Robinson, Detective Sgt Henry

Henry Robinson’s public life in Englewood included moments of both controversy and quiet heroism. A longtime Englewood police officer, Robinson later drew attention for his unexpected role in an emergency childbirth in Teaneck. One evening, while stopping briefly at a neighborhood bar, he was alerted that a woman nearby was in labor and needed immediate help. Robinson rushed outside and assisted as the baby was born in the front seat of a parked car. By the time he arrived, the newborn had already been delivered into the grandmother’s arms, but Robinson quickly assessed the infant’s condition, making sure the baby’s airway was clear and that the umbilical cord was safely positioned. He then helped organize the family and personally escorted the mother and child the short distance to Holy Name Hospital, where both were confirmed to be healthy. The family later expressed deep gratitude for his calm presence during a moment of crisis.

Years earlier, Robinson had found himself at the center of a very different kind of headline. In 1963, his sister, Barbara Robinson, was convicted of receiving stolen clothing taken during a burglary of an Englewood dress shop and was sentenced to probation, a fine, and a suspended jail term. Barbara told police the clothing had been given to her by her brother, triggering an investigation into Henry Robinson. He was questioned but ultimately cleared by a grand jury and municipal court of any wrongdoing.

Robinson strongly denied the accusation and asserted that he had been framed, noting that only weeks earlier he had arrested Mrs. Eva Smith on gambling charges, a case that resulted in her conviction. He suggested the allegations against him were retaliatory. Despite the scrutiny, Robinson remained on the Englewood police force, was promoted to acting detective, and continued his career, even as the burglary itself went unsolved.