Maryland Toll Facilities Police Department, Maryland
End of Watch: Saturday, September 27, 1986
Age: 54
Tour of Duty: 19 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: September 18, 1986
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Sentenced to live
Officer Robert Pyles succumbed to a gunshot wound received two weeks earlier after picking up a man who had been walking on the Thomas J. Hatem Memorial Bridge.
While on patrol, he had stopped to assist the man and began to drive him back to his disabled van. Unbeknownst to Officer Pyles, the van had been stolen and the driver was a parole violator wanted for rape, assault, and the attempted murder of three other officers. Before the two got back to the van, the suspect shot Officer Pyles.
The suspect was convicted of first-degree murder and three counts of attempted murder. He was sentenced to four consecutive life terms.
Officer Pyles had been with the Maryland Toll Facilities Police Department for 19 years.