Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, May 16, 1993 TAG: 9305160154
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RON BROWN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium
The Roanoke patrolman never felt comfortable in the limelight. "He got the job done and never asked anything for it," said Ed Hopkins, a fellow officer who knew him well. "Fred was there for you."
It is with that sense of Robinson's 18-year police career that his fellow officers remembered him Saturday, the day his name was inscribed on the Law Enforcement Memorial, which honors cops who have died in the line of duty.
More than 40 Roanoke police officers and Robinson's mother and son traveled to Washington to attend the ceremonies. The trip was sponsored by the Police Benevolent Association.
Robinson, 48, was one of 143 police officers in the United States to die on the job in 1992. He was the only one in Virginia. He was killed when his patrol car plowed into a building on Williamson Road in January 1992 as he was responding to a burglar alarm at Valley View Mall.
He was not wearing a seat belt. But Kenneth Garrett, who Robinson helped train, said Saturday was not the time for second-guessing. "He was doing his job," Garrett said. "He made the ultimate sacrifice."
Garrett recalled the lessons he learned from Robinson, whom he "worked beside a lot. . . . He didn't need fanfare," Garrett said. "He was good with people."
Thousands of Robinson's colleagues nationwide came to the U.S. Capitol grounds Saturday to remember similar contributions. As the sun spilled over the top of the Capitol, the eerie sound of bagpipes greeted a somber procession of families of police officers who had given their lives.
There were women carrying children who will never know their fathers. And there were sniffles and muffled crying among police officers who dabbed tears from the eyes they hid behind dark sunglasses.
Thousands of uniforms dotted the grounds and officers snapped to attention to salute those whose loved ones had died. Well-pressed Royal Canadian Mounties in bright red blazers stood at attention next to scruffy New York City cops in need of a haircut. Poorly shaven narcotics officers were mixed in with spit-and-polish Maryland state troopers. They were unified in their compassion for the families.
"Let's tell America that police officers are heroes and heroines," said U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno, the keynote speaker. "Let's fight for them every step of the way."
"It's good to see so many people care," said Keith Sidwell, a Roanoke detective. "But it's hard if you've ever lost anybody. Here there are no races and states. It's just brother and sisters."
Sgt. Al Brown, who knew Robinson for most of his police career, said that sense of kinship is what made Robinson's death hit hard.
Brown said Robinson was almost a father figure to younger officers. "He'd take the younger officers under his wing," Brown said. "He was a compassionate man. I think his death is a tragedy."
Brown said Robinson's lessons were simple. "He was a police officer 24 hours a day. If he saw something going on, either on or off duty, he'd step in. He just did his job." Doing that job is what endears Robinson to his fellow workers nearly 18 months after his death.
"We miss ol' Fred," Brown said.
by CNB