Robert Emmett McGalin
Agency patch
Patrolman

Robert Emmett McGalin

Louisville Police Department — Louisville, KY
Felonious
End of Watch August 25, 1929
Age 52
Tour of Duty 9 yrs 10 mo
The Vigil Panel 58 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman McGalin was shot and killed after he and his partner were flagged down by a citizen who had just seen a suspect who had held him up earlier. As the citizen pointed out the suspect the officers observed the suspect throw an object between two houses. Patrolman McGalin's partner went to investigate leaving Patrolman McGalin with the citizen. At some point while Patrolman McGalin was alone with the citizen the suspect approached and shot and killed Patrolman McGalin in Woods Alley between 9th and 10th Streets. The suspect, 28, was captured two days later in Dayton, Ohio. He was convicted of murder and sentenced to death. His sentence was later commuted to life. He applied for a parole on August 8, 1941. Patrolman McGalin had served with the Louisville Police Department for almost ten years.

In Our Keeping

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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.
Patrolman McGalin gave the Louisville Police Department 9 years.
Thank you for your service to the Louisville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman McGalin.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Louisville, Jefferson County, KY
Platform Identity lpd.jefferson.ky.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 25, 1929
Tour of Duty 9 yrs 10 mo
Age 52
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

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.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1929, 205 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 12th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Robert was 52. 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 9.8 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%. Sundays: 15.2%.

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 handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Louisville Police Department has 91 officers remembered here, Robert among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Patrolman Robert Emmett McGalin

Louisville Police Department · End of Watch August 25, 1929

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 18-E

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