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Robert E. Woody
Agency patch
Sergeant

Robert E. Woody

St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department — St. Louis, MO
Felonious
United States flag Missouri flag
End of Watch November 10, 1924
Age 52
Tour of Duty 25 yrs
The Vigil Panel 48 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 175

Incident

Sergeant Robert Woody was shot and killed while he and his partner chased four suspects near Fair Avenue and Penrose Street. The officers were on patrol when another car, whose running board was on fire, passed them. The officers immediately gave pursuit until the vehicle finally stopped. The four occupants jumped out, holding revolvers, and fled. During the pursuit and shootout, Sergeant Woody was fatally wounded in the stomach. All of the suspects were eventually apprehended. All were wanted for armed robbery. Three, ages 21, 21, and 17, were convicted of murder and sentenced to life. The youngest was paroled in 1935. A few days later, he was arrested for possession of stolen items from a recent burglary. The other two were paroled in 1941 and 1942. The fourth suspect was never charged but was shot and killed three years later by police in Chicago. Sergeant Woody had served with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department for 25 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and daughter.

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

25 years. You could have gone home.
Sergeant Woody gave the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department 25 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the St. Louis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Woody.

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

Agency

Department St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department
Type Police Department
Location St. Louis, City of Saint Louis, MO
Platform Identity stlopd.saintlouis.mo.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 10, 1924
Tour of Duty 25 yrs
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.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1924, 225 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 4th 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 25 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 handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, Robert among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Sergeant Robert E. Woody

St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department · End of Watch November 10, 1924

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 31-W

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