Police Officer Robert E. Walsh

Robert E. Walsh

Officer Walsh was shot and killed when he attempted to stop a robbery in progress while off-duty. Officer Walsh had just gotten off-duty and stopped at a bar near his home in Queens when three armed, masked men entered the bar and announced a robbery. One suspect, who was holding two guns, pointed one gun at Officer Walsh and the other gun at a friend Officer Walsh had been talking to.

Officer Walsh's friend made a movement that distracted the gunman and allowed Officer Walsh to draw his weapon. Officer Walsh identified himself as a Police Officer, but before he could take any further action, he was shot in the shoulder by the suspect.

The suspect then yelled to his accomplices, and the suspects began to flee the bar. As he was leaving, the gunman who wounded Officer Walsh walked up to the injured officer and shot him in the head, killing him.

The suspect then fled from the bar, with Officer Walsh's friend in pursuit. The suspects fled into a getaway car, driven by a fourth suspect. As they fled, Officer Walsh's friend fired several shots at the suspects but could not stop them.

All four suspects, 15, 16, 17, and 23, were apprehended within the next three days. On April 22, 1982, the three oldest were convicted of murder and robbery. The suspect that fired the shots that killed Officer Walsh was 16-years-old. He was sentenced to 25 years to life. He was paroled in 2020. The 17-year-old was sentenced to 21 years to life. He was paroled in 2019. The oldest was sentenced to 18 years to life. On August 23, 1988, he was granted a new trial. The 15-year-old suspect pleaded guilty as a juvenile offender in Family Court and was sentenced to 10 years.

Officer Walsh had served with the New York City Police Department for 12 years and was assigned to the 7the Precinct in Manhattan. He is survived by his wife and three children.