He was the first Plant City Police Officer killed in the line of duty in 1911. It wasn't discovered until an entry for a marriage (Annie Boyett m. Robert Yates, police officer Plant City FL killed in the line of duty 1911) was researched in 2004.

In 2005 he was added to the Police Officer's Memorial in FL and Washington DC.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/30873284/robert-e-yates