Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

NEVER FORGET! Please help me honor the dedicated service and ultimate sacrifice of Detective Robert R. Cline of the Columbus Division of Police, Ohio and the additional 60 American Peace Officers who have paid the ultimate sacrifice on this date in history.

Superintendent Joe Morbitzer (Retired)
Ohio Attorney General, Bureau of Criminal Investigation

February 5, 2024

NEVER FORGET! On behalf of the Ohio Attorneys General Bureau of Criminal Identification & Investigation, we honor the dedicated service and ultimate sacrifice of Detective Robert R. Cline of the Columbus Division of Police, Ohio and the additional 59 American Peace Officers who have paid the ultimate sacrifice on this date in history.

Superintendent Joe Morbitzer
Ohio Attorney General, Bureau of Criminal Investigation

February 5, 2023

NEVER FORGET! On behalf of the Ohio Attorneys General Bureau of Criminal Identification & Investigation, we honor the dedicated service and ultimate sacrifice of Detective Robert R. Cline of the Columbus Division of Police, Ohio and the additional 58 American Peace Officers who have paid the ultimate sacrifice on this date in history.

Superintendent Joe Morbitzer
Ohio Attorney General, Bureau of Criminal Investigation

February 5, 2022

NEVER FORGET! On behalf of the Ohio Attorney Generals Bureau of Criminal Identification & Investigation, we honor the dedicated service and ultimate sacrifice of Detective Robert R. Cline of the Columbus Division of Police, Ohio and the additional 57 American Peace Officers who have paid the ultimate sacrifice on this date in history.

Superintendent Joe Morbitzer
Ohio Attorney General, Bureau of Criminal Investigation

February 5, 2021

NEVER FORGET! On behalf of the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification & Investigation, we honor the dedicated service and ultimate sacrifice of Detective Robert R. Cline of the Columbus Division of Police, Ohio and the additional 53 American Peace Officers who have paid the ultimate sacrifice on this date in history.

Superintendent Joe Morbitzer
Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification & Investigation

February 5, 2020

In the early 1980s I met and became good friends with one of your grandsons. I've since lost contact with him some years ago but I've never forgotten the story he told about what happened to his Grandfather. I think about it from time to time and I just want to thank you for your service to the people of Columbus all these years later. Don't know what our country would do without guys like you. Rest in peace, sir.

STANLEY WINCHELL
Friend of grandson.

October 16, 2018

80 years have passed and it stings even harder in Columbus to hear about the two Westerville officers. My Grandmother, Mother and Uncle never really got over that day in 1938, how could you.
I hope the Columbus community rallies around these two families like they did in 1938.
Rest In Peace.

Jay Ryan
Grandson

February 11, 2018

NEVER FORGET! On behalf of the Westerville, Ohio Division of Police, we honor the dedicated service and ultimate sacrifice of Detective Robert R. Cline of the Columbus Division of Police, Ohio and the additional 53 American Peace Officers who have paid the ultimate sacrifice on this date in history.

Chief Joe Morbitzer
Westerville, Ohio Division of Police

February 5, 2018

NEVER FORGET! On behalf of the Westerville, Ohio Division of Police, we honor the dedicated service and ultimate sacrifice of Detective Robert R. Cline of the Columbus Division of Police, Ohio and the additional 53 American Peace Officers who have paid the ultimate sacrifice on this date in history.

Chief Joe Morbitzer
Westerville, Ohio Division of Police

February 3, 2018

Rip Decticive Robert R. Cline you will never be forgotten thank you for your service

James Morris Vistor to pay respects to fallen officers.

February 5, 2017

Kind Sir,

I think of you often even though I never knew you and wasn't born until several years after your death. My grandmother lived on Guilford Ave about a block and a half away from where you died and said she remembered hearing the gunfire and seeing all the police swarm into the area. She heard later that you had died and said she always had a heavy heart over the loss even though she had not met you. I went to work at CPD in 1975 and walked by the Memorial Wall every day so needless to say I had to stop and say "hi" to you and went home to tell my grandmother about the Wall. I took her to HQs on Gay St in the mid 70s and showed her the Wall and your Memorial. She was touched that she was finally able to put your face with your name after all those years. Then in 1990 I went to the Police Memorial and saw your lovely wife as Mary Mathias helped her to a chair. What a sweet, dainty lady she was. I so wanted to go up and introduce myself but I choked up at the thought so rather than make her and others cry, I stayed away and watched her, so dignified and proud of you. So sorry you died so young but what a great legacy you left for your family and your fellow officers. Thank you for your service and sadly, for having t give your life to protect the citizens of Columbus.

Retired civilian Carol Boling Short
Columbus, Ohio Police Department

November 8, 2013

Dear Uncle Bob ..

You were my uncle, your sister Peggy Cline (Knies) was my Mom. Although I didn't get to know you because I didn't come along til 1948, I always knew of you. Officer Dan Cockerham mentioned above meeting 'your lovely wife' during the set up of the Memorial, and she was my Auntie Julia. I knew her well, and her visage and demeanor are indelible with me. I loved reading that she loved you still, just as I had always known her.

I work in an antique mall, and a portrait came in, oval frame, the hand-tinting certainly period-correct, and it looks so much like you as I remember the Memorial, I sought to try to find other pictures of you, or more history. If it is you, I certainly want it, to add to the Memory Wall I have of my own, having inherited all of the family photographs, all the way back in my own, yours, and my father's families! The man in the portrait is in Army uniform though, not Police, so I will continue my search. It sure is nice to think of you, continue to embrace my luck in coming in by your family, and treasure all the values they imparted to me.

Rest in Peace, til we meet that day,
Your loving Niece,
Peggy Knies Barry

Family Member
Niece of Bob Cline's

June 10, 2013

Your heroism and service is honored today, the 34thnniversary of your death. Your memory lives and you continue to inspire. Thank you for your service. . My cherished son Larry Lasater was a fellow police officer murdered in the line of duty on April 24, 2005 while serving as a Pittsburg, CA police officer.

Time never diminishes respect and your memory will always be honored and revered.

Rest In Peace

Phyllis Loya
Mom of fallen California Officer Larry Lasater, Pittsburg PD, eow 4/24/05

February 5, 2012

YOU ARE REMEMBERED TODAY AND THANK YOU SIR FOR YOUR SERVICE

Pat Van Den Berghe
Neighbors for a Better Manchester, NH

February 4, 2008

On behalf of the Fraternal Order of Police, Capital City lodge #9 in Columbus, Ohio we are very sorry for the loss of your life while serving your community and our country! God bless your family!

President Jim Gilbert
Fraternal Order of Police,Capital City Lodge #9, Columbus, Ohio

July 9, 2007

Rest In Peace

We continue the fight for you brother

Detective Scott Alexander
Columbus Division of Police

August 16, 2006

It was 68 yrs ago today that you gave your life for the citizens of Columbus. You are not forgotten amongst the men and woman of Capital City FOP Lodge #9. REST IN PEACE...

Officer Jim Gilbert
Columbus Div of Police

February 5, 2006

Dear Detective Cline,
I had the honor of helping set up a memorial display at CPD headquarters in 1990 and meeting your lovely wife, who had come to view all the artifacts surrounding that tragic event. It was so obvious, watching her lovingly pour over those artifacts (newspaper clippings, pictures, etc.) that to that day, you continued to live on in her heart.
You were indeed involved in one of the most horrific gunbattles in CPD history. Your actions that day proved beyond any doubt that you were truly a courageous man. We as police officers are so very honored by your sacrifice.
Sleep well my brother.

Retired P.O. Dan Cockerham
Columbus Div. of Police

November 18, 2005

I have read the newspaper articles at the sub describing the incident on N. Guilford Ave. that day and can only imagine what the scene must have been like. May your tenacity and bravery live on within our department. *Pride of the Bottoms*

B.T. 87EMW
Columbus P.D.

October 25, 2005

Rest in peace my brave Brother Robert, you are a true hero and will never be forgotten.



Son of G. Truman Wortham EOw 7/15/73

Assistant Chief Carl Wortham
Sand Springs Police Dept. Okla

February 5, 2004