Patrolman Robert Shelton
Cleveland Police Department
Ohio
End of Watch: Sunday, December 7, 1919

Biographical Info
Age: 43
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: Sunday, December 7, 1919
Weapon Used: Handgun
Suspect Info: Sentenced to life

Patrolman Shelton was shot and killed while walking a prisoner to jail. He had arrested the man on Euclid Avenue near East 66th Street after catching the suspect and another man burglarizing a drug store. Because no patrol wagons were available to take the man to jail Patrolman Shelton began to walk him towards the station house. As they walked down East 55th Street the man produced a gun he had concealed in his overcoat pocket and shot Patrolman Shelton, who succumbed to his wounds at a local hospital. After an investigation the suspect was apprehended in Toledo, Ohio.

The suspect was convicted of Patrolman Shelton's murder and sentenced to life in prison. In October of 1954, he escaped from an outside work program. On March 6, 1957, he was captured in Barberton, Ohio.

Patrolman Shelton was survived by his wife and son.