Robert E. Venable Park

Belmont Ave., Sutter Ave., Sheridan Ave. and Grant Ave.

Brooklyn, 11208

This text is part of Parks’ Historical Signs Project and can be found posted within the park.

This park, located in the Brooklyn neighborhood of City Line, honors Robert E. Venable (1952-1987), a New York City Transit Police Officer who was tragically killed in the line of duty by drug dealers on September 22, 1987 in East New York.

Venable gave much of his time to working with the youth from his community in addition to caring for his own daughter, Januari, as a single father. Officer Venable participated in many church and community activities during his short life. Before becoming a police officer, he held a part-time job with the Post Office, and worked for School District 19’s Head Start program. He was also a teacher’s aide at the Cypress Day Care Center. After becoming an officer, Venable became a counselor in a drug prevention program. He organized teenagers from the community to help clean and maintain this park. He arranged as well as funded sports events and excursions for them after their cleaning activities, including fishing trips.