Deputy Sheriff Robert William Varner Jr.
Navajo County Sheriff's Department
Arizona
End of Watch: Monday, January 2, 1989

Biographical Info
Age: 51
Tour of Duty: 26 years
Badge Number: 48

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: Saturday, December 31, 1988
Weapon Used: Handgun; Mac-11
Suspect Info: Committed suicide

Deputy Robert Varner was shot and killed after stopping a stolen vehicle with stolen tags on I-40.

When the vehicle stopped, the passenger exited the car and opened fire with a sub-machine gun, striking Deputy Varner several times.

The suspects split up and the shooter committed suicide before officers could apprehend him. The driver of the vehicle was apprehended and sentenced to thirteen years.

Deputy Varner had been a member of the Navajo County Sheriff's Department for one year, after retiring from the Arizona Department of Public Safety, with 24 years of service. He is survived by his wife, son, and two daughters.