Sgt. Robert J. Barlow
Sgt. Robert J. Barlow
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25 April 1978
Services Set for Robert Barlow, Sgt. and Tactical Section
A mass of Christian burial for Sgt. Robert J. Barlow, an officer for 19 years in the City Police Departments Tactical Section, was offered at the Shrine of the Little Flower Church in the 2800 block of Brendan Avenue.
Sgt. Barlow, who was 43 and lived in the 3400 block of Mayfield Avenue, died at Union Memorial Hospital after suffering a heart attack at his home shortly after he returned home from a shift with the Police Department. He worked a ballgame and had to break up more than a few fights, during his shift he had become over exhausted several times, at one point even needing help getting to his office so that he could try to rest a little as during a struggle with an unruly fan he had become overexerted.
The 19-year veteran of the police department, he oversaw a squad of Tactical Section officers who patrol the Downtown Business District. He also was one of the three officers who supervised the deployment of police at events in Memorial Stadium. Upon joining the force in 1959, Sgt. Barlow, a Baltimore native, was assigned to the central district. Later he worked in the department's laboratory division and the Northwestern district before being promoted to the rank of Sgt. in 1968.
During his career, he was awarded one special commendation, one official commendation and one commendatory letter. Prior to becoming a police officer, Sgt. Barlow served in the military police. He also attended the University of Maryland. He is survived by his wife, the former Willa Cunningham; two daughters, Catherine Marie Barlow and Barbara Jean Barlow; his mother, Mrs. Clara Barlow of Baltimore, and two sisters, Mrs. Patricia Fuller of Baltimore, and Mrs. Jean Graham of Bristol, Connecticut.
In a 25 April 1978 newspaper article, a baseball manager didn’t like it because one of his $200,000 a-year-ballplayers got hit in the face with a beer. Isn’t that too bad. He should see how the police are treated. They get kicked, punched, shoved and spat on. One of the men who work with us out here Sunday referring to Sgt. Barlow by saying, "He went home after the game and died from a heart attack at 8 o’clock that night. Ofc. Robert Barlow a 43-year-old. Two kids. He was up and down these ramps all Sunday trying to keep the crowd under control. I looked at that man this afternoon and I couldn’t believe it. I like to see Billy Martin change uniforms with one of us.”
More Details
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| End of Watch | 24 April 1978 |
| City, St. | 201 E University Pkwy, Baltimore, MD 21218 |
| Panel Number | N/A |
| Cause of Death | Heart Attack |
| District Worked | Tactical Section |
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