Cleveland Division of Police, Ohio
End of Watch Sunday, December 7, 1919
Add to My HeroesRobert Shelton
Patrolman Robert Shelton was shot and killed while walking a prisoner to jail at 2:00 am.
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 toward 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 had served with the Cleveland Police Department for 15 years. He was survived by his wife and son.
Bio
- Age 44
- Tour 15 years
- Badge Not available
Incident Details
- Cause Gunfire
- Weapon Handgun
- Offender Sentenced to life
Most Recent Reflection
View all 16 ReflectionsAs part of the Greater Cleveland Police Officers Memorial Society, each year during Police Week we place grave markers at the top of the tombstones of Officers who have been killed in the line of duty. We do this in an effort to keep our promise to "Never Forget."
I was assigned this Officer during Police Week 2023.
Once the grave marker was placed, I placed a US Flag and a Great Cleveland Police Officers Memorial Society Flag in the marker, took a moment of silence, and then said a prayer.
After Police Week, I went back to retrieve the marker and flags and secured them for next years Police Week. A penny was placed upon his tombstone.
Sergeant Todd James Vogler
Greater Cleveland Police Officers Memorial Society
May 22, 2023
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