Robert J. Arnold
Agency patch
Patrolman

Robert J. Arnold

Buffalo Police Department — Buffalo, NY
Felonious
End of Watch January 15, 1968
Age 29
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
Badge 599
The Vigil Panel 103 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Robert Arnold was shot and killed at a tavern at 744 Military Road while investigating a robbery. Officers had gone to the tavern to question a patron shortly after a nearby restaurant had been robbed. As Patrolman Arnold approached him, the man turned around and opened fire, striking him. Other officers returned fire and killed the subject. A citizen who was used as a human shield by the suspect was wounded during the shootout. Patrolman Arnold had served with the Buffalo Police Department for two years and was assigned to Precinct 17.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, daughter, and two sons.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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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.
Patrolman Arnold gave the Buffalo Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Buffalo community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Arnold.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Buffalo, Erie County, NY
Platform Identity bpd.erie.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 15, 1968
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
Age 29
Badge Number 599
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

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.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1968, 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

Robert was 29. 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 2 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

January holds 8% 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

Buffalo Police Department has 51 officers remembered here, Robert among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Patrolman Robert J. Arnold

Buffalo Police Department · End of Watch January 15, 1968

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 30-E

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