"Heroes Live Forever" - the story of Oakland (CA) Police Officer Robert W. Blan

A deadly encounter during a traffic stop left a 24-year-old police officer dead. His murderer served just six years in prison. The officer's family was forever changed.

Police Officer Robert W. Blan

McLean, VA (July 14, 2026) - Officer Robert W. Blan, Badge 886, was just 24 when a routine 2:30 a.m. traffic stop in West Oakland turned violent and cost him his life. A United States Army Military Police veteran and a young father, Officer Blan served the Oakland (CA) Police Department with courage and compassion. The podcast recounts the deadly struggle in which a suspect wrested away his service revolver and shot him three times, the frantic search that followed, and the shocking fact that his killer — convicted of first‑degree murder — served only six years of a 12‑to‑life prison sentence.

This week’s episode also brings forward the voices of those who knew and loved him: his daughter Michelle, who was just five months old when he was killed; childhood friends who still miss him; and fellow officers who remember his energy, his devotion to his family, and the dangers of policing in that era. Their reflections — raw, heartfelt, and enduring — reveal the profound impact of his loss and the legacy of a hero whose name is forever inscribed on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. It is a story of service, sacrifice, and remembrance that deserves to be heard.

Listen to the full story here: https://behindbadge.substack.com/p/heroes-live-forever-the-story-of-4a1