Police Officer

Robert E. Betsch

Cardiac
End of Watch April 30, 1979
Age 35
Badge 5688
The Vigil Panel 121 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Officer Betsch suffered a fatal heart attack during a stressful situation while on duty.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
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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.
Police Officer Betsch served with the New York City Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Betsch.

— 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 30, 1979
Age 35
Badge Number 5688
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Cardiac

The Sacrifice · Cardiac

Robert is one of 1,307 officers lost to cardiac events in the United States, 4.7% 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 1979, 17 officers in the United States were lost to cardiac events, the 21st heaviest of 139 years on record. The heaviest was 2014, with 24.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Robert was 35. Of the 1,249 lost to cardiac events in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 43 and 55; the middle age was 48.

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

When

April holds 8.9% of these deaths in the United States; January holds the most, 9.6%. Mondays: 12.9%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Cardiac deaths account for 4.7% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 4th most common cause.

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

Police Officer Robert E. Betsch

New York City Police Department · End of Watch April 30, 1979

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 16-W

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