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Officer Robert M. Hurley

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Officer Robert M. Hurley

On this day in Baltimore Police History 1973 we lost our Brother Officer Robert M. Hurley to a Heart Attack - Officer Hurley was involved in a car chase one day earlier on 28 March 1973, more than a simple chase, this went on for a little longer than normal, it went on through more than one district, resulted in a bailout, a foot chase, and a struggle before the suspect would be taken into custody, afterward Officer Hurley told others that after the chase, the accident and the struggle he didn’t feel right, he felt excited, anxious and different from normal.

He went home from work not feeling well, he had told his wife about a car chase, the foot chase and the struggle, and how he was a little tired, sore, and as he put it, “I am just not feeling right” This coming from a guy that never complained, to say, “I just don’t feel right!”. The next day, while driving into work in his nearly brand new 1972 Chevy Impala, He felt a tightness in his chest, then all of a sudden Officer Hurley grabbed his chest, he was in severe pain, his car began swerving back and forth in the street, concerned for those around him and their safety he worked to bring the car under control. At one point witnesses say they could see he was having trouble, and that he was in pain. A store owner that knew him, knew he was having a heart attack, he was heading the wrong way into traffic, and somehow still managed to prevent a head-on, he brought his car to rest against a pole and parked car, with little damage to either. A Witness that was taking his wife to a nearby banquet (but running late) saw the start of these events as Officer Hurley first began grabbing his chest at a red light. The witness went on to drop his wife off at the banquet and came back, to tell how heroic it was for a man in desperate pain to still divert an accident, bringing the car to rest without injuring anyone.

There was a minor traffic accident, but it could have been a lot worse. The heart attack took Officer Hurley from us that day, it came on as a result of the excitement and an injury Officer Hurley had the night before. He was injured but no one knew; he had told everyone he didn’t quite feel right; but there were no visible injuries so no one knew, that was when the heart attack occurred. One day after that with severe chest pains he received during a vehicle pursuit he would die. But even then he would die a hero, with more concerns for the safety of those around him then for the safety of himself.

Funeral services for Patrolman Robert M Hurley, an 18 year veteran of the Baltimore Police Department were held on 2 April 1973 at 1 PM at the Schimunek funeral establishment, 3331 Brehms Lane. Patrolman Hurley died of a heart attack Thursday 29 March 1973 while on his way home from work. He was 46 years old. Patrolman Robert M Hurley was born in Baltimore, attended city schools and once worked at Bethlehem Steel Corporation as a welder. In 1944, Patrolman Hurley joined the Navy and served as a gunner’s mate 3rd class in the Pacific. He was a charter member the Baltimore City Police Union and was on the personnel board. He was 2nd place president of the Union at the time of his death. Patrolman Hurley was also a co-founder, and charter member of the Police Council #27. He was survived by his wife Angelina Hurley; and their three sons, “Bruce, Robert, and Patrick Hurley” as well as three daughters, “Cynthia, Sharon, and Donna Marie Hurley” he also left behind two granddaughters. All are of Baltimore, also surviving is a brother Edgar Hurley, and his sister Joan Hurley.

We his brothers and sisters of the Baltimore Police Department will not let him be forgotten – RIP Officer Robert M. Hurley and God Bless - For your service "Honored" the City of Baltimore, and the Baltimore Police Department"

More details

NameDescription
End of Watch 28 March, 1973
City, St. Baltimore, Md
Panel Number 46-W: 29
Cause of Death Heart Attack
District Worked Northeastern
Read 4783 times Last modified on Sunday, 29 March 2020 05:45
Published in Fallen Heroes
Baltimore Police Historical Soicety

The Baltimore Police Historical Society put this and other articles on this website together using research from old newspapers, old books, photos, and artifacts.

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