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Earl A. Roberts
Incident
Patrol Inspector Earl Roberts was shot and killed while he and another inspector attempted to apprehend two suspected liquor smugglers near the area of Roberts Landing on the St. Clair River in Algonac, Michigan. The two had observed a motorboat towing a rowboat approaching from Canada and the officers proceeded along the shore following the course of the boat in an attempt to intercept it when it reached the shore. The officers split up to converge on a landing point on the shore. When the boat arrived Inspector Roberts stepped aboard the stern and identified himself as a federal officer and his partner, who was still on the shore, shined a light on the suspects. One of the suspects stood in the center of the boat aiming a gun at Inspector Roberts, and then he opened fire. Inspector Roberts was fatally wounded succumbed to his wounds the following day. The suspect then turned to fire at the other inspector who returned fire but neither party was hit. The men who shot Inspector Roberts placed him in their boat and took him across the river to Port Lambton, placed him on a dock, and called out for help before fleeing again. Several bystanders located Inspector Roberts and he was tended to by a Canadian doctor before being taken back across the river to Roberts Landing to be treated in the United States. The shooter fled but was apprehended two months later in Sombra, Ontario, Canada. The second suspect jumped into the rowboat to flee but was also apprehended and later testified against the shooter. He was sentenced to two years in prison for liquor violations. The 29-year-old shooter was tried in Michigan state court instead of federal court, convicted of murder, and sentenced to life in prison. In the late 1940s he won a new trial, was convicted of second-degree murder, and sentenced to 25 to 50 years. He was released a few months later. Inspector Roberts had served with the United States Border Patrol for only two months.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two sons.
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.
Patrol Inspector Roberts served with the United States Department of Labor.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrol Inspector Roberts.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
United States Department of Labor - Immigration Service - United States Border Patrol has lost 28 officers; 20 of them killed feloniously.
Earl is one of 754 officers killed feloniously in DC, 53.1% of the 1,419 remembered there.
Earl is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Earl is one of 17,631 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 52% of the 33,917 remembered here.
33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1929, 4 officers at United States Department of Labor - Immigration Service - United States Border Patrol were killed feloniously, more than in any other year.
In 1929, 14 officers in DC were killed feloniously, the 6th heaviest of 159 years on record. The heaviest was 1922, with 20.
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.
In 1929, 206 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 14th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Earl was 34. Of the 19 killed feloniously at United States Department of Labor - Immigration Service - United States Border Patrol whose age is recorded, half were between 30.5 and 38.5; the middle age was 33. Earl had served 0.2 years; the middle length of service was 1 years.
Earl was 34. Of the 580 killed feloniously in DC whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 44; the middle age was 36. Earl had served 0.2 years; the middle length of service was 5 years.
Earl was 34. 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. Earl had served 0.2 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Earl was 34. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Earl had served 0.2 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
March holds 5% of these deaths at United States Department of Labor - Immigration Service - United States Border Patrol; December holds the most, 25%. Sundays: 10%.
March holds 7% of these deaths in DC; July holds the most, 11.7%. Sundays: 14.9%.
March holds 7.5% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Sundays: 15.2%.
March holds 7.8% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Sundays: 15.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 71.4% of all 28 deaths at United States Department of Labor - Immigration Service - United States Border Patrol, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 35% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 53.1% of all 1,419 deaths in DC, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 19.6% 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 handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 52% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 20.9% of these deaths.
His people
United States Department of Labor - Immigration Service - United States Border Patrol has 28 officers remembered here, Earl among them.
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Clarence Meek Childress
Apr 16, 1919
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Charles Lloyd Hopkins May 9, 1919
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Charles Gardiner
Oct 21, 1922
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James F. Mankin Sep 14, 1924
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Frank H. Clark
Dec 13, 1924
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Joseph P. Riley
Apr 6, 1925
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Augustin De La Pena
Aug 3, 1925
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Ross A. Gardner Oct 28, 1925
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William W. McKee Apr 23, 1926
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Lon Parker
Jul 25, 1926
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Orin F. Hush
Jan 31, 1927
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Thaddeus Pippin
Apr 21, 1927
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Franklin P. Wood
Dec 15, 1927
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Norman G. Ross
Feb 10, 1928
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Robert H. Lobdell
Dec 25, 1928
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Earl A. Roberts
Mar 24, 1929
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Benjamin Thomas Hill
May 30, 1929
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Ivan E. Scotten
Jul 20, 1929
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Miles Joseph Scannell
Sep 9, 1929
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William Douglas McCalib
Jan 7, 1930
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Harry E. Vincent Mar 25, 1930
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Robert William Kelsay
Jun 25, 1930
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Frank Vidmar, Jr.
Mar 24, 1932
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Charles F. Inch
Jun 26, 1932
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Philip Dryer Strobridge
Mar 7, 1933
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Doyne C. Melton
Dec 7, 1933
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Bert G. Walthall
Dec 27, 1933
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William L. Sills
Jan 17, 1940
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 25-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
27 officers from United States Department of Labor - Immigration Service - United States Border Patrol are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
