Robert A. Sorrentino
Agency patch
Police Officer

Robert A. Sorrentino

Felonious
End of Watch April 24, 1980
Age 35
Tour of Duty 7 yrs
Badge 31143
The Vigil Panel 122 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Police Officer Robert Sorrentino was shot and killed while chasing five suspects who had just robbed a club in the Far Rockaway section of Queens. Officer Sorrentino and his partner had split up to chase the suspects. After his partner captured one of the men, he heard shots fired and ran to Officer Sorrentino's location, where he found Officer Sorrentino in a schoolyard at 595 Beach 19th Street. Officer Sorrentino had been shot several times. Officer Sorrentino was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his wounds two weeks later. All five of the suspects, 25, 26, 26, 38, and 50, were eventually apprehended and convicted of charges in connection with the incident on December 10, 1981. All five were sentenced to 25 years to life in prison on January 7, 1982. The oldest, who was the gunman, died in prison on July 17, 1984. The 25-year-old died in prison on December 8, 1986. The 38-year-old died in prison on April 26, 1997. One, 26, was paroled on July 28, 2020. The other one, 26, died in prison before 2005. Officer Sorrentino was assigned to the 101st Precinct and had served with the New York City Police Department for seven years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and three stepchildren, his parents, and five siblings.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Sorrentino gave the New York City Police Department 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Sorrentino.

— 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 April 24, 1980
Tour of Duty 7 yrs
Age 35
Badge Number 31143
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 1980, 127 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 37th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Robert was 35. 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 7 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

April holds 8.4% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.

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

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

Across the years
VI

Where

Police Officer Robert A. Sorrentino

New York City Police Department · End of Watch April 24, 1980

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 32-E

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