned to the Brooklyn South Task Force Anti-Crime Unit.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife, who was six months pregnant at the time of this incident.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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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.
Police Officer Machate gave the New York City Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Machate.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location New York, NY
Platform Identity nypd.newyork.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 3, 1989
Tour of Duty 2 yrs 6 mo
Age 25
Badge Number 25539
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Robert is one of 15,742 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,102 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1989, 97 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 55th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Robert was 25. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Robert had served 2.5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

March holds 7.5% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 14.3%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

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
V

His people

New York City Police Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, Robert among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Police Officer Robert E. Machate

New York City Police Department · End of Watch March 3, 1989

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 42-E

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