Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff Frank Roach was shot and killed as he and several other officers attempted to arrest horse thieves near Granite Canyon, Wyoming. Sheriff Roach formed a posse, which included a local rancher, and followed the trail of two men who had just stolen three horses from the rancher. A gunfight resulted when they caught up with the suspects. The Sheriff and the rancher were shot and killed. The suspects were arrested just over the Colorado state line with Sheriff Roach's rifle and the rancher's revolver in their possession. The suspects, 21 and 27, confessed to shooting both men. One was sentenced to hang for killing Sheriff Roach; the death sentence was later commuted to life in prison. The other suspect was sentenced to life in prison for killing the rancher. Both went to the Colorado Penitentiary. The 27-year-old was paroled in 1953, and the other in 1960. Sheriff Roach had served with the Laramie County Sheriff's Office for six years.
Survivors
Survivors include his wife and child.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-WY-FE1DFF72- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Sheriff Roach gave the Laramie County Sheriff's Office 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Cheyenne community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sheriff Roach.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sheriff Frank B. Roach is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.
In WY, 41 of 63 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 65.1% of this state's fallen. That is 65.1 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Laramie County Sheriff's Department, 3 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Frank B. Roach's cause is highlighted.
How Frank B. Roach Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Frank B. Roach is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Frank B. Roach was killed by gun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
4 officers from Laramie County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.
