In the spring of 1977, a dedicated 26-year-old New York City Police Officer named Robert W. Mandel was working in the 77th Precinct's Anti-Crime Unit. On April 19th, he and his partner, both in plainclothes, responded to a report of drug sales at an address on Franklin Avenue in Brooklyn. They successfully apprehended one individual and handed him over to uniformed officers who had arrived at the scene.
Shortly after, a second man approached Officer Mandel and his partner, claiming to
have information for them. As they stepped aside to speak with him, the man suddenly lunged for the partner's service weapon, managing to gain control of it. In a shocking turn of events, the man opened fire, striking Officer Mandel in the face and his partner in the torso. Both officers were rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Four days after the shooting, on April 23, 1977, Officer Robert Mandel succumbed to his injuries. His partner, fortunately, survived and made a full recovery. The man responsible for the shooting, a 24-year-old, was apprehended at his residence later that same day. He was subsequently charged with murder and attempted murder.
The suspect faced trial and on March 7, 1978, was convicted of first-degree murder. He received a sentence of 20 years to life in prison for the death of Officer Mandel. After serving over four decades of his sentence, he was granted parole on January 17, 2019, and was then deported. Officer Mandel, a white male, had served with the NYPD for five years and was survived by his wife, parents, and brother.
