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Police Officer

Robert T. Moore

Detroit Police Department — Detroit, MI

Felonious

End of Watch November 8, 1973

Age 24

Tour of Duty 3 yrs 6 mo

The Vigil Panel 112 ›

Gender Male

Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 249

Incident

Officer Moore was shot and killed by one of three suspects involved in an attempted robbery. After the attempted robbery was foiled, the three suspects fled in a stolen car with the officers in close pursuit. The suspects quickly abandoned their vehicle and fled on foot. Officer Moore gave chase. One of the suspects laid in wait and attacked Officer Moore at the rear of 20060 Carol Street. He surprised him and struck Moore in the head. Moore was knocked to the ground and his service revolver was taken from him. He died from a shot to the chest. Police dogs tracked the suspect to a residence at 3797 Waverly where the suspect rented a flat. They found him hiding under blankets in a large bureau drawer in the basement of the Waverly address. Officer Moore's revolver was found in the basement and a fingerprint was lifted matching the suspect. The suspect, 22, was convicted in March 1974 and sentenced to life in prison. He had previously been released from prison just months before Officer Moore's murder. As of October 17, 2022, he was in prison where he will stay for life. Officer Moore served with the Detroit police force for three and a half years and was assigned to the 12th Precinct.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, a cadet, who had recently graduated from the police academy.

In Our Keeping

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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 Moore gave the Detroit Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Detroit community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Moore.

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

Agency

Department Detroit Police Department

Type Police Department

Location Detroit, Wayne County, MI

Platform Identity detpd.wayne.mi.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 8, 1973

Tour of Duty 3 yrs 6 mo

Age 24

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Officer's 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.

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

Compare against

Time

In 1973, 171 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 17th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States

Who

Robert was 24. 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 3.5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death

Where he stood among them

Age by years of service

III

When

November holds 8.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.

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 officer's handgun, in 5.8% of these deaths.

Every cause

Weapons recorded