New Orleans Police Department, Louisiana
End of Watch: Friday, October 18, 1907
Age: 22
Tour of Duty: 11 months
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Stabbed
Date of Incident:
Weapon Used: Edged weapon
Suspect Info: Not available
Patrolman Robert Cambias was killed when his throat was cut on Allen Street, in the area of New Orleans Street and Prieur Street.
While responding to a disturbance on Allen Street where a 20 year old male was assaulted by someone with a knife, Patrolman Cambias and three other officers entered a house that was the meeting place for a group of activists called the "Council of God."
The meeting was attended by approximately 20 men. The officers approached with revolvers drawn and asked for the perpetrator of the assault to step forward. The lights went out and gunfire ensued. Officer Cambias was overpowered by three men who dragged him outside to the sidewalk where his throat was slashed. Patrolman Ernest Wenck was stabbed, Sergeant Joseph Wheatley and Corporal James Dunn both received gunshot wounds but the three officers were able to safely escape the building.
Neighbors who saw the injured officers and the dying policeman on the sidewalk called for additional police support. When reinforcements arrived the house was surrounded. The standoff lasted for about three hours until finally 10 people were taken into custody and transported to jail. Patrolman Cambias died on the sidewalk where he fell. The other three office recovered from their injuries.
Three suspects were held for the slaying of Patrolman Cambias. One died in jail from lockjaw after refusing treatment for a gunshot wound to his right foot. The other two went to trial and were convicted of murder. They were both hanged on October 23rd, 1908.
Patrolman Cambias had served with the agency for less than a year.
Patrolman Cambias' grandfather, Patrolman James Crofton, was shot and killed in the line of duty on October 4th, 1869, while serving with the New Orleans Police Department.