Yes he does, but he's so funny. What a great character. ?

he's still scared of monsters in his closet, and being home alone on occasion.
Even while in his apartment, he's shown to be cowardly. Like having to go to Marie's house because he's scared of noises and things in the dark.
Then some girl's father in the laundry room who steps to him, and Robert is scared of him.
Or keep a tennis racket under his bed for ghosts, which he still does after being married to Amy.
That's just it, I don't get how a guy like that would then suddenly turn into a "completely competent and intrepid" cop as peeaecee said, unless they have multiple personality disorder, lol.
Police, like other people, don't necessarily let their personal lives interfere with their jobs. They can be practically like two different people, on the job and off.
I agree, but that doesn't apply to Robert in this case. If you're scared of monsters in your closet or ghosts under your bed or just being home alone, then how can you possibly handle violent criminals on a regular basis? If Robert turns into a neurotic, whiny mess when his family makes fun of him, then I shudder to think how he reacts when people are shooting at him or when rapists and murderers are resisting arrest and yelling obscenities at him.

Even while in his apartment, he's shown to be cowardly. Like having to go to Marie's house because he's scared of noises and things in the dark.
Then some girl's father in the laundry room who steps to him, and Robert is scared of him.
Or keep a tennis racket under his bed for ghosts, which he still does after being married to Amy.

If you're gonna pretend to cut her hair, at least put some scissors in your hand!

That was his first day back at work after suffering an injury.
I always felt that Robert's personality was at odds with his career as a police officer.
However, I also felt that it was his home life (when he's around the Barones) that made him regress in to his neurotic and needy child-like state. When we see him with women, with friends or Judy he is more confident and free.
So when we see him at work he is able to let his stronger and more confident side out.
Let's be fair, whenever he tries to be confident at home he gets put down or mocked. I think I would be a neurotic mess around that family.

We've seen him on the job more times.
There was the time he was scared of a punk kid in the candy store, that he was bigger than. But Judy has to handle the kid, who's bigger than she is. She shoves him down and tells him to be quiet.

If you're gonna pretend to cut her hair, at least put some scissors in your hand!

And yet, the one time (was it only one time?) that we see him on the job, that "ride along" incident, he's completely competent and intrepid and nowhere near a "wuss". Presumably, he's always like that while on duty.
Police, like other people, don't necessarily let their personal lives interfere with their jobs. They can be practically like two different people, on the job and off.

Ray's real life brother was a cop. So it came from that. Putting a bit of Ray's real-life family into the show. His real brother, Richard also does the chin-food touching.
But I agree. It doesn't seem believable that Robert is this cop who sees death on a daily basis, and handles criminals when he's still scared of monsters in his closet, and being home alone on occasion.
But, that's just the humor of the show. Like Ray being a renowned Sports Writer. But he doesn't know how to pronounce stomachache when he reads it. And doesn't know the difference between subconscious and unconscious. lol

If you're gonna pretend to cut her hair, at least put some scissors in your hand!