West Palm Beach Police Department, Florida
End of Watch: Saturday, January 21, 1984
Age: 34
Tour of Duty: 4 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Automobile crash
Date of Incident: January 21, 1984
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Not available
Police Officer Robert Edwards was killed in an automobile crash while responding to a local hospital to assist his partner with a prisoner.
The two had arrested a woman following a disturbance and placed her in the back of a patrol car. The woman started banging her head on the inside of the car causing injuries to herself. Officer Edwards' partner transported her to the hospital as Officer Edwards waited for a tow truck for the prisoner's car.
When another officer arrived to take over Officer Edwards responded to the hospital to assist his partner. As he entered an intersection another car turned left in front of 3617 South Dixie Highway, causing a collision which knocked Officer Edwards' patrol car into a concrete light pole.
Officer Edwards had served with the West Palm Beach Police Department for four years. He was survived by his wife, four children, brother, and mother.