Michael Robbins, a Chicago police officer who died September 13, 2008 will be recognized as a fallen officer as a result of injuries suffered 15 years ago.
Biographical Info
Age: 57
Tour of Duty: 8 years
Badge Number: 4203
Former Police Officer Michael Robbins' death last year was originally ruled inconclusive. But at the request of his family, former colleagues and police, the medical examiner's office took another look at whether Robbins' death could have been related to the injuries he suffered in a gang ambush in 1994.
Last month, the medical examiner's office declared Robbins' death a homicide, clearing the way for his recognition as a fallen officer.
"Now that the medical examiner's office has attributed his death to the events from that night, the Chicago Police Department awards committee has made the determination that Officer Robbins died in the line of duty," police Supt. Jody Weis said in a statement Sunday.
Robbins' star will be retired and placed in the honored star case, a tribute to officers killed on the job.
On Sept. 10, 1994, Officer Robbins and his partner, both members of a gang tactical unit in the Grand Crossing District, responded to a call of shots fired in a neighborhood in the throws of a gang war. Robbins and another tactical Chicago Police officer were ambushed by gang-bangers. Officer Robbins was shot 11 times; three bullets remained lodged in his heart after the shooting. His partner was shot 4 times; both men survived.
Mr. Robbins grew up on the South Side, one of two children born to a mother whom he idolized, said his daughter, Michelle Robbins Miles. He enlisted in the Navy after graduating from high school and was awarded the Bronze Star for his service in the Vietnam War, his daughter said. He then served in the Navy Reserve and joined the Chicago Police Department in 1986. He was a good cop, colleagues said.
"Mike was dedicated," said Carl Kirk, a friend and former police partner. "It seems he didn't want to go home at night. He wanted to keep working."
Mr. Robbins spoke about the shooting at the Democratic convention in 1996, urging better gun control laws. He directed the Handgun Epidemic Lowering Plan, an organization for survivors of gun violence, and ran for Illinois state Senate in 1999. He continued to work as a community activist, serving as a victims' advocate for Fight Crime: Invest in Kids and as a member of the Black on Black Love Organization.
Officer Robbins survivors are his daughter, Michelle Robbins Miles; his sons, Michael Anthony Robbins Jr. and Michael Christopher Keith Threlkeld; a stepson, Lawrence A. Willis; a brother, Robert Bradley; his former wife, Pamela Fox; and two grandchildren.
Biographical Info
Age: 57
Tour of Duty: 8 years
Badge Number: 4203
Former Police Officer Michael Robbins' death last year was originally ruled inconclusive. But at the request of his family, former colleagues and police, the medical examiner's office took another look at whether Robbins' death could have been related to the injuries he suffered in a gang ambush in 1994.
Last month, the medical examiner's office declared Robbins' death a homicide, clearing the way for his recognition as a fallen officer.
"Now that the medical examiner's office has attributed his death to the events from that night, the Chicago Police Department awards committee has made the determination that Officer Robbins died in the line of duty," police Supt. Jody Weis said in a statement Sunday.
Robbins' star will be retired and placed in the honored star case, a tribute to officers killed on the job.
On Sept. 10, 1994, Officer Robbins and his partner, both members of a gang tactical unit in the Grand Crossing District, responded to a call of shots fired in a neighborhood in the throws of a gang war. Robbins and another tactical Chicago Police officer were ambushed by gang-bangers. Officer Robbins was shot 11 times; three bullets remained lodged in his heart after the shooting. His partner was shot 4 times; both men survived.
Mr. Robbins grew up on the South Side, one of two children born to a mother whom he idolized, said his daughter, Michelle Robbins Miles. He enlisted in the Navy after graduating from high school and was awarded the Bronze Star for his service in the Vietnam War, his daughter said. He then served in the Navy Reserve and joined the Chicago Police Department in 1986. He was a good cop, colleagues said.
"Mike was dedicated," said Carl Kirk, a friend and former police partner. "It seems he didn't want to go home at night. He wanted to keep working."
Mr. Robbins spoke about the shooting at the Democratic convention in 1996, urging better gun control laws. He directed the Handgun Epidemic Lowering Plan, an organization for survivors of gun violence, and ran for Illinois state Senate in 1999. He continued to work as a community activist, serving as a victims' advocate for Fight Crime: Invest in Kids and as a member of the Black on Black Love Organization.
Officer Robbins survivors are his daughter, Michelle Robbins Miles; his sons, Michael Anthony Robbins Jr. and Michael Christopher Keith Threlkeld; a stepson, Lawrence A. Willis; a brother, Robert Bradley; his former wife, Pamela Fox; and two grandchildren.
Michael Robbins, a Chicago police officer who died September 13, 2008 will be recognized as a fallen officer as a result of injuries suffered 15 years ago.
Biographical Info
Age: 57
Tour of Duty: 8 years
Badge Number: 4203
Former Police Officer Michael Robbins' death last year was originally ruled inconclusive. But at the request of his family, former colleagues and police, the medical examiner's office took another look at whether Robbins' death could have been related to the injuries he suffered in a gang ambush in 1994.
Last month, the medical examiner's office declared Robbins' death a homicide, clearing the way for his recognition as a fallen officer.
"Now that the medical examiner's office has attributed his death to the events from that night, the Chicago Police Department awards committee has made the determination that Officer Robbins died in the line of duty," police Supt. Jody Weis said in a statement Sunday.
Robbins' star will be retired and placed in the honored star case, a tribute to officers killed on the job.
On Sept. 10, 1994, Officer Robbins and his partner, both members of a gang tactical unit in the Grand Crossing District, responded to a call of shots fired in a neighborhood in the throws of a gang war. Robbins and another tactical Chicago Police officer were ambushed by gang-bangers. Officer Robbins was shot 11 times; three bullets remained lodged in his heart after the shooting. His partner was shot 4 times; both men survived.
Mr. Robbins grew up on the South Side, one of two children born to a mother whom he idolized, said his daughter, Michelle Robbins Miles. He enlisted in the Navy after graduating from high school and was awarded the Bronze Star for his service in the Vietnam War, his daughter said. He then served in the Navy Reserve and joined the Chicago Police Department in 1986. He was a good cop, colleagues said.
"Mike was dedicated," said Carl Kirk, a friend and former police partner. "It seems he didn't want to go home at night. He wanted to keep working."
Mr. Robbins spoke about the shooting at the Democratic convention in 1996, urging better gun control laws. He directed the Handgun Epidemic Lowering Plan, an organization for survivors of gun violence, and ran for Illinois state Senate in 1999. He continued to work as a community activist, serving as a victims' advocate for Fight Crime: Invest in Kids and as a member of the Black on Black Love Organization.
Officer Robbins survivors are his daughter, Michelle Robbins Miles; his sons, Michael Anthony Robbins Jr. and Michael Christopher Keith Threlkeld; a stepson, Lawrence A. Willis; a brother, Robert Bradley; his former wife, Pamela Fox; and two grandchildren.
Biographical Info
Age: 57
Tour of Duty: 8 years
Badge Number: 4203
Former Police Officer Michael Robbins' death last year was originally ruled inconclusive. But at the request of his family, former colleagues and police, the medical examiner's office took another look at whether Robbins' death could have been related to the injuries he suffered in a gang ambush in 1994.
Last month, the medical examiner's office declared Robbins' death a homicide, clearing the way for his recognition as a fallen officer.
"Now that the medical examiner's office has attributed his death to the events from that night, the Chicago Police Department awards committee has made the determination that Officer Robbins died in the line of duty," police Supt. Jody Weis said in a statement Sunday.
Robbins' star will be retired and placed in the honored star case, a tribute to officers killed on the job.
On Sept. 10, 1994, Officer Robbins and his partner, both members of a gang tactical unit in the Grand Crossing District, responded to a call of shots fired in a neighborhood in the throws of a gang war. Robbins and another tactical Chicago Police officer were ambushed by gang-bangers. Officer Robbins was shot 11 times; three bullets remained lodged in his heart after the shooting. His partner was shot 4 times; both men survived.
Mr. Robbins grew up on the South Side, one of two children born to a mother whom he idolized, said his daughter, Michelle Robbins Miles. He enlisted in the Navy after graduating from high school and was awarded the Bronze Star for his service in the Vietnam War, his daughter said. He then served in the Navy Reserve and joined the Chicago Police Department in 1986. He was a good cop, colleagues said.
"Mike was dedicated," said Carl Kirk, a friend and former police partner. "It seems he didn't want to go home at night. He wanted to keep working."
Mr. Robbins spoke about the shooting at the Democratic convention in 1996, urging better gun control laws. He directed the Handgun Epidemic Lowering Plan, an organization for survivors of gun violence, and ran for Illinois state Senate in 1999. He continued to work as a community activist, serving as a victims' advocate for Fight Crime: Invest in Kids and as a member of the Black on Black Love Organization.
Officer Robbins survivors are his daughter, Michelle Robbins Miles; his sons, Michael Anthony Robbins Jr. and Michael Christopher Keith Threlkeld; a stepson, Lawrence A. Willis; a brother, Robert Bradley; his former wife, Pamela Fox; and two grandchildren.
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