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John A. Robertson
Agency patch
Officer

John A. Robertson

Phoenix Police Department — Phoenix, AZ
Felonious
United States flag Arizona flag
End of Watch November 19, 1984
Age 31
Tour of Duty 8 yrs
Badge 3127
The Vigil Panel 129 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 46

Incident

Officer John Robertson was shot and killed while working a uniformed off-duty security job at a local hotel. He was questioning a suspect behind the hotel at 1624 N. Black Canyon Highway about the robbery of two truck drivers when the suspect opened fire. Officer Robertson was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries two days later. Two women, 18, and 19, and a man, 25, were arrested in connection with the shooting and robbery. In 1986 the man was convicted of murder, armed robbery, burglary, and sentenced to 66 years. In 1985 the women were convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to 10 years each. Officer Robertson had been with the agency for eight years and was survived by his wife and two children. He was working a second job at the Sixpence Inn to save money for a special family Christmas.

Survivors

Officer Robertson had been with the agency for eight years and was survived by his wife and two children.

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.
Officer Robertson gave the Phoenix Police Department 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the Phoenix community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Robertson.

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

Agency

Department Phoenix Police Department
Type Other
Location Phoenix, Maricopa County, AZ
Platform Identity phoepd.maricopa.az.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 19, 1984
Tour of Duty 8 yrs
Age 31
Badge Number 3127
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

John 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.

  3. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1984, 91 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 62nd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

John was 31. 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. John had served 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

November holds 8.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Mondays: 13.8%.

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

Phoenix Police Department has 47 officers remembered here, John among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Officer John A. Robertson

Phoenix Police Department · End of Watch November 19, 1984

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 14-E

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